In this week's episode of The Best Guest podcast we welcome 5x Bestselling author and the founder of Thought Leader Academy, Sara Connell.

We talk about:

The doors a book can open—media, speaking, TEDx, and more
The confidence gap and how it holds women back financially
How visibility and thought leadership are shifting in 2025—and what you need to do now

About Sara

Sara Connell is a 5x Bestselling author and the founder of Thought Leader Academy where she helps coaches, experts and entrepreneurs scale impact + create 6-7 figures by becoming bestselling authors and in demand/TEDx speakers.

She has been featured on/in Oprah, The New York Times, Good Morning America, TODAY, Forbes, Entrepreneur and TEDx. Her books have been nominated for a National Book Award and Elle Magazine book of the year.

Key Takeaways

A book isn’t just about book sales—it’s a credibility multiplier that makes you the go-to expert in your field.
Trust is the currency of 2025—and writing a book builds instant authority in just 1.8 seconds.
Podcast hosts and event organizers prioritize authors—having a book increases your chances of being booked by 80%.
High-ticket offers (coaching, courses, speaking) are the key to turning a book into a profitable business.
Visibility is more important than ever—showing up in multiple places consistently builds trust and drives business growth.
If you don’t already have the financial success you want, there’s likely a subconscious money block—and you can rewrite that mindset.

Quote

"The desire to write a book is the permission slip—you don’t need anyone to tell you you’re allowed. That book will open doors, build trust, and change lives—including your own."

Mentioned in This Episode

Holy Hunger by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas – the book that changed Sara’s life

Simon Sinek’s TED Talk: Start with Why

The concept of ZMOT (Zero Moment of Truth) – why people buy from those they see consistently

Connect with Sara

Website: https://www.saraconnell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saraconnellauthorspeakercoach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraconnell/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/saracconnellauthor

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