The Importance of Role Models and Branding in Thought Leadership

Many people believe that being a leader is easy, but the reality is much harder than anticipated. While possessing traits like humility, kindness, and empathy is important, having a role model is equally essential. However, finding the right mentor or coach can be challenging, which is why the author turns to Ted Talks and branding to shape their brand, SteveTalks . Through daily research and creative thinking, the author aims to create a brand for life that goes beyond making money. By sharing their personal journey, the author offers valuable advice on the significance of role models and branding in thought leadership. The article concludes with the author's prediction of the impact of their brand and the excitement of the possibility of it coming true.

Too many people think that it is easy to be a leader, but the truth is that it is much harder than anticipated. Although I have not led massive teams in my career, I have led small teams, and even that was hard. It was not because I lacked leadership traits such as humility, kindness, and empathy, but because I did not have a role model to look up to.

A role model is much more than just a coach or mentor. It is someone you look up to and have more belief in than yourself, and it is an important tool for any leader. Currently, I am watching lots of Ted Talks to research and evaluate the authentic worth of a talk and to help shape my brand, SteveTalks , a very humble small semi-rival brand that is currently in its early test phase. I basically wanted to brand my videos, which I currently produce around six or seven a day. I am not looking to make a million dollars out of the brand or anything, although that would be great to fuel my other personal brands. I am just looking for an ideal framework to replace the need for me to find a mentor, coach, and, best yet, a role model.

As a thought leader, I have learned that I do not necessarily need a role model. Perhaps I am only one of a few thought leaders that would agree with that statement. Instead, I wake up daily to re-configure a new framework of research into my Empathy Leadership Magazine every single day. This may sound a little too much and over pushing the agenda of brand awareness, let alone doing it on my own. However, the good news is that many doctors in my life have specifically told me how good my brain is, and no, I am not kidding. I know I have a great mind of curiosity and creative thinking, and although I may not be as famous as Adam Grant or any other famous psychologist, I appeal to a certain audience. Now, that audience is pretty big, including some of the world's largest brands. My only weakness at the moment is that I am still trying to find a way back to viral marketing capabilities. Moreover, as soon as I find that marketing power again, I will, for sure, be off to the races.

I wrote this short, off-the-cuff article after releasing a joint paper with me and ChatGPT on imposter syndrome. And no, I am not going down that route of struggle, although I am very self-aware of the root cause of the psychological phenomenon.

To summarize my main point in this article, I would like to offer some advice on creating a brand for life, a brand that goes beyond making money. Starting a successful global brand requires a wealth of information and good data intelligence. In my opinion, combining three brands will have more impact on the global population than any other brand in the world. In fact, I predict that Microsoft will buy my LinkedIn profile due to what I am building and the attention that I am receiving. I don't have any inside information or capital investment, but I am confident in what I am doing and the potential impact it can have. Of course, there is a chance that this may not come true, but that does not discourage me. I am more excited about the possibility that it might come true.