Who decides who becomes a thought leader?

Who decides who the writers, speakers, and visible leaders are that we will follow?

It's not a book publisher. Or your peers. Or the local Chamber of Commerce.

It's you.

You decide if you will become a thought leader.

You're here because the status quo isn't working for you.

This is when you begin to perceive yourself as the thought leader that serves at scale. It's time to compound your network influence, impact, and legacy.

I hope you can ignore the notifications from Twitter for a few minutes.

Step 1: You - right now - are a thought leader.

It doesn't matter how you feel about these words at this moment.

It's important to understand - your words are a leash to your brain.

It's time to give your brain critical marching orders that will order your steps.

Say this quietly. Literal words out of your mouth. Just for you to hear.

"I am a thought leader."

Sit with this statement for a moment.

You're here because you know this is you.

Denise Brousseau shares, "Thought leaders do come in every shape and size, they do come from any background or community and they can be any age, gender or ethnicity. That said, not just anyone can be a thought leader. Thought leadership takes time (sometimes years); knowledge and expertise in a particular niche; a certain level of commitment and a willingness to buck the status quo or the way things have always been done."

Step 2. Let's qualify this. For whom, what are you a thought leader?

Let's tackle this question. Fill in the spaces - use a note on your phone, and copy/paste this section (followed by an example to show how this comes together):

I care about (audience, people group) ___________.

I want to help (group) _________ do (this thing better, differently) ___________.

My expertise in (field) ___________ and (field) ___________,

my experience in ___________ and ___________ (where you gained your experience),

and my background living in ________and ________,

and my interests in ________and ________ , all together, qualify me uniquely to lead.

I will build a platform, and serve at scale. It's time to see myself as one who will make a big and lasting impact.

Here's mine to see how this comes together:

I care about my community and a just world where opportunity can be accessed by all.

I want to help the leaders of today and tomorrow change the world, and see them share their genius with the world.

My expertise in marketing and building audiences,

my experience in philanthropy, nonprofits, education, and government,

my background living in urban and rural, from Orange County to small-town Texas,

and my interests in innovation, movement-building, social media, and technology, all together, qualify me uniquely to lead.

I will build a platform, and serve at scale. It's time to see myself as one who will make a big and lasting impact.

Next:

This was about your past and present.

Our next newsletter looks at the future - let's pull other key elements into this working statement:

What you'll do with the platform you're building, your career ambitions, your desired audience, and your longer-term impact.

Join me and your fellow thought leaders next time.

I help leaders become thought leaders. Please message me if you want a partner in this exercise, or in building a thought leadership platform and audience for you or your organization.