We’ve been focusing recently on recognizing your expertise as unique and valuable. There’s plenty more to dig into there, but let’s pin that and move on to what you can do with that expertise:

• You can keep it to yourself (many people stop here)
• You can share it as needed in work or client situations (most people make it here, sort of)
• You can actively share it with an external audience (fewer people get here)
• You can build your profile as an expert resource (very few dare to go here)
• You can be a “professional thinker” (this is reserved for a very small slice, usually authors e.g., James Clear, Brene Brown, Malcolm Gladwell, etc., and shouldn’t be your goal)

What I’ve laid out here is, yes, a thought leadership trajectory. Like it or not, you’ll have to climb this mountain to monetize your expertise.

Remember, people shouldn’t have to guess what you’re good at. An intentional thought leadership strategy is the most direct way to share your expertise.

Now, I understand the ‘ick’ around thought leadership just as much as you do, but cringe shouldn’t stand in the way of monetizing your expertise.

So, this week I’m going to directly address the biggest thought leadership myths one by one so you can shed the hesitation and start mapping your thought leadership strategy.

Tomorrow: Myth #1 - ‘Thought Leadership = Linked InFluencer’

💡

-Wes