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the life of a thought leader…


The first time I heard the term thought leader I was 22 (so a decade-ish ago…) – and a college professor asked the class, “Who are your favorite thought leaders in the world of education?"


As an English major, I wasn’t immediately a fan of the term. It felt clunky and pretentious. But, if I’m honest, I think the reason it made me recoil is because it felt insanely out of reach for someone like me. Because certainly, how could someone like me – a 20-something in Kansas City who dropped out of journalism school to become a high school English teacher – ever have anything worthwhile to say?  


In the 10(-ish) years since that class, my not-so-linear life path has brought me here: where not only do I support others as they find their voice as a thought leader in their respective fields, but I also occasionally share my own insights & perspective with the world. 


So, here is what I know, so far, about the life of a thought leader. 


…is for anyone.  


The title of “thought leader” is up for grabs – by anyone (even a 20-something in KCMO who can’t figure out what to do with her life). 


Many people get stuck behind a self-imposed wall that stops them from putting their ideas out into the world in the first place. They think they need to “earn” it before they start talking; they need to hit a certain income level or gain a certain number of followers before anyone takes them seriously.


But that’s just not true. 


Someone once told me that the only way I would know whether or not I could run a marathon was if I actually tried to run a marathon. Now, they weren’t recommending that I just go out and run 26.2 miles; but they were suggesting that I sign up, commit to a training plan, and see how it went. 


It’s the same thing with thought leadership. If you keep waiting until you feel “ready” to be a thought leader or until you have “the perfect piece” to publish, you’ll be waiting an awfully long time. Or as an OG thought leader once said, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” 


Long story short: Putting yourself out there with something “good” is better than not putting yourself out there at all. 


…is also the life of a reader.


Athletes watch games of other teams. Musicians listen to tracks by other artists. Why? Because it’s expanding their radar, sharpening their craft. If you want to be a thought leader and publish content, you have to read content, too. 


As I’m sure you know all too well, reading has benefits. But in case you’re the kind of person who likes confirmation, here’s what the research shows us: 



Whether you’re reading for work or fun, the simple act makes you a better writer and a more critical thinker – which only fuels the very thing that makes you credible and influential: your perspective. 


Long story short: Just keep reading. 


…is about humanity.


In the plainest, simplest language, a thought leader is someone who is an expert in a given field. They must possess a profound understanding of their domain. For example, I will never, ever be a thought leader in the world of SEO. Just not happening. 


But here’s my bold claim / addition to that definition – just because you post content about SEO, doesn’t make you a thought leader in that area, either. Thought leadership is not necessarily about generating content and commenting on world events. Instead, it’s about being empowering to your audience, challenging them to think critically, and more importantly, being authentically you. 


It’s about bringing your view and your insights to the table to keep the conversation going. There’s a blank space out there that can only be filled by your unique human experience. Because be real: that’s the stuff people connect with. You don’t stop scrolling on LinkedIn because of an opening sentence like “The ever-evolving digital landscape is poised for disruption.” 


(If I never see the phrase “ever-evolving landscape” again in my life it’ll still be too soon.)


But people do stop scrolling, when you make it known that you (a human) is sharing your (again, human) insight: “At my first corporate job, I remember sitting in a meeting with a heating pad hidden under the table. My cramps were so bad I could barely focus, but ‘being professional’ meant pretending I was fine.” (credit to Tori Dunlap, a thought leader in financial education). 


I mean come on, which one is going to offer something new or interesting – and which one was most likely written by ChatGPT? 


Long story short: People connect most real insights shared by real people. A thought leader is someone who shows up as themselves. Always.  


…is owning what’s unique to you.


Hot take: you already have a ton of content at your disposal to shape and mold into polished thought leadership pieces. You don’t need a mile-long resume, numerous awards, and TED Talk video to share, you just need your life.


As a thought leader, you aren’t trying to appeal to everyone – which is good because that sounds exhausting and highly unlikely. Instead, as a thought leader, you have the opportunity to focus on what you know to be true, what your experiences have taught you, what aha! moments have changed your life. 


You have a chance to present your unique experience to the world and own it. When you write about topics and ideas that you know and believe in, your audience can tell. That honesty leaps off the page. And if you try to phone it in and write about a trendy topic because you "should"? Audiences can feel that, too. 


Long story short: Find your lane. And own it. 


…is happening now.


Being a thought leader is not about having the loudest voice or the fanciest title. It’s simply about showing up. It’s about putting ideas into the world and being brave enough to share your perspective as both a human and an expert. 


You could be a 22-year-old English major wondering what you could possibly contribute (who, by 26, published research in a peer-reviewed journal), or a seasoned executive with decades of experience, the invitation is the same: just start. 


Read as much as you can. Think deeply about your world. Share your experience generously, and always remember that your humanity is the most valuable thing you can offer.


With that said, can I ask you a question…? Are you ready to enter your thought leader era? full transparency: this article was inspired by the release of taylor swift’s new album life of a showgirl. to celebrate this unofficial holiday, there are 5 t.swift song titles woven into this article – can you spot them all?




 
 
 

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