Too many people believe that if they keep their heads down and work hard, they’ll be recognized as experts on the merits of their work. But that’s simply not true anymore. To make a name for yourself, you have to capitalize on your unique perspective and knowledge and inspire others to listen and take action. But becoming a “thought leader” is a mysterious and opaque process. Where do the ideas come from, and how do they get noticed?

Dorie Clark explains how to identify the ideas that set you apart and promote them successfully. The key is to recognize your own value, cultivate your expertise, and put yourself out there.

Big Ideas

How to Find your breakthrough Idea

  1. Combining Different Ideas
    • Create something new
    • Lean startup – Eric Ries
      • Used Automotive manufacturing techniques from Toyota
  2. Niche
    • Really get known for depth in certain area
    • Much easier to establish yourself
    • Starting small and then broadening
    • T shaped Person
      • Deep in one area
      • Breadth in other areas
  3. Leveraging the power of Original Research
    • Creating new information – looking at primary studies yourself
    • You can do research yourself
      • EOfire – top 10 books for entrepreneurs

How to build a following around it

  1. One to one: Building your network
    • Mastermind group
    • Board of directors
    • Take your initial idea to them – to help refine it
    • Whats the level of enthusiasm …. move to next phase when you have +ve response.
  2. One to many: Building your audience
    • communicating with larger group
    • Blogging/speaking
  3. Many to many: Building your community
    • Get your audience talking to each other
    • Online or offline
    • For people to share the excitement and enable you to grow exponentially.
    • Example: Choose yourself meetup groups

Interview Links

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