I've decided to become a Thought Leader.
First thing you do is start every post with "Unpopular opinion." Doesn't matter that 47,000 people posted the same take this week. That's what makes it unpopular. The popularity.
Then you need a framework. A Venn diagram. Two circles, maybe three if you're really pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. One says "Passion," one says "Purpose," they overlap where it says "Profit." Stole it from a poster at HomeGoods, but on LinkedIn it's intellectual property.
Now you tell a story. You learned something from your six-year-old. Or a barista. The lesson is always about "showing up." You will feel inspired for four seconds, then scroll past an ad for business coaching.
Carousel post. Pastel colors. Slide one: "Here's what no one tells you about synergy." Slide eight: Something your mother told you in 1984.
End every post with "Let that sink in." Or "Read that again." Because the first time wasn't enough. The words need repetition to become wisdom.
Calling yourself a "Thought Leader", it's like grabbing the karaoke mic when nobody's singing and announcing you're the best vocalist in the room.
Nobody asked.
Now everyone's looking for the exit.
If you have to tell people you're a Thought Leader, you're not leading any thoughts.
You're just loud.
Loud isn't leadership.
Loud is just a volume setting.
❤️
Jake