How To: Thought Leadership

I’ve said if I ever was going to write a book, it would look NOTHING like the current state that publishing is in today.

(And while I’m not here to thumb my nose at publishing, I believe that whatever the route - traditional, self, hybrid, publishing - I’d LOVE to see a major rethink of the extractive, zero fun rigamarole I see WAY too many thought leaders stumble into, and walk out the other way with $20-50K less in their pocket a...

You won’t be surprised that I’m nudging you to finally start your podcast.

If you’re stalled in your own podcast, you’ve been debating for three years now whether to start one, or you’ve talked yourself out of starting one, but you feel like you could or should, take 20 minutes and listen.

This is everything I would’ve wanted to know before starting my podcast, why I started one, the few must-do’s, how to get moving on zero budget,...

I won’t mince words - tenacity is going to be crucial if you’re starting a community today.

There are a number of ways to monetize your thought leadership and expertise that are easier than starting a community.

You have to see it as a startup.

You probably need to love it so much, you’d do it for free, at least at the beginning.

But if you have runway to make it go, realistic numbers of a current audience to share the opportunity ...

I know you want a crystal clear plan and strategy for thought leadership, for your next move, for the rest of your working life.

I decided 15 years ago that I was not going to stay in corporate, and I wanted to build my own thing. I was very pregnant, it was a hot August in Texas, and I said to myself, I will never clock in again. Now, of course we do this in client work technically, but you get my point :-)

I knew I was going to m...

I believe thought leadership isn’t about showing off—it’s about showing up. It’s about sharing what you’ve learned, owning your expertise, and building something meaningful that serves others.

But here’s the problem:

For so many people, the idea of “thought leadership” feels vague - at best.

Where do you start? What do you say? How do you find the time?

And how do you cut through the noise without burning out, or feeling like you’re...

We've been tiptoeing around thought leadership for years - churning out safe, generic content while hoping to reach revenue and impact goals. (And now AI is doing the same thing, but significantly faster.)

Whether you're building your own visibility, or curious about thought leadership for your organization, here are three factors that will make your insights land effectively in 2025! This is Part 2 of this mini-series on your thou...

Episode Description

Thought leadership isn’t what it used to be. The market is crowded, AI is everywhere, and people are overwhelmed by messages.

If you’re trying to grow your audience, make an impact, or build a business leveraging thought leadership, your ability to focus and stand out are key!

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to start or to make a bigger move, it’s now.

Whether you’re in stealth and building quietly, or...

If you’re reading this, it’s probably your responsibility to get your thought leadership done and out the door.

It’s not an easy burden.

It’s time-consuming and a whole extra part-time job.

But the value of being top of mind is everything if you’re working to build something new or be known in your field.

Here’s what I do to get my podcast out the door in this season, and why it’s so important to do it!

The tools:

Substack (podcast ...

This podcast is sponsored by DIY Influence, where leaders learn to become thought leaders in a supportive learning community. Check it out with a free week pass.

Thought leadership opens doors, but overly creative services close them. This podcast guides ex-corporate consultants on how to use thought leadership to attract clients while offering familiar, easy-to-understand services they can immediately say yes to. Learn to balance i...

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on Substack!

Quick episode to get you moving for the week ahead:

Are there too many people in the market already with a newsletter?

Is there any space for yours?

We're going to wrestle with that idea for a few.

There are reasons to be nervous right now. The biggest ones are because of us and our guts. The biggest ones are because of us and the fact that we're not moving.

Don't worry about the ma...

If you're looking for a podcast on thought leadership, often, you're facing a pivot.  A layoff. A big change ahead. 

And you know that thought leadership is a powerful tool to wield in that endeavor.

But there's still some challenges that make you feel stuck:
Fear.  You don't know if you should bet on YOU.

Meet Yann Dang, a finance leader turned executive and life coach. She he...

"People don't just want to connect to you because of your expertise. They want to connect with you on a heart human level..." says Nidhi Tewari, LCSW.

Join Julie Morris as they dive deep into Nidhi's shift from therapist to influential speaker. Learn how she mastered LinkedIn, built a powerful personal brand, started with free workshops, and partnered with a top speaker agency. If you're eager to t...

Special session in CHIEF with Julie Michelle Morris and Melissa Cohen! 

Personal branding - what a convoluted topic! It's overly complex, when it should instead be pragmatic, clear, operational.

Let's show the power of personal branding and how you can leverage it:
 - To differentiate you
 - Toward finding clients
 - To rise above other equally qualified candidates
 - To make your thought leaders...

In this 20-min episode with Melissa, we get brutally honest about our love for the black turtleneck, simple personal branding, and a powerful network!

Recorded in Spring 2023, Melissa and I didn’t know during this episode, and that we would go on to teach and partner together, and have a blast leading others through a self-discovery journey on LinkedIn! ❤️👏

🎧 Give it a listen to light your fire and get your fee...

Get ready for an exclusive interview on the How To: Thought Leadership podcast! 🎙️ Join me, Julie Morris as I sit down with the incredible Jennifer Uhll, founder of Lifetime Wishes. 🌟

We dive deep into Jennifer's extraordinary journey, from her fresh start in sunny California to launching her groundbreaking third startup. Prepare to be inspired as Jennifer reveals the story behind Lifetime Wishes: an AI-powered plat...

Ready for a bold career change?  Let's talk regaining power. Whether you're contemplating a major shift or simply seeking fulfillment in your current path, this episode will ignite your passion and empower you to make the leap. 

Don't settle for ordinary—own your career path with confidence. 

Join host Julie Morris, thought leadership trainer and founder of DIY Influence, with special guest Hayal Ko...

Your personal brand is what sets you apart from everyone else and is the foundation for all your future opportunities.  — Sallie Krawcheck, Ellevest

Thought leadership and personal brand. You know these are what makes success possible.

AND YET.  We aren't moving forward.   

I know why.  And how you can move out of stuck.

Mentioned in today's special episode:
Use code FRIEND200 for...

It's time to get your knowledge out there, into the world, so you can find clients, help those around you, and get clear about what your audience needs from you.

We'll explore:
What to speak about
Who your audience could / should be
How to optimize lighting, audio, video
Why you can't wait till you feel ready
and more!

Link to our mic and video recommendations. 

Stop waiti...

From the DMs:
"Does it matter what times in the day you post or respond to posts?"

and

"Any advice for an introvert?  How do I get over the vulnerability of being "out there" on LI with my thoughts?"

What are your questions? Send me a DM (direct message) via LinkedIn! 

Stop waiting for recognition - It's time to recognize yourself.

Learn how to build y...