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January 20, 2025 10 mins

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 make building my consultancy work.

I was determined to make it work.

I focused my effort and energy to make it work.

And I did.

And I will continue to do so, even as I pivot to what the market needs today.

And I believe you can, too. I want to shortcut your journey for you today with key things to stop and start, after being a thought leadership partner to founders and seeing who wins and who flounders.

STOP:

STOP doing the things that divide your time and dilute your efforts.

My friend, you who are building, working, serving with your very sweat and blood, hear me, because this is where most of you will fail:

This is the number one reason people fail at both endeavors? Two mild efforts when a single focused YOU is required. Especially when cash is scarce, in a difficult job market, or where it’s easier to hire the younger and cheaper, and hours are only so many.

If you’re pulled in two directions, significant time, brain space, emotional energy is devoted to seeking a role while also trying to build a consultancy.

I almost never see this work. It’s not until you put all your effort in one direction that you see results.

For example, you need what - five clients after you’ve ended work in corporate? Get those first - then you can spend time finding a role. I share more on this in this episode.

START:

START believing. What matters most is your focus and your (mostly) unwavering determination that you will make this work. You will. Not you might or you hope. You will. If it’s time you put your CRO or CMO hat on, start here. Write the thought leadership that you can use in business development. Send it with a note to your potential clients today.

Will it take 100 notes to nail a single client? That doesn’t mean your idea doesn’t have merit. Keep your hands loose around your idea’s execution.

Your future, your freedom are worth it.

START owning your time (numbers below), and focusing on the things that will put proverbial (or literal) food on the table.

START your thought leadership.

Thought leadership - influencing, leading, serving is going to solve your revenue and business challenges - give it the attention it requires.

Listen now to the #1 message to write about in your thought leadership for revenue on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the listen widget. (note, this podcast goes live 10 mins after this newsletter sends - listen via the widget at the top for instant gratification!)

BY THE NUMBERS:

10% of your time right now is teaching, writing, speaking, informing, influencing, both inside and outside your organization.

Let’s go!!

Julie Michelle Morris

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How to work with me:

* Influence Accelerator (Quarterly intensive that starts Wednesday, Jan 22nd, with one seat remaining for this group). Learn more.

* Your Personal CMO: A six-month program to build out your

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