From Alex Lenox
The term “thought leader” is used a lot these days. Apparently everyone is vying for your attention with a LinkedIn page and a podcast. They want ad dollars, talking gigs, and more followers. They may have potential, but too often you will find that most self-prescribed thought leaders are faking it until they get it.
Who are the real thought leaders in the business world? And how can you recognize them?
First of all, it has nothing to do with where they went to school or what degrees they have. Most importantly, they are a trusted source of innovation and inspiration. Technically, it is anyone who is recognized as an authority figure in their field – someone whose expertise is highly sought after and rewarded. You can often find them at conferences, TED lectures, or at corporate events. The more value they offer, the more likely they are to be a true thought leader.
Here are seven true thought leaders everyone should follow if they want to have better habits, more creativity, and an endless supply of good ideas:
1. Seth Godin
Seth Godin is an exceptional marketer who has written over a dozen books (mostly on marketing), blogs daily, and leads the hugely successful Akimbo workshops.
Why should you follow him:
- Godin was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame in 2013.
- Many of his books are bestsellers in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
- His blog is packed with golden nuggets that you want to save and forward to your friends.
In his own words:
“Repainting your house the color it was already feels like a waste. It takes a lot of effort to keep things as they are. But if you don’t, time and entropy will kick in and the house will start to fade. The same goes for 1,000 elements of your business, including your relationships with customers, employees, suppliers, and technology. The way you approach your market, the skills you bring to your craft, the culture in your company – it needs a constant paint job. Rust never sleeps. “
Follow him on Twitter: @ThisIsSethsBlog
Or subscribe to receive his daily blog posts: Subscribe here
2. Paul Graham
Paul Graham is a programmer, essayist, and thriving venture capitalist. He is probably best known as the co-founder of the startup accelerator Y Combinator.
Why should you follow him:
- Graham’s company Y Combinator has funded more than 2,000 startups, including Dropbox, Airbnb, Reddit, and Stripe.
His website receives 15 million page views a year and his essays are full of creative insights and wisdom.
In his own words:
“One of the most common types of advice we give at Y Combinator is to do things that don’t scale. Many aspiring founders believe that startups either take off or not. You build something, provide it, and when you’ve made a better mousetrap people will slap a path to your door as promised. Or they don’t. In this case the market must not exist.
Startups actually take off because the founders let them take off. There may be a handful that just grew on their own, but it usually takes a boost to get them working. A good metaphor would be the cranks that car engines had before they got electric starters. Once the engine started it would keep running, but there was a separate and tedious process to get it working. “
Follow him on Twitter: @ Paulg
Read his essays: paulgraham.com
3. James Clear
James Clear is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Audible best-selling author. While successfully writing about creating better habits, his training platform is helping organizations build better work habits.
Why should you follow him:
- Clear’s book Atomic Habits is a New York Times bestseller.
- His website, JamesClear.com, attracts nearly 400,000 visitors each month.
- His Thursday 3-2-1 newsletter has three ideas from him, two quotes from others, and a thought-provoking question for you.
In his own words:
“Entrepreneurship is a personal growth engine disguised as a business pursuit.”
Follow him on Twitter: @ Jamesclear
Or subscribe to his weekly newsletter: Subscribe here
Other items from AllBusiness.com:
4. Ann Handley
Ann Handley is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and social media influencer. She is also the Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs, a marketing education and training company.
Why should you follow her:
- Handley’s book Everybody Writes: Your Guide to Creating ridiculously good content is a bestseller in the Wall Street Journal.
- She is a LinkedIn influencer and has over 450,000 followers on Twitter.
- Your email newsletter is full of useful ideas to enliven your content and boost your marketing efforts.
In their own words:
“Today I see my business as a content marketing company. In other words, my overall goal is to bring more valuable, helpful, and noteworthy content to consumers than anyone else in my field, which in turn will result in more sales. “
Follow her on Twitter: @marketingprofs
Or subscribe to their bi-weekly newsletter: Subscribe here
5. Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss is a successful investor, respected podcaster, and author of five # 1 bestsellers.
Why should you follow him:
- Ferriss’ podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, has more than 500 million downloads.
- His book The 4-Hour Workweek was on the New York Times bestseller list for seven years.
- He was an early investor in Twitter, Facebook, Uber, Alibaba, and Duolingo.
In his own words:
“Principle # 1 is to refine rules and processes before adding people. Eliminate before you delegate. Don’t assign anything unimportant. Nobody should do it. Using employees to use a refined process multiplies production. Using people as the solution to a bad process multiplies problems. “
Follow him on Twitter: @ferriss
Subscribe to his podcast: Subscribe here
6. Ryan Serhant
Ryan Serhant is an over-the-top New York real estate agent, television star, and published writer.
Why should you follow him:
- Serhant’s real estate company had sales of nearly $ 1.45 billion last year.
- He plays in Million Dollar Listing and, like Serhant, sells it on Bravo. His shows earned him two Emmy nominations.
- His YouTube vlog has over 1 million subscribers.
In his own words:
“A win is the legacy you leave behind. And your profit doesn’t have to be as big as “change the world” – but it has to be real, it has to change you, and it has to be something you really want. ”
Follow him on Twitter: @ryanserhant
Follow his vlog: Subscribe here
7. Adam Grant
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, bestselling author, TED speaker, and successful podcaster.
Why should you follow him:
- All four of Grant’s books were New York Times bestsellers. They have been sold over two million times and have been translated into 35 languages.
- He is a regular contributor to the New York Times and consults with companies such as Google, Bridgewater, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the NBA.
- He received Fortunes 40 under 40 honors.
In his own words:
“We don’t have to be tied to an authentic self. We can try on new identities and make them our own. We don’t have to be true to ourselves. We can stay true to the selves we want to become. “
Follow him on Twitter: @ AdamMGrant
Subscribe to his blog: Subscribe here
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About the author
Contribution by: Alex Lenox
Alex Lenox is a freelance copywriter and content strategist. He specializes in helping businesses of all sizes find their voice and empowering marketers to improve their content. If you are interested in working with him, you can find him at alexlenox.com. He also loves to connect with people who share his passion for a meaningful and productive life. Subscribe to his newsletter – Healthy, Wealthy, and Smart – at alexlenox.substack.com for life advice, productivity tips, the occasional yummy recipes, interesting DIY projects, or an eclectic Spotify playlist.
Company: AlexLenox.com
Website: www.alexlenox.com
Connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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