In the early 1990s, the term “thought leader” was coined as a nickname for someone with the ability and knowledge to see into the future. Not with a crystal ball or tea leaves, mind you. Innovative and visionary, a thought leader defined himself as a leader far ahead of the competition when it came to spotting new trends and creating more effective business models. However, the opinion leaders did not keep their ideas to themselves; they generously shared their brilliance with their clients, other business leaders. and the media. As a result, these aspiring thinkers became experts (and invaluable resources) in a given subject area, and thus became the go-to person whenever there was a question related to that topic.

At the time, to me, these people were geeks. They thrived in a “what if” world, ignoring conventional thinking and practice. Brainiacs who could talk but not to the world at large.

That was then. This is now.

Geeks were weird. Opinion leaders are unique. Geeks were smart. Opinion leaders are brilliant. The geeks were largely ignored by all but their small cohort of other geeks, freaks, and nerds. Opinion leaders capture the rapt interest of colleagues, customers, and competitors, which is why the media loves them because every time they pitch an idea, the media informs an audience that’s desperately waiting for a new idea.

The dawn of a new geekdom.
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are a pair of computer nerds who revolutionized technology when they were just young, because they weren’t consumed by the limits of acceptable thought and practice. His hits spawned a new-age geek. Out of the basement-dwelling weirdos arose a new breed of unique thinker. The semantics kicked in. “Geek” became “thought leader” because we needed something cooler, a name that had power and positivity. “Geek” conjured up words like nerd, dork, and weirdo, which are not acceptable to the more modern set. Bill Gates was probably mocked in his youth, but the geek of him launched an empire, causing the rest of the non-geek world to reconsider their scorn.

In a 2007 interview in The Colbert Report, cybersecurity expert Richard Clarke said that the difference between nerds and geeks is “geeks do it.” Marketing guru Tom Peters speaks of “freaks and geeks” as the people he wants in his organization. I say, “Bring on the geeks!”

And thus the “thought leader” was born. It is the name of the unique thinker who steps out of the proverbial box in search of solutions. This is the individual who is not blinded by “the way we’ve always done it” or hampered by the fear of failure. The true thought leader recognizes that you have to make mistakes to be successful. No risk, no reward. Albert Einstein said: “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope.” And one of cinema’s brightest weirdos, Woody Allen, once remarked, “If you’re not failing once in a while, that’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”

Too many would-bes spoil the value.
Unfortunately, as the world has come to realize the inestimable value of being a thought leader, everyone is struggling to earn that title for themselves. As a result, like the word “quality,” the term has become watered down. “Unique” is attached to many ideas that are hardly original. I could certainly tell you that after years of watching medical shows and reading Robin Cook’s medical mysteries, I am capable of performing surgeries. But just because he says it doesn’t mean he is, right?

The same is true for thought leadership. You can’t call yourself a thought leader simply because you think you might be. You need credible evidence, in the form of ideas you’ve tried, principles you practice, and solutions that have delivered amazing (not just good) results.
Does this discourage you? If so, you don’t have the right stuff to be a thought leader. But if you’re excited about the challenge of awakening your inner creative brilliance, there are ways to jump-start your creativity.

1. Start by identifying five issues that affect your industry. Don’t worry about the solutions. Just consider the challenges.

2. Next, choose the problem that you find most intriguing. What bothers you regularly?

3. Expand on that challenge Examine what creates this problem. Where are the roots of the problem? For example, is it a distribution problem? Is it caused by poor planning, a lack of clear communication, insufficient information, weak management, limited resources, or just plain bad practice? Whatever the reason, write down the contributing factors.

4. Put all this information on a thought board. This could be in the form of note cards posted on a bulletin board, annotations on a large notepad on an easel, or lists on a dry-erase board. Just make sure it’s visible enough to get your attention on a regular basis.

5. Look at the problem and let your imagination run wild. Say to yourself, “wouldn’t it be great if…” and write down the best results you could expect,

6. Clear your brain of all consequences. Load up your board with “what ifs” and let your mind wander to the immense possibilities. What would it take to get those results? What has to change? What additional tools do you need (manpower, equipment, cooperation, information, knowledge, etc.)? Write it all down on your thought board. If a negative thought creeps into your mind, throw it away. This is not the time for self-criticism!

7. Now that you know what you need to create results, consider ways to bring those ingredients together. What are skills and who are the people who possess them? What can you do to throw yourself over the obstacles? How can adjustments be made to existing systems to make them work better?

8. Armed with your knowledge of the symptoms and possible treatment, discuss your thoughts with colleagues and clients. He writes down his ideas, comments and concerns.

9. The next step is to test your thoughts by putting them into practice. You can’t become a true thought leader by spouting an idea that has no legacy. Test and measure. Then do it again. And again.

10. If you don’t get the results you expected, go back to step 5 and start over. With each effort, you will get closer to success. If at first you don’t succeed, create a new ending!

Invest in yourself. Take the time to become a thought leader who can deliver real solutions and the world will take notice. In the next article, I’ll show you how to share your wisdom with the world.