About your book idea: do you need an editor, a ghostwriter, or therapy?

About your book idea: do you need an editor, a ghostwriter, or therapy?

Last night, I was talking to an established author who is helping out a couple friends who want to write a book. “They have a great story but they aren’t sure if they need an editor or a ghostwriter,” he said. That’s a pretty good question. If you’re an emerging thought leader and think you…

9 reasons why thought leaders must embrace their competitors
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9 reasons why thought leaders must embrace their competitors

It’s a nasty, noisy world out there. It’s easy for your own ideas to get lost in the cacophony. I’m here to tell you what you don’t want to hear: make friends with your competitors, quote them, and give them credit for their great ideas. I came to this realization after collaborating with people who…

How to write Chapter 1 of the book that will make your reputation
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How to write Chapter 1 of the book that will make your reputation

You want to write a book that will make everyone take notice of the insights you’ve gained — insights that no one has thought of before. But how to start? I’m going to assume you have a powerful idea and you’ve researched it. (If you haven’t, nail those down before writing.) If you have a…

The year in bullshit: top “Without Bullshit” posts of 2017

The year in bullshit: top “Without Bullshit” posts of 2017

It’s been a hell of a year, and every month was filled with its share of bullshit. So let’s review 2017 through the lens of the most popular Without Bullshit posts in every month. January: “What’s really wrong with millennials?” asks Simon Sinek Simon Sinek has it all figured out. Millennials are screwed up because…

Becoming a transformative, upper-right-quadrant thought leader

Becoming a transformative, upper-right-quadrant thought leader

Since thought leaders love the classic two-by-two matrix chart, it’s only fair to place them on one, based on the spreadability and provability of their ideas. I’ve defined thought leader this way: A thought leader is a person who has created a coherent body of ideas and is effective at communicating and spreading those ideas…