(GRWM is ‘get ready with me’ and quite the trend. In this case, it’s agenda review, not makeup.)

Me last night, managing a pup injury, a kiddo’s birthday party, an unpacked suitcase, and two hours till I leave for San Francisco:

I wish there were a way to get ready for agenda, topics, speakers, overall theme of this conference I’m attending in San Fran!

OH WAIT - There IS a way to get ready quickly.

NotebookLM prepared today’s podcast, a deep dive of the agenda and speakers in ten minutes, from one PDF and a strong-ish prompt.

For the time I have, and what I need done to prep for Fortune Brainstorm AI in San Francisco this week, this AI tool helps solve that initial set of questions:

* What and who is on the agenda?

* What are they adressing in and around AI?

* (most important) Where might I find beyond the table stakes, “enterprise implementation of AI is difficult! Regulation! Data is a mess!”

The AI tool I’m using to help prepare: NotebookLM, one of the Google apps. Google’s Gemini is very powerful generative AI tool.

We’re going to use NotebookLM to do the digging on my questions, and present it to me in a podcast format that I can listen to in the air tonight.

So cool.

From the podcast:

“You’ve tasked us with something massive, synthesizing the strategic landscape captured within the entire agenda for Fortune Brainstorm AI San Francisco 2025. And this isn’t just about giving you a simple list of who’s speaking. The goal here is, I think, much more ambitious. Our mission is to transform you from a well-informed attendee into an insight generator.”

Here’s how I did this (all on my iPhone):

* Download the NotebookLM app from Google (always glance at who made the app before downloading)

* I navigate in my phone browser to the event website for Fortune Brainstorm AI 2025

* Get the link to the agenda. If easier or captures more info, you can use iPhone screengrab feature to create a full page PDF! Press your button on the right and your volume up button at the same time - then it will ask if you want a photo of the screen or the full page (!). Then choose to save to files as a PDF. I LOVE this new feature!

* Go to NotebookLM app or on your mobile browser, and start a new project. Then add either the URL or the PDF you just made. After it starts processing that info, tap Studio, then the little pencil icon on Audio Overview to add a specific prompt of the thing you want covered.

* This is the prompt I used: “I need a full briefing on this upcoming conference taking place centered around AI. Who are the speakers? What are their topics? How can I as an attendee be prepared to be fully engaged based on the latest happening with these speakers and what they’re doing in the field, and how the specific session speakers even intersect each other and what kind of thought leadership angles can I take as an attendee who will be seeking unique insights that are more novel than commonly discussed to share with my audience who will not be in attendance and would benefit from me relaying what I’ve learned.”

See my NotebookLM - chat with it about the agenda (just try it out! easy! No one sees what you ask! Important to try new, highly reputable AI tools)!

Or listen to the audio overview here as a podcast now!

Thanks to Kate Marshall for sharing your AI journey and showing me how to do this!

What kind of personal or business help might a tool like this give you?

Tried it before?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

This episode is a nudge to our our best, brightest, often quietest leaders - many of you cynical about being in a spotlight, reluctant to take on this label of ‘thought leader’ - to consider how you explain YOU to the world now that AI’s here and demanding much of us.

I share a rapid fire 15-mins with:

* Real stories/examples from my journey (pivot moments, lessons learned).

* Concrete strategies for positioning yourself in our new perma-uncertainty.

* Tips for leading through AI thoughtfully rather than reactively.

A little more background:

AI is now the denominator. It’s the underlying thing that has changed everything about my world and yours.

I believe we’ve reached a time where nothing will ever be the same - we will look back on this technology shift in a couple of decades, and pity those of us who had to be at the messy front end of it.

I’m ready to be less afraid, and ready to find my footing.

I’ve been (relatively) quiet over the last few months, considering the ramifications of this global transformation we’re all walking through.

Through 2025 in the thick of AI, it’s felt like waves crashing. Hard to stand up straight, and hard to see through the sand dredged up by the waves.

If you’re like me, you’re considering how AI is now the denominator in your world …

* How to be a parent / AI

* How to be a business owner, employee, provider / AI

* How to sleep at night / with rapid-fire AI headlines

* How to make sure you’re staying centered, curious, learning.

How to be thoughtfully, proactively positioned in life, thought leadership, to your industry / AI.

You are needed. We are needed.

We - with good ideas.

We - with heart to serve and to see the world around us do well.

We need you sharp, confident - long before you feel like you are those things.

We need you clear enough on why you’re here.

We need you to do the hard thinking.

We need you to show up with confidence, to the best of your ability.

I had to pause twice just while writing this brief cover to the episode to read pings from my phone about massive job cuts taking place.

No one is coming to save us but us - you, me, the other bright, caring folks who are waiting - too long - to be activated into action.

We cannot have our best and brightest unsure of their place in this world such that they feel frozen, unsure - “am I qualified to speak up on AI if I’m not a engineer or PhD? I barely know how to explain this to my team - who am I to write about it? I don’t know what to do.”

No one knows what to do. There are so many unknowns and uncertainties for any one of us. That’s why we need YOU and others to add their slice of know-how to help us chart a path forward. All you need to bring is your slice.

There are two things you need to do the hard thinking about:

* Where are you the best in your field?

* What you think about AI and the direction of your industry?

Why are these things so important?

Take 15 minutes and listen to this episode. Please.

If I hadn’t introduced myself, I’m Julie Michelle Morris.

If we’re not connected on LinkedIn, please do so.

I hope when you wake up tomorrow that your feet hit the floor with you on fire for the thing that only you can do in this world. Talk to you soon.

Share this episode with a friend.

From the pod:

You are probably trying to figure out: What exactly do you believe about AI? What are you telling people around you that you believe about AI? And how on earth are you supposed to capitalize on this?

Most of the people who listen to this podcast are monetizing their subject matter expertise. It is time to get very clear about what you want, where you’re going, what you’re willing to bleed for, what you tell people when you talk about AI.

And it’s time to get a little excited.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

(Aaand I don’t know what happened to the last four seconds. But if you make it that far, I would have said…. get started!)

Why would I encourage the busiest people I know to essentially abandon efforts on other thought leadership efforts, like LinkedIn (albeit temporarily!) and add yet another platform?

This is the bigger point of Substack:

If you're trying to build visibility or influence and you don't have a central place where your ideas live, Substack helps solve that problem, and more.

Substack offers your thought leadership a home base, where you can publish writing (short form posts and long form articles, blogs), podcasts - AND will send an email to subscribers when you do!

Why start now?

You want to be there while it’s still early. Not because it’s trendy. But because it’s working. ever wonder why some people have huge followings and their stuff is… mediocre? They got there early. That’s why. They scooped up the gains.

More to know:

* Other writers can recommend your Substack to their audience, which helps you grow.

* You can host your podcast there. I do.

* It sends your thought leadership straight to your subscribers by email — every post, every podcast. If you don’t have email marketing set up, this is a big deal (if you don’t need complicated segmentation)

* What audiences are on Substack? Business, tech, journalism, venture capital, finance, politics, arts, philosophy, religion, science, ‘the future of’ and much more. Only way to know if your people are there? Go look.

* When you go to start, avoid choosing a title for your Substack that is vague, abstract, skippable. Stand out! Use four or five words.

* Yes, you can have subscription levels for your Substack, and subscriber-only options. If unsure, don’t think about this part for now. Just write.

* B2B? Yes, organizations have a place on Substack, and can help fill voids of thought leadership in your marketing calendars and when SEO is less than useful.

If you feel like you’re ready to begin, but having a partner would be helpful to launch your Substack, book a 20-min intro call at this link to learn about my process to take your thought leadership from idea to live.

Thanks for reading! Julie Michelle Morris LinkedIn | My work

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

A hilarious take, and 100% is the convincing that takes place between a reluctant thought leader and comms advisors.

I was asked the other day by a client in a speechwriting session where things go wrong.

One bit of advice:

It is damaging as hell to feel like the real you is not good enough.

A speech is still the same ‘you’ that we get on social post, in the boardroom.

Why does it have to be YOU? When you move away from your voice - in ANY thought leadership - and try to put on a different persona, it feels off to the audience, it feels off to you.

Any great speechwriter or comms trainer will help you feel AMAZING in your own skin.

The practice has evolved to rest are still operating like it’s years ago, when the best way was to be someone else. This makes people quit, and the world loses the genius that would have been shared with us.

Don’t change you.

Rather, sharpen you. 20% more energy. Emphasis on key strengths (with Fredrik Backman, you hear how he leaned hard into his unique characteristics - dry humor, passion around mental health-related topics, etc. And the audience was SO INTO IT.)

It is still fully YOU - fake will fail onstage.

This is how you do better than most speakers when you’re at the podium.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

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 and their confidence crushed.)

I have no patience for a big reveal months down the road after manufacturing hype and teasing, while the world is in the biggest AND fastest transformation we’ve ever experienced.

This method meets the times. I have a playbook to put into your hands.

AND want to do the thing I always aim to do… pull back the curtain on the ‘how’ of thought leadership. There are so many ways to approach the ‘doing’ of thought leadership, and I am a firm believer that you will not do the things you do not like to do. This writing method is what will work for me to get it done.

My (different) writing method:

* Speaking the book: While I write… all day… I know myself enough to know that this is about the length I’ll write for me - article length. I will not sit down and write a book for myself. Verbally processing is useful. You’ll hear my method in action.

* The team: My intern. Yes, intern. My mentee. She’s another author, a novel self-published on Amazon at age 12. In high school. It’s her summer, and she asked about an internship. She’s a great writer. And knew nothing about AI. It’s a project to teach her AI and to leverage her ability to write and execute.

The Book Title: No way.

This book doesn’t have a title yet. I usually title everything I’m working on (you recall I am a ghostwriter, yes?) at or near the end.

Where will we start?

We begin at the beginning. You need a WHY and a thesis statement. They can change mid-process, but you start from a best guess.

THESIS: I'm writing a reinvention field guide that teaches people how to figure out what they want and confidently go after it. It's specifically for people who want to monetize their expertise beyond the norm of corporate, with a three-part framework and practical tactics for turning your expertise into revenue and thought leadership into positive influence.

WHY: Most of us are going through life on two of five cylinders - puttering along in our work, our business, our personal mission. This is how to get all cylinders running so you can go after whatever it is you want to do with your one life.

Listen and hear more about my book process and wrestling with an introduction, as a voice note to my intern working to interview me, gather all the material I have. This is my behind-the-scenes as I build a book.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

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, and what a podcast will do for you.

Four years ago would’ve been the best time to start a podcast. But instead, what you’ve got in front of you is today.

And by the time you finish listening to this one, you’ll be ready to go.

Or you’ll remember the power of this medium and pick up a couple of new tips and tricks to make yours even better.

Make sure you get to the part about the Stir Test.

I can’t wait to hear what you think and what you’ll do next.

Julie Michelle Morris

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

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 with, and hopefully you aren’t going it alone…. You can do it.

But don’t expect it will be easy, fun, of financially worthwhile at the get-go.

Hear why in this quick episode or cruise down the transcript.

(I wish there were a group of folks building community and networks to support each other - if you know of one, or want to convene us, let me know!)

Thanks for reading!

Julie Michelle Morris

I built our community diyinfluence.com on Circle. Love the platform, and they are constantly building to make it better.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

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

Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to How To: Thought Leadership.

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 personal marketing. I step in as your personal CMO, and guide you on your positioning, customer journey, thought leadership, email list, video, podcast, and more, so you stand out and have a solid marketing process. Great for consultants, authors, and founders. Book a call with me to see if this would serve you.

* Thought Leadership for BusinessI collaborate with your CMO or CRO to tackle demand generation, pipeline, and revenue goals using compelling, trust-building thought leadership. Projects include executive thought leadership, fractional content strategy, brand ambassador programs, and more. Highly technical fields are a specialty. Book a call with me.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

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 just showing off?

The challenge is that most of us are trying to figure it out alone. We read articles, watch videos, and attend webinars, but the steps still feel unclear.

And with everything else on your plate, it’s easy to push this work to “someday.”

That’s why we started DIY Influence, a space where thought leadership feels achievable.

It’s built for people who are ready to grow, but need structure, guidance, and a community to lean on.

I know how hard it can be to take that first step.

I’m a thought leadership trainer, and have seen so many brilliant, talented people hold back their ideas because they felt they had to do it perfectly.

DIY Influence is a space where you can learn, grow, and take action with experts who have your back. With the right tools, the right people, and the right plan, you’ll find your voice and see how much it resonates.

Our Focused Learning in 2025

* January: 2025 Thought Leadership Framework

* February: Personal Brand

* March: Thought Leadership; AI

* April: Monetization: Thought Leadership-driven Business

* May: Speaking as Personal PR

* June: Strategic Networking & Referrals

* July: Video Content Creation

* August: Monetization: Sales and Conversion

* September: Podcasting

* October: Thought Leadership; AI

* November: Personal Branding

* December: Monetization: Thought Leadership Business Models

A preview of the resources in our library: Using AI in Thought Leadership - A Checklist.

Key Dates:

Onboarding begins this Friday, January 3rd at 2pm ET, and membership closes for the quarter on January 5.

If you’re ready to stop waiting for “someday” and start building your influence now, we’d love to welcome you in DIY Influence - a network, an academy, a community.

Explore Membership Options

Let’s make 2025 the year your thought leadership takes off.

Questions? DM me via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemichellemorris or reply if you’re reading on Substack. Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts:

And stay tuned for tomorrow’s podcast - the biggest reasons our thought leadership goes nowhere and what to do about it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com

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 thought leadership strategy for revenue and impact.

(And if your thought leadership didn’t drive the return you hoped it would in 2024, this is for you!)

Factor 1: It’s Anticipatory

This is the least sexy one, but here's why thought leadership often falls flat:

We're playing it safe.

We stick to what's right in front of us, what's comfortable, what everyone else is talking about.

Want to stand out?

Thought leadership leads. It points a way forward. It says, "This is where our industry needs to go, and here's why."

Yes, it feels edgy. Yes, it's brave. And AI can't do it - this has to come from YOUR expertise and unique perspective.

Factor 2: It’s Intentional

Everything you put out there needs to have a purpose. Your audience should instantly know if something's for them or not. If you serve everyone, you are high level, generic, and serve no one. Help them self-select in or out for faster sales cycles, greater impact, and bonus - more fun for you! Because if it’s not fun (if you’re doing this on your own), it’s not going to get done.

The service you offer is a commodity without YOU. The only real differentiator is your brain. Your insights. Your unique take on things. That's what sets you apart, whether you're writing for yourself or your company.

Waste no time in 2025:

* Spread thin and trying to do all the platforms

* Being inconsistent in your writing and speaking,

* Feeling nervous about getting started.

This is where you need to be.

Factor 3 will be tackled in our next episode. Making these insights fit within 20 min podcasts is our goal!

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Work with me:

1: Thought Leadership for Founders and Consultants

Join my Influence Accelerator: A 4 week ‘all you need, nothing you don’t’ thought leadership course designed for revenue and impact, kicking off January 22, 2025. Our learnings building thought leadership brands with hundreds of people to shave years off your journey.

If you want to:- Learn from people living it out,- Be a speaker, write a book, and visibility is crucial, - Grow from being a quiet, head-down leader and know it’s time to be seen,

This is for you. 7 spots remain - secure yours now at this link.

2: Thought Leadership for Business

Leading brands in your space are leveraging ambassador programs employees and ghostwriting thought leadership for their executives. Why? It’s a headwind that takes marketing and sales messaging and uses them as levers, because without people to carry the torch for your brand, the marketing goes slower and the sales cycles take longer. Book a call with me to discuss our 6 month program to build and execute this program for your organization. We specialize in cybersecurity and technical brands.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemichellemorris.substack.com