Clients ask me this question on a regular basis, “Is it okay to call myself a thought leader?”

I like to think that being labelled as thought leader is the same as being labelled a ‘hero’. Your answer to that question reveals a lot of how you perceive yourself and your intent for contributing to society.

Why do you want to be seen as a thought leader? What’s your purpose for reaching that level of influence?

For many, the desire to be seen as a thought leader comes down to clout. They want the fame. They want the fortune, the notoriety, the glamour that comes with having your name rise in your industry.

I’ll give the punch line here: those are the ones whose names may last, but their contributions won’t. Their desire to be famous for the sake of being famous will fade over time.

For many others, the idea of being a thought leader is an invitation to change the world with a better message, a better set of ideas to help others have a more meaningful future.

Take some time today, maybe even right now, and think about your motives. Are you wanting influence to simply hear your name more or are you wanting to make a difference with your ideas?

The Keynote Clarity for Thought Leaders Flash Briefing is presented by Jon Cook, founder of Keynote Content. Jon and his team help thought leaders, namely speakers, coaches, and consultants, craft and share their messages to better serve their audiences. Connect with Jon and his team at Keynote Content by visiting keynotecontent.com. You can subscribe to The Keynote Clarity for Thought Leaders Flash Briefing by visiting bit.ly/KeynoteClarity and enabling it there. Then, all you have to say is, “Alexa, what’s my flash briefing?”