How To Become a Thought Leader: Interview with Daria Vodopianova
“If you forget yourself, if you forget your ego, then everything disappears because you’re so focused on creating value, you’re so focused on helping others, that there’s no such thing as fear.”
-Daria Vodopianova
Co-founder of the Thought Leadership Academy, two time TEDx speaker, and best selling author, Daria Vodopianova’s mission is to support rising thought leaders and ambitious coaches to create a sustainable business around their knowledge. She takes her clients from making a living as a coach to expert status and from expert to Thought Leader.
What Is Thought Leadership?
We all have either personal or professional experiences that have given us expertise and knowledge in how to make things run smoother and easier. It’s important that we SHARE this knowledge! We can put our knowledge into a framework or “thought leadership asset” like a book or course so that others can have access to it.
How To Shift From the “I can’t do THAT” Mindset
Recognize that everyone has some level of Imposter Syndrome, feelings of inadequacy despite their success. As long as we’re continuing to learn and grow, we’ll naturally be in the position of not having knowledge of what we’re currently learning about. So, what do we do about it?
Understand it’s not about you. When you are speaking, teaching, or demonstrating to an audience, it’s about the audience. Focus on bringing value to the customer and the fear melts away. With time, you’ll receive feedback of support from the people you serve. Collect those messages in a folder on your computer so you’ll have access to them when self-doubt creeps in...and believe what they say!
Self care is an important part of knowing your worth and believing in yourself. Don’t spend too much time looking at other people’s fabulous lives on social media when you could be outside in nature or with your friends experiencing life! Social media is a tool so use it conservatively and wisely.
Even if others are sharing very similar knowledge in the same industry, nobody will share it like you do. You will connect with your audience and create an experience in a distinctive way, with your own unique style and energy, so that a subset of folks will be drawn to you. We all comprehend in various ways and some people will understand a concept best when you explain it.
“If you have something that you can share with this world, if you have some experience, why would you keep it for yourself?” - Daria Vodopianova
How To Become a Thought Leader
Start with a ten year vision, a macro-level idea of why you are doing what you’re doing and what direction you’re taking. This vision should be revisited every six months and is more of a feeling than a plan. What do you want to create? How do you want to feel? How do you want to empower others? If you expand yourself and cannot fail, what would you want to create in ten years?
Break it down into the upcoming three years. What is one word that you could be obsessed with for the next three years? One subject you’ll never get bored talking about and that you can create enough momentum around within your mission, that others want to listen and learn from you.
Learn to create assets. Take your ideas out of your head so they can be useful to others. Create a video, podcast, or course that you can expand to be reused by others when you’re not able to teach the concept in person. You’ll have an ongoing impact that lives on after the asset is created.
How To Deal With Setbacks (can you say pandemic?)
Remember it’s not about you; it’s about the Why, your mission, your long-term goal. Keep your focus on the ten year vision so that a six month setback does not feel devastating.
Remember self-care and give yourself time to do whatever makes you feel at ease while acknowledging the setback and its impact. Then focus on what you can create right now to serve your community. If they are impacted as well, use your knowledge in a way that will serve them during the setback. There’s always a solution even if you need to ask others for support and pivot your business model.
Group dynamics - surround yourself with people who support you and your mission, who share the same values, empower you, and whom you can trust to be honest with you. Especially when you feel like things are not going your way, your support system is crucial. If you need support outside of your social or professional circle, read or follow someone on social media who inspires you.
Be sure to check out my lightning round of questions with Daria!
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