Reframing Uniqueness

One of my mentors recently referred me to a book by Matt Church on Thought Leadership. I'll admit I'm not one to read "business" books, and I often find myself struggling to remain engaged. However, this one I have been devouring and rereading sections, not because I'm bought into the methodology or the framework necessarily, but because it's the first time something has truly made me feel like I could actually have a shot at "selling" my knowledge.

He talks about the power of acknowledging those who have come before you in your area of expertise and lifting each other up, that creating a network of solutionists builds upon itself and ensures you don't have to know everything in order to be impactful. My biggest barrier has been the fear that someone has already had my idea, that my knowledge isn't really mine but just a regurgitation of other great thinkers and even greater promoters.

It has led me to start changing my perspective on the whole process—ironically, one of the topic areas I have often felt I was well-versed in, as it connects so powerfully to risk management and strategy. Sure, people have sold the idea of strategic readiness; others have entire consulting and training divisions specializing in compliance and risk management, and of course, there are those with what seems like the magic sauce of being able to produce tons of tangible results.

So instead, I'm thinking about what I can bring that makes my spin a little different.

• Experience in small non-profits and in one of the largest government agencies.

• A background in macro-level social work and multiple internships in local and national government.

• Deep knowledge of the regulatory environment, including how to navigate the "impossible" requirements.

• A bubbly personality and skilled storytelling.

• Involvement in sensitive topic matters and the ability to stay neutral and keep the end outcome in mind even when leaders may have clear agendas.

• Facilitating small groups as well as keynote speaking to audiences of 200+ with positive reviews and feedback.

• Developing and running a podcast.

• Surviving growing up in a home with a mother that never did get a proper mental health diagnosis.

• Understanding what loss and perseverance look like personally and professionally.

• Certifications to balance out the real-life experience.

Perhaps it is possible to balance a diverse set of interests and passion projects into robust engagements that focus on being agile and durable at the same time. By tapping into social work competencies, my experience with my complex family, and a desire to find reason and meaning through tough discussions, and combining that with technical knowledge and the ability to deeply engage stakeholders to problem-solve through transparent interactions and honest, realistic goal setting, maybe, just maybe, this venture into thought leadership will bloom into something beautiful. After all, just think of how different water can look depending on the angle you take, how many ripples are moving across it and how one gust of wind can change every reflection it shows. Time to make a splash, even if just a little one. What will be the pebble you skip across the pond?

Shout out to Jim Jordan for coaching me through these early days of exploration.