Writing and publishing articles is one of the best ways to become recognized as a thoughtleader, but most people don't do it the right way, according to "The Expert's Edge," a new book by Ken Lizotte.Most beginners write an article and then submit it to a trade, business or professional magazine, then get rejected and end up concluding that they and their ideas aren't wanted. But the rejection often has nothing to do with the quality of the piece. It usually results because the article is too long or too short or not sent to the right publication or the right editor.
Lizotte says in his book to first let editors know what you can write about and then obtain a "go-ahead." He calls this process the creating of an "article ideas list" or AIL.
Lizotte's book provides step-by-step instructions on how to create an AIL, including deciding what to pitch and to whom to pitch and also overcoming "writer's fright."
People who regularly publish articles are perceived as go-to authorities in their field, research shows. Independent consultants make more, and employees rise faster in the corporate ladder.
"The Expert's Edge: Become the Go-To Authority People Turn To Every Time" (McGraw Hill, 2008), covers the theory and practice of thoughtleading, from Ralph Waldo Emerson -- who earned his keep with public speaking -- to contemporaries like Donald Trump, Tom Peters, Suze Orman and Harvey Mackay.
Lizotte is chief imaginative officer of emerson consulting group inc. (www.thoughtleading.com), which has helped 200 firms and individuals become thoughtleaders since 1996. His clients have published articles in venues such as Leadership Excellence, Executive Forum, the Handbook of Business Strategy and US Industry Today.
More information about "The Expert's Edge" can be found online at www.thoughtleading.com/book_experts-edge.htm.
