Thoughtleading Strategy


First, ponder these questions:

How do you find your customers, or better yet, how do they FIND YOU?

How do you generate leads, or better yet, how do you close these leads and WIN NEW BUSINESS?

How much do you charge for your services, or better yet, are you CHARGING ENOUGH?

How do you keep new business coming, or better yet, whether in down times or amid changing conditions, how do you ensure new business is MORE PROFITABLE THAN BEFORE?

Whenever entrepreneurs of any kind gather, the first question of consequence to emerge in their conversations is always this one: “How do you find new business?” It can be phrased in many different ways, but the meaning is always the same.

Typically, the responses revolve around some variation of referrals and word of mouth, and the focus invariably shifts to marketing, selling, “outreach,” or business development techniques. The conversation falls flat once someone mentions cold calling (a technique that everyone agrees is disagreeable!), then collapses altogether once direct mail or advertising gets dropped in. From there, the talk turns to idle chatter, personal questions, the weather—anything to push the topic at hand away from its disappointing evolution. There are no business development magic bullets or gold nuggets here, are there? So why bother beating a dead horse?

Entrepreneurs are invariably exasperated over this challenge. So much competition, so much new technology, so much sudden change in the marketplace. How can a company lift itself above the noise? It’s a constant game of catch-up, missed goals, back-to-the-drawing-board, and perpetual boom and bust. Despite adhering to marketing and sales “best practices,” nothing seems to help for long.

Yet a magic bullet does exist: a little-used business development strategy called “thoughtleading,” guaranteed to grant you your “expert’s edge.” Though all entrepreneurs and consultants and professional services practitioners are experts, few of them remember to exploit their expertise to superior advantage. Those few who do however typically rise above the playing field to assume higher levels as a breed apart known as “thought leaders.”

No longer mere “specialists,” “practitioners,” “professionals,” or even “experts,” thought leaders cease wondering where their next business meal will come from. Instead, they steadily welcome new customers from an ever-expanding prospect base that seeks them out, rather than the other way around. Here are a few ways they do it:

They publish ideas! Whether it’s a book or a series of articles, true thought leaders share their ideas about how to solve problems their clients are faced with each and every day.

They speak to groups! Whether on a stage before a live audience or via phone as a guest of a podcast or sharing slides on a Zoomcast, thought leaders elaborate on their thinking, field questions from attendees, meet up with prospects following their programs etc.

They develop new original ideas! They don’t always realize it but in the normal course of a day or a week or a month, to our satisfied clients we are ALL thought leaders! That’s because each of us develops customized solitons for our clients’ problems that are unique to our particular way of thinking.

So is it time you admitted that you too are a thought leader but have simply not been practicing a Thoughtleading Strategy? Surely that time has indeed come!

Contact us to learn more such as how our process works, how we can help you get the “best-kept secret” of your success and expertise with your clients, how we can help you get your ideas published as a book or articles, how we can help you land speaking gigs whether in-person or virtually as well as our fee options, our commitment that our program will work for you, our fee options, our guarantee, our client endorsements.

You time has indeed come! Let our Thoughtleading Strategy approach work for you as it has for over 400 experts and their firms since 1996. Email us at inquire@thoughtleading.com now and (finally) separate your firm from its competitive pack!

FEATURED BOOKS
Dr. Karissa Thacker No avatar Management Psychologist
" I have found working with Ken and ​his ​team to be a true partnership. Emerson worked to help me reach my goal as if it were one of their own business goals.​ ​ They have been ​invaluable to me in navigating the ​book ​publishing process ​such that ​we were ​ultimately ​successful ​at​ landing a deal with Jossey Bass. "

View All Testimonials
John Guaspari No avatar Employee Engagement Expert
" The Emerson team has been first-rate on all counts. As a result of the excellent work done by Ken and Elena, I had a choice of three publishers for my latest book. This gave me the luxury of choosing the one that was best-aligned with my goals and gave me the strongest sense that I would be a true partner to them as opposed to “yet another author. "

View All Testimonials
Jim Edholm No avatar President - BBI Benefits, Inc.
" Visibility solves TONS of problems for us. The more we’re seen, the more believable we are. The more we’re seen, the greater credibility we have. The more we’re seen, the LESS we need to pursue them and the MORE they pursue us… it eliminates or reduces sales resistance... "

View All Testimonials
Shelley Hall No avatar Principal & Managing Director - Catalytic Management
" Ken, without your support and expert advice, Catalytic Management would not have achieved such terrific growth. Every article solidified our reputation, garnered national speaking opportunities or generated leads. Credibility is everything to a consulting firm and your work to establish me as a thought leader has been invaluable. Not only is your support indispensible to our marketing efforts but you make it fun and painless. "

View All Testimonials
Jay W. Vogt No avatar Founder - Peoplesworth
" Ken Lizotte and emerson consulting group have helped to keep my consulting practice healthy for the last several years...I’ve since recommended Ken and his team with enthusiasm to many colleagues who have asked me – How did you do this? "

View All Testimonials
Karen Friedman No avatar President - Karen Friedman Enterprises, Inc.
" Thank you so much for your wisdom, insight and support during this process of seeking a publisher. Without your guidance, I would never have sealed the deal! Not only did you negotiate well on my behalf, but you understood the value of finding the right partner who would be the best fit for my long term goals. I couldn’t have done it without you. "

View All Testimonials
Lewis Green No avatar Founder/CEO - L&G Business Solutions
" I hired Ken Lizotte to represent me and find a publisher for my fifth book “How to Grow a Business by Putting People First” (originally published as “Lead with Your Heart”). Ken came highly recommended by others who had hired him to help with their publishing and thought leader efforts. Although this was my fifth book and I had once earned a living as a free-lance writer, Ken’s sage advice made both my book and magazine articles better before he found a publishing outlet for them. If you strive to be a thought leader, I highly recommend you to hire Ken and his team. "

View All Testimonials
Michael Shenkman, PhD No avatar Founder, President - Arch of Leadership, Professional Mentoring
" I have worked with Ken for nearly a decade. He is, without a doubt, my strategist in chief for my marketing communications strategy. I can’t count the number of ways he has opened my thinking to new approaches, new technologies and media for publishing, promotion and customer service. He does it all with modesty, which I really appreciate. I know when we meet or talk that something good, interesting, thoughtful and productive will ensue. Even though I am located in New Mexico, 2,500 miles away, his service is not in the least diminished. He is worth every penny I have spent with him and his team. Thanks, Ken. "

View All Testimonials
Jim Mooradian No avatar Jim Mooradian and Associates, Inc.
" Publishing articles and getting quoted in the media are excellent for credibility. They are an important part of the process for landing new business. Ken’s team has helped us make this happen. "

View All Testimonials
Steve Gareau No avatar Author - Building your Bridge to Sales $ucess
" I would never hesitate in recommending emerson consulting group inc. The staff is so attentive and responsive...Ken once said to me, "You’re a lot like me." I take that as an honor, to be in his company. I highly recommend Ken and his company and its excellent services. "

View All Testimonials
Our Team
No author avatar
Ken Lizotte CMC
Chief Imaginative Officer (CIO)
No author avatar
Kate Victory Hannisian
Chief Editor
No author avatar
Henry Stimpson APR
PR Czar
No author avatar
Keith Long
Ghostwriter Supreme
No author avatar
Elena Petricone
Deputy Imaginative Officer
No author avatar
Beckett
The Dog
No author avatar
Nike The Cat
Social Media Expurrt