marketing & sales: Are You the George Clooney of Your Market
2. Are you a thought leader in your market? Some bankable advisors earn their stripes through writing books. But there are other ways of building a reputation as a thought leader. You can achieve this through deep industry focus. For example, speak at industry forums, write articles for professional publications and be known as the consultant to industry leaders. Take a look at Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award. Because the company has run the program every year for more than 25 years, it now owns that space. You must consistently engage in thought leadership activities over time—you can't just write one article or hold one breakfast event and declare victory. If you can produce a slow, but steady, stream of thoughtful perspectives on your chosen niche, you will notice a powerful "flywheel effect" that grows every year.