[How To] 10x Your Authority
Whether you're still feeling the New Year's Go-Getter energy or you never have stopped wanting the year ahead to be bigger and better than the one before, this episode is for you!
Because it's one thing to want it but it's another thing to know what you need to know and do to make that happen!
This is exactly what this episode is all about as I’m going to share 3x aspecs that you need to consider if you're serious about 10x-ing your results when it comes to building and boosting your authority (and with that, the opportunities that you get exposed to).
In a nutsehll, the 3 big topics for this episode are:
Why mindset is key when you prepare to 10X your authority positioniong (and with that, your results)
The rise and the importance of creating and sharing content to cement your positioning and set yourself apart from the rest
Where to invest in to support and fast-track your results (coaching + mentoring)
Learn more about the Authority Brand VIP Days where you'll get your tailored Authority Brand Strategy + Marketing Assets done for you! Schedule a call to see if it's a good fit for you: https://calendly.com/petra_zink/strategy
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Want to become the Trusted Authority in your field by building and monetising your expertise?
Here are a few ways you can get started with my resources:
1.) Get your copy of my my book - Trusted Authority - From Technical Expert To Trusted Authority
2.) Watch my brand new 33min training: Trusted Authority Strategy - become known beyond credentials.
3.) Book your complimentary 20min Strategy Session
4.) Connect with Petra Zink on LinkedIn
Check out all show notes and further resources over at https://www.impaccct.com
Since literally week 1 of 2023 I’ve been working with incredibly committed experts who’re have decided to make this year the year of building their authority in their chosen field because they have seen it over and over that peers with often less qualifications, less experience and less expertise get ahead, get the accolades and the reward, simply because they show up and share their thoughts, their story and their learnings. Simply realising that, that those people don’t know anything more of different to them but the only difference being that they simply step up and show up which makes them visible and with that, a choice for decision makers because they are top of mind is what makes them realise that they are already 80% there but times have changed and hoping for others to pick up how good they are or how much value they provide with their expertise will be a long waiting game.
In fact, they often are far behind my clients’ journey and whilst this isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon - like I experienced myself in my first career in marketing that my peers who didn’t have the degree and had a lot less experience than I did back then got the promotion ahead of me because they were a lot better communicating and promoting themselves which I never paid attention to.
Social media however, has been an eye opener I’d say over the last few years because we live now in the digital-first world that rewards those who create content, who show up and with that, step up by sharing their learnings and build a brand around what they want to be known for.
Especially Gen X and Gen Z see that others their age can make 6-figures from brand deals or simply reacting to other people’s posts which makes them believe they can do it too.
And this brings me already to the first point which is the mindset shift that’s required to elevate your authority. I love the saying ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ but nowadays where we have access to so much information, to so many incredibly smart leaders in literally every industry and profession and to a ton of highly valuable communities where we can tap into the collective knowledge - there shouldn’t be any reason at all anymore to not expose yourself to this world that’s possible for you. In the end, if you don’t think you have what it takes or you don’t believe that you can actually become the Go-To in your field, chances are slim that others, your decision makers to be more concrete to have the trust and faith in you to be it either.
So again, if you don’t believe it can be true to you and that you have what it takes to become the Go-To or whatever your big goal is, you won’t be able to achieve it. If you want to have different results, you need to take different actions which are directed by your belief system. So changing your thoughts first to what's possible for you and supporting it with evidence is the first step I take with my clients in our VIP day container.
So setting goals that you want a 10% increase or growth or a little more senior role will get you exactly that- a linear growth, not an exponential growth because you align your actions with what you’ve set yourself as Northstar.
This is where everyone needs to start because I can develop the best strategy for you but if you don’t believe it's’ possible - it’s about changing your perception about reality as this is what makes you change, the way you show up changes, the level of actions you take changes
Trusting your decision is enough that you will make it happen and that you have what it takes because if you can see it, you can be it.
But since I’m all for tangible outcomes and strategy - let’s shift gears and talk about what’s actually required from a more tactical point. Because simply wishing for it doesn’t get you anywhere. You need to take big actions to get big results.
In 2023 and beyond, authority and with that, leadership is earned and not given and the best way to earn it is by sharing content and original thoughts, insights and experiences. This is why I absolutely love the rise and importance of content because you can’t just buy a following (well you could but bot followers don’t pay the bills, don’t open doors and definitely don’t create a commercial outcome for you). Building a community through content is a commitment to you being a leader without the official title and often without seeing measurable results for a while. Until it’s a hockey stick growth and opportunities come to you.
Creating content also helps you refine your brand tone & voice and makes you a lot more succinct and confident in your own communication about your area of expertise which elevates your authority long term. But the best ‘side effect’ which really is the jackpot is building a community. It’s the jackpot because a) you get insights and ideas into what your decision makers are struggling with which gives you a good indication what skill set you need to build to address those challenges as the Go-To, what words and language they can use (which you can then use in your own communication - remember the trusted authority framework of being a translator) and of course, to leverage it as competitive advantage when you go for an executive role or want to set up your now business.
I’m working with a lot of leaders in the digital and tech space who either pitch to investors for funding or who want to attract and obviously keep the best talents and guess what the decision makers are all about? How big is their following, how much of an engaged audience do they already bring, what’s the social proof we can leverage. Authority and leadership is measured in way more than credentials and experience these days and will become more and more important. Look at other industries- in the entertainment space, it’s the actor who has the biggest following who gets the gig. It’s the author with a decent community who gets the book deal. It’s the athlete [and pretty much whatever you name it] who gets the brand deals, the sponsorship and the partnership opportunities who have invested in building their online presence and communities.
Because producers know the importance of the main act drawing a crowd and making the movie, the book or the performance a success. And there is no difference to the business world in 2023 and beyond.
Finally - the last point that I believe is key for you to 10x your authority is to invest in a coaching or mentor.
Truth told, you can believe that’s possible for you and that you may even create some content but I see the role of a coach to continuously keep you accountable for your actions to get you to your goals but also to challenge you on your belief systems to not get you stuck again at a certain level but also to call you out on your own BS as to why only so much is possible or why you didn’t end up taking the big step. There’s no end goal with mindset and also with what’s possible. But that also means, new levels, new devils. Just because you’ve achieved this initial milestone, doesn’t mean the next milestone is a done deal because you’re facing new challenges and experiencing new situations which you don’t have a previous response system that you can draw upon.
I’ve been in masterminds and working with coaches since 2016, literally 3 months after starting my own business and the investment - which was back then $10kUSD was such a shock to the system for me because a) prior to that, the highest investment in my own development was $5k when I was still in corporate and that made me feel sick already but I knew I had a high salary and it was a fairly easy investment I can make back. But when I just started my own business and didn’t have a consistent income that I can count on, investing $10kUSD was a massive commitment. Little did I know that I’d make it back not even 6 weeks after joining with my first $12k AUD client. Why? Because it opened a new world to me and also because the investment made me feel uncomfortable, I started to take actions that made me uncomfortable to make back the money.
Same now- when I was in Europe over Xmas, I signed up to a $25kUSD mastermind, not the first high ticket and also not the most expensive program that I’ve ever enrolled in but still a decent commitment. Guess what? Since joining, I’m still the only female and there are only a few who’re still in the 6-fig months bracket. Most of the clients are in the 7-fig bracket which is exactly where I want to be but not there yet. Being in this group where I’m literally one of the most junior entrepreneurs makes me unportable AF but this is exactly why I joined because I don’t have time to waste to figure things out by myself. I want the fast route and investing money can give you the access to those who’ve been there already and who can give you the shortcut because you don’t need to repeat the same mistakes they made. You still make your own but if I can cut out even 50% of the mistakes that I’d make, I’m already ahead of the game.
So the question is - what is it that you’re committing to that build your authority, from the inside out?
I often have people tell me they want to establish themselves as the Go-To in their field, they want to speak at big stages, they want to be the one media turns to when a big event happens in their industry but then say it’s just not happening.
The reason is that there’s often a big disconnect between what people are doing and what they’re saying. Don’t judge yourself - I’m not judging you but I want to challenge you on your own beliefs as you may fall easily back in old behaviours that have kept you stuck where you are for long enough but you continue doing them because you haven’t set yourself up for success to make this change sustainable or spend more time and energy on doubting if you even want to achieve this goal or if you really have what it takes to make it happen than on taking actions that would get you there or they spend too much time comparing and letting external pressure dictate their journey rather than their internal decision and commitment to the goal that is rooted in something you strongly feel about and are connected to which you’d have worked out in a coaching session. Your why is what no-one can take away from you or imitate so this is where it all starts and that brings me back full circle to your mindset and belief system.
Now if you want to kick your old, no longer serving beliefs and actions into the curb and commit to 10x your authority in 2023 and do it in a sustainable way- then I’d invite you to book a call to see if we’re a good fit for my VIP day packages where you not only co-design your growth strategy with me but where you get a personalised roadmap to get you there as well as done-for-you marketing assets including a personal brand style guide that includes your visual and verbal identity based on your authority positioning, your media/speaker kit, branded social media templates, a revamped LinkedIn profile and a whole lot more.