The following is reprinted by permission from Darius Foroux. The original may be found at https://dariusforoux.com/authority/.
Darius Foroux (pronounced Da-ree-us Fo-roo) is the author of seven books and the creator of six courses. He writes about productivity, habits, decision making, and wealth building. His ideas and work have been featured in TIME, NBC, Fast Company, Observer, and many other places. Half a million people read his blog every month.
In 2015, no one on the internet knew me. I was just a guy with something to say. But I knew that no one would listen if I started speaking without authority.
So when I started, my only mission was to create authority and credibility. But how does one do that?
When I looked at all the experts that I looked up to, I realized that they had many differences. But there’s one thing they all had in common: They all had at least one book, and most of them had multiple books.
So that’s where I started as well. I wrote a book, published it, and then started writing articles. When you want to write for major publications, it helps to say you’re “The author of …”
And it worked. Once I published my book, I instantly had more credibility. That helped me to get into some respected media outlets.
Now, I’m the last person who cares about titles and name-dropping. But we have to keep in mind why we do what we do.
If you truly want to help a lot of people, you still need to be mindful of the principles of persuasion. No one trusts a doctor who shows up in a skater outfit. But if a skater puts on a white lab coat and carries a doctor bag, we instantly think it’s a doctor.
So skills matter. But perception matters too.
In my latest article, I share a few tips for people who are interested in building authority as an expert. I highly recommend taking this principle seriously if you want to help other people through coaching, books, videos, or any other content.
Building authority is also an excellent strategy for people who want to improve their career options. For example, one of my friends who works in marketing is now working on a book about his philosophy on the topic.
He wants to apply for leadership roles at companies that he loves to work for. But he knows that he won’t be taken seriously if he’s just one of the thousands of other people who applies.
But if he goes in as an author and thought leader, he can instantly differentiate himself. On top of that, he’s actually showing an entrepreneurial spirit.
Too many professionals underestimate the importance of side projects and businesses. You don’t have to be a full-time entrepreneur to pursue a side-business.
By creating something of value, you’re showing to the world that you’re a force to be reckoned with. Never underestimate the power of that.
Most people will always stay an employee. Few of us make the transition to becoming a leader. And I’m 100% sure you’re a leader. Otherwise, you would never subscribe to this newsletter.
An employee doesn’t care about improvement. And therefore, they would never read articles, books, listen to podcasts, or take courses. That’s what leaders do.
So if you’re thinking about taking on a side-project, writing a book, starting a blog, or anything else that demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit, go for it!