Becoming the authority

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Sometimes there just isn’t room for you at the top. If you’re in a field with experts and join late, then you’re going to have a hell of a time getting to authority status. It’s not impossible, but you’re setting yourself up for a tough fight.

I’ve been finding myself in that spot over the past couple days. There are some different paths that I can take:

  1. Keep trying to get to the top
  2. Put down the guys at the top
  3. Invent your own authority

I tried option #2 once, and it wasn’t the way to go. I feel really bad about it and won’t do it ever again if I have any choice.

#2 is also the fastest way to get attention. Go figure.

Lately, I’ve been looking to #3. I have decided that I’m not going to convince the other experts that my way is right. They have their own ideas, and that is just fine. We need that in order to foster innovation, after all. I need to create my own market.

One thing that I do swear to do is really get to know my industry better and know what the differences are. Your opinion only becomes stronger when you truly understand all of the alternatives.

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4 Responses to “Becoming the authority”

  1. Per Djurner Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 3:45 am

    I want to hear more about that time you tried option #2, sounds like it would be an interesting read :)

  2. Chris Peters Says:
    September 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 am

    I take it that you’re being a smartass, Per. :)

    I’ll give you a hint: booing a fellow community member’s framework on CF Conversations. hehe

  3. Dan Harris Says:
    September 29th, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    Chris Brogan’s new book called Trust Agents talks about Creating Your Own Game. It is tied specifically to creating your own opportunity and not following others. Another book that would be good as a reference is Blue Ocean Strategy. Both these books help uncover great ways to be the innovator/leader/authority by turning something on edge, looking at it from a different perspective, or just making it easier.
    Love the topic, your perspective and would be interested in hearing more about the lesson learned when you went down the route of number 2.
    Keep up the great work on your posts.

  4. Chris Peters Says:
    September 30th, 2009 at 9:54 am

    Thanks for the compliment and ideas, Dan!

    I read Blue Ocean Strategy a couple years ago and agree that it’s a great way to dissect your market and figure out how to be remarkable. I’ll have to check out Trust Agents too. So many great business books out there to read.

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