Always, always answer the question ‘why’ before ‘how’. It will prevent a great deal of perfect strategy and spectacular effort on outcomes that don’t matter, or worse, do harm. Second, always make sure the ‘why’ benefits humankind and it will be good for profit in the long run. Profit itself absolutely does not qualify. In fact, focusing primarily or solely on profit is self limiting and often harmful to the company and shareholders. There must be a constant balancing of profit, communal good, and broader environmental considerations. If leadership is incapable of balancing that complexity, new leadership is needed.

Having SMART goal(s) is crucial to achieve anything - no questions about that. However, in my opinion the Vision and Values of an individual are equally, if not more important. Before setting goals, one must have a clear view of where/what they want to achieve to then establish the steps and goals to get there. Always anchored on one's values as a person and as a leader.

Always have your goals in mind. I have mine as the wallpaper on my phone. Its said that the average person looks at their phone 96 times per day. This gives me 96 reminders of my goals and keeps me on track. Try it!

Reflection, goal setting, and planning are helpful exercises in and of themselves. But don’t expect to execute the plan you’ve created in detail. That plan may very well be outdated before you get going. One goal will be overtaken by a different one, priorities will shift, and new opportunities and challenges will be constant. So, don’t forget to build resilience into your approach.

Definitely, your objectives will greatly influence the course of your actions you will plan and eventually do. It manifests what you really wanted to achieve and where you are truly passionate. What do you aspire to? For sure, you will deeply reflect on it, to the point that you revisit your values. And setting goals can be boundless. So make them definite.

Be the best as you do, hone that skill, and go above and beyond what you have learned and reinvest. Whatever is done is worth doing well. People can tell when you have put in the work, earning the respect of all.

The only constant is change. Ai has showed up this in recent years and its changing every industry, from service-based organizations to pharmaceuticals and everything in between. We need to continually learn, and prompt engineering is the latest new skill for most industries. Thought leaders need to understand this too.

Learning never ends, as I always instill to myself. And it comes in two different ways. Learning can be elevating the adeptness of your current knowledge and skillset. this means you are having a closer look at your skills, to the point that you are getting to know the best practices. Meanwhile, learning can also be acquiring new ones. You let yourself venture towards something terra incognito to you. Acquiring skills comes in a wide variety of means. It can be in the form of training, lecture, pursuing a degree, exposure at work, etc. Such that, establish first the open avenue and drive for learning.

There is no replacement for relationships. Every industry is "a small world." You'll hear it constantly no matter your niche. LinkedIn is a great place to nurture these relationships if you can't be in person. That's why I wrote a book on the subject!

Seek the right people who can give you the relevant and fresh perspectives. Probably, those who have been doing it for years and years.

To strategically plan for long-term career goals through personal branding, I focus on consistently showcasing my unique strengths and expertise in genomics and microbiome research. My brand identity revolves around being an innovative and dedicated researcher passionate about advancing scientific knowledge in animal health and nutrition. I curate my online presence on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and professional websites, regularly updating my profiles with achievements, publications, and projects that highlight my expertise. For example, sharing detailed case studies on successful research projects, such as my work with in vitro intestinal fermentation models, demonstrates my problem-solving skills and innovative approaches.

So many people still don't understand what personal branding is, but it should be a consideration for anyone looking to be a thought leader. You need to know what you want to be known for. This is rooted in your goals and comes out in everything you say and do. Ping me with questions on this.

Create a long term goal and then focus short term as to what you can do daily-weekly to get the goal fulfilled. If you look out too often you risk getting discouraged and giving up. Small actions daily can fulfill your goal👏👍

If you don't have a content calendar for yourself, Google content calendar templates for LinkedIn and start there. You need to create regular content that speaks to your brand and is consistent across every week.

Creating content on thought leadership revolves around two key elements: 1. Domain mastery 2. Communication strategies Breaking this down it means your content should reflect your Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge alongside Skills in articulating that knowledge. Then comes the Communication part - Relevance, Wordsmith-ery, Proofreading, Editing are all needed to create effective content. Additionally, creating content requires developing the capacity to read deeply and widely. Thought Leadership would be more effective if the content you create touches a nerve with your audience.

The mere fact of committing to writing an article or speaking at a conference means reflecting on your knowledge and the best way to transfer it. This in itself is a learning opportunity that will also elevate one's personal brand and leadership profile.

Publishing in high-impact journals and industry publications is essential for reaching a wide and influential audience. Collaborating on co-authored papers with other researchers has helped me to expand my visibility through their networks. Engaging in public speaking opportunities, such as conferences, and workshops, has allowed me to present my research and ideas to a broad audience, enhancing my visibility and credibility. Measuring and analyzing my impact through metrics like article views, social media engagement, and conference feedback helped to refine my strategy. Continuous improvement ensures that I maximize my visibility and maintain a strong presence in the industry, aligning with my long-term career goals.

Define Vision Industry, impact & Thought Leader type (articles, speeches etc.) Expertise Deepen knowledge, unique voice & perspective Content is King High-quality, diverse formats, consistent publishing Build Platform Social media, guest blogging, strong online presence Network & Collaborate Connect with influencers, mentorships Measure & Adapt Track progress, refine strategy based on data & feedback Long-term game Be patient, passionate, & consistently deliver value.

Ich vermisse hier den Aspekt "Visionen", für einen Vordenker unverzichtbar. Das Streben nach Veränderungen und Erneuerung und aktiven Lösungsansätzen, die andere überzeugen und begeistern können. Das macht einen Vordenker meines Erachtens am meisten aus.