The Expert's Edge: Become the Go-To Authority People Turn to Every Time (Hardcover)

by Ken Lizotte (Author)
Key Phrases: marketplace masters, sales success, thoughtleading ideas, Suze Orman, Publishing Books, Fresh Thinking (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

You've seen them everywhere-on the covers of books and magazines, quoted in newspaper articles, interviewed on the radio and TV. They are the “thoughtleaders,” the high-profile professionals who rise above everyone else in their field to become the go-to experts in all forms of media.

Sound bite needed for what's happening in real estate? Call Donald Trump. Personal finance questions? Get Suze Orman!

What about you? Who seeks you out for opinions for trends in your specialty? Are you merely an expert in your field or are you the expert? Do you dream of attaining higher levels of business fame and fortune? Is there a way to make that happen?

The answer is Yes-if you've got The Expert's Edge.

An action-ready program of proven success strategies, this easy-to-follow game plan can turn any level of entrepreneur into the must-have expert that prospects and media seek out before all others. You raise your profile, expand demand for your services, and increase your profits. Just follow the “Five Pillars of Thoughtleading”:

1. Publish articles and books

2. Speak regularly to groups and companies

3. Inspire with “fresh” thinking

4. Attract ongoing media attention

5. Leverage the Internet creatively

Used together, these Five Pillars offer an unbeatable strategy for positioning your business as the only one to call. Prospects and clients will think only of you when your service or product is needed. Your competitors are left struggling to catch up.

No matter what you do-entrepreneur, intrapreneur, consultant, manager or specialist-The Expert's Edge will elevate you to an enviable status as the go-to-authority in your field.

From the Back Cover

YOU'VE GOT THE DREAM, THE DRIVE, AND THE DESIRE. NOW PUSH YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL-WITH THE EXPERT'S EDGE…

Become one of the most respected authorities in your field.

Make high-profile appearances on television and radio.

Attract invitations to speak at major seminars and conferences.

Reach more of your target audience publishing articles and books.

Achieve greater business success than you ever imagined.

It's all possible-and easier than you think-with The Expert's Edge. This step-by-step guide from renowned management consultant Ken Lizotte CMC reveals the tried-and-true techniques that can take entrepreneurs and companies straight to the top. You'll discover how legendary thoughtleaders like Harvey MacKay, Martha Stewart, Stephen Covey, and Suze Orman have built their professional empires from the ground up, transforming themselves into business celebrities via publishing, public speaking, media attention, and other thoughtleader vehicles-and how you can, too.

Unlike any strategy you've encountered before, The Expert's Edge will push you above and beyond your toughest competitors . . . and keep you there.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 266 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (December 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071495673
• ISBN-13: 978-0071495677
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #461,612 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be recognized as an expert!, January 20, 2008

By	Lee B. Salz (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

There is an old expression that says that knowledge is power. Yet, if no one knows you have the knowledge, does it matter? Ken Lizotte, with his concept of being a thought leader, helps experts create market visibility that they could never achieve on their own. He also helps experts come out of the shadows and into the limelight. Having knowledge is one thing. Being recognized as an expert is another. The knowledgeable starve while the thoughtleaders thrive!

- Lee Salz, author of Soar Despite Your Dodo Sales Manager

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Thoughtleaders, March 21, 2008

By	Frank Hone "Healthcare Consumerism Strategist" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

In an era where the proliferation of media outlets has created legions of "15 minutes of fame" authorities on a wide range of topics, Ken Lizotte's The Expert's Edge is a welcome tonic. The blogosphere is a fantastic forum for establishing a web presence and communicating to a like-minded audience, but many bloggers haven't taken the time or made the effort to strategically think through their platform and extend it to other media.

The Expert's Edge provides a practical and methodical approach to achieving "thoughtleader" status. Thoughtleaders are those experts that are looked to for their experience, insight, inspiration and knowledge. They are at the leading edge of their field. But they need to work at their communication skills and outreach plans to be able to achieve and maintain their standing.

"The Five Pillars of Thoughtleading" gives the reader a smart and logical way to think through and act on their ambitions. The practical examples about how to do it and, in particular, how Ken did it, give an easy-to-follow narrative that leaves the impression that "I can do it too."

I'd recommend The Expert's Edge to any current or aspiring thoughtleader who wants more visibility, prestige and reputation for their expertise. (Disclaimer: Ken served as my publishing agent and represented my book, Why Healthcare Matters to HRD Press)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Toot your own horn, and customers will line up behind you, February 10, 2008

By	Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Are you a thoughtleader? Are you the kind of person who is forever searching for ways to improve your office environment or your practices to better serve customers? Even if you have found some success with your own techniques for generating new accounts, you may not have considered going beyond the basics of marketing or public relations. How can we best promote ourselves -- or our businesses -- and let the world know that we are on to something different and exciting?

Consultant Ken Lizotte shares here his five pillars of thoughtleading: publishing books and articles; speaking to groups; conducting original research; using the Internet to its fullest potential; and doing the same with the traditional media. Though his strategy is targeted toward business people at various administrative levels, his advice is appropriate for anyone who wants to get his/her fresh ideas "out there." Being a published author himself, Lizotte is especially candid about the publication process and what newbies to that game can expect. He describes the differences between self-publishing and the standard commercial route in a fashion neutral enough to allow readers to decide for themselves which method is best for them. The book is valuable enough for this explanation alone.

But even if you don't think you're quite ready for publishing or researching, you are apt to uncover useful tips about reaching your customer base. What about something as simple but crucial as managing your customer e-mail lists? Send "e-blasts" on a regular but non-spamming basis to maintain contact with the people who are most likely to use your services. Or maybe you'd rather produce a longer, online newsletter. Either way, you'll be keeping your name and your company's image in a place where people can easily find them.

As a librarian, I was gratified to see Lizotte refer readers to specific authoritative sources and regularly note that even more information could be found at your local library. And yet: when he himself later tries to track down something in a library, he's not able to find it. In frustration, he ends up taking the amateur approach by merely doing a raw Google search. If he'd only taken the time to learn how to use his library's electronic periodical databases, he no doubt would have found the articles he was looking for. And he wouldn't have had to register for "membership" in an outside service (which probably required typing in a credit card number as well, though he doesn't mention this) to do so. Just by entering his library barcode, the same articles (and maybe even better ones!) would have been made available to him for free. His claim that "Yes, it may be all over for libraries," is not only wrong in fact; it's the wrong message to send to beginning executives. You don't have to know everything to succeed; but the talent of knowing how to best find the answers to your questions is like being awarded the key to the city. You'll be ahead of your competition if you are armed with that wisdom.

Overall, "The Expert's Edge" offers a variety of ideas to help you position your business at the top of the heap. The suggestions are adaptable for most any venue or undertaking. Business owners, middle managers, and anyone in a customer service field will most likely benefit and learn something from Lizotte's recommendations. Much of what he writes here turns out to be common sense; but as we public consumers all know, sense is really not all that common in business anymore.