Own Your Impact

Your analytical mind that serves you brilliantly in creating expertise can actually work against you in marketing if you let it build complexity instead of clarity. The most successful thought leaders don't have the most sophisticated marketing systems—they have the clearest core message and the simplest way to share it consistently.In this episode, I reveal why brilliant experts often create marketing systems so complex they spend more time maintaining them than serving clients. Drawing from Billy Broas's compelling book Simple Marketing for Smart People and his cautionary tale of the NASA-designed brewery that nearly burned his house down, I introduce the upstream marketing framework that will transform how you approach building your thought leadership platform.I break down the critical difference between upstream decisions (your core message and fundamental beliefs), midstream decisions (your channels and platforms), and downstream tactics (optimization and amplification). Through a real client case study, I demonstrate how getting upstream clarity can instantly improve every downstream result without changing a single tactic. This episode will help you diagnose where to focus your energy so you stop spinning your wheels on things that don't matter and start building marketing that actually works.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ Upstream Clarity Transforms Everything Downstream – When you get crystal clear on what people need to believe in order to value your work, every piece of content, every platform choice, and every optimization effort becomes more effective without changing the tactics themselves.⚡ Simple Systems Scale, Complex Systems Break – The curse of smart people in marketing isn't that we don't understand it—it's that we understand it too well and build sophisticated systems with too many moving parts that require constant maintenance instead of generating consistent results.⚡ Root System Before Visible Growth – Your thought leadership is like a tree: core resonance and structured wisdom form the invisible root system that must be strong before you can build a sustainable canopy of visibility, influence, and revenue.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Billy BroasSimple Marketing For Smart People: The One Question You Need to Win Customers without Gimmicks, Hype, or Hard Selling by Billy BroasThought Leadership Archetype QuizPast Episode: Simple Systems Scale: What Benjamin Hardy's Research Reveals About Resonant Thought LeadershipPast Episode: Permission to Scale: Why Brilliant Experts Stay Small and How to Change ThatCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Most experts approach marketing backwards, focusing on what they can do instead of what people need to believe. When you understand the single question that cuts through marketing confusion, you stop trying to convince people and start helping them recognize why your expertise matters.In this episode, I share the transformational story of Joe, a carpet cleaner who went from broke to running a million-dollar business by asking one simple question. I reveal why traditional marketing advice keeps smart people stuck in tactics instead of addressing the real issue—and introduce the belief-building approach that makes everything downstream work better.Through the lens of the Resonant Thought Leadership System, I show how this question transforms not just your marketing but how you think about your core resonance, content strategy, and platform building. This isn't about manipulation or persuasion—it's about becoming an educator who helps the right people understand the true value of what you offer.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ The One Question That Changes Everything – "What does my prospect need to believe in order to buy?" shifts your focus from explaining your methods to building the foundational beliefs that make your expertise obviously valuable to the right people.⚡ Upstream Messaging Beats Downstream Tactics – When you focus on building beliefs about the problem, solution, and transformation instead of optimizing headlines and posting schedules, every marketing activity becomes more effective because people already understand why they need what you offer.⚡ Education Creates Alignment, Not Manipulation – Belief-building marketing positions you as an educator helping people recognize what's true about their situation, attracting better clients who are committed, successful, and likely to refer others because they genuinely understand your value.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Billy BroasTiago ForteSimple Marketing For Smart People: The One Question You Need to Win Customers without Gimmicks, Hype, or Hard Selling by Billy Broas and Tiago ForteBuilding a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago ForteThought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFree Workshop SeriesCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentJoin the Free Workshop SeriesFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Understanding a framework and applying it strategically are completely different skills. The Four Es of Core Resonance—Essence, Experience, Expression, and Embodiment—aren't just a one-time assessment you complete and move on from; they're an ongoing navigation system for every decision in your thought leadership journey.In this episode, I show you how to transform the Four Es from theoretical knowledge into practical application tools. Through real client examples, I demonstrate how to use this framework both as a diagnostic when something feels stuck or misaligned, and as a strategic compass for making decisions that energize rather than exhaust you.Whether you're burning out despite good results, feeling like your message isn't landing, or facing major strategic decisions about your platform, this episode gives you the specific questions and filters that will help you identify what's working, what isn't, and why—so you can build thought leadership that flows from your authentic strengths instead of fighting against them.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ Exhaustion Signals Misalignment, Not Weakness – When running your business feels draining despite good results, the problem isn't your work ethic—you're likely spending too much time in activities that fight against your natural wiring, like an alto trying to sing soprano all day.⚡ The Four Es Reveal Why Things Aren't Working – Lack of authority points to Experience gaps, messages that don't land indicate Expression misalignment, mysterious stalling often traces back to Embodiment issues, and general exhaustion signals Essence problems that tactical solutions can't fix.⚡ Strategic Alignment Creates Sustainable Impact – When you consistently filter decisions through the Four Es, every component of your thought leadership system strengthens the others instead of competing, creating resonance that amplifies your authentic voice rather than scattering your energy.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Patrick Lencioni - Table GroupThe 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick LencioniWorking Genius AssessmentBenjamin Hardy - Scaling.comThought Leadership Archetype AssessmentCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Your most sustainable thought leadership doesn't come from a simple formula—it emerges when four interconnected elements strengthen each other over time. After working with dozens of experts who felt stuck despite having clarity on their essence and expression, I discovered that authentic authority requires a more complete framework.In this episode, I reveal why I evolved from the original Core Resonance formula (Essence × Expression = Resonant Impact) to what I now call the Four E's of Core Resonance. Through real client examples from my Resonant Thought Leadership Lab, I demonstrate how brilliant experts can know exactly who they are and how they communicate, yet still struggle to build sustainable influence because crucial elements are missing.I walk through each of the Four E's—Essence (how you're wired), Experience (your lived wisdom), Expression (your natural communication style), and Embodiment (taking your own medicine)—and show how they work together to create exponential resonance rather than just additive impact. This framework serves both as a foundation-building tool and a diagnostic when you feel stuck in growing your platform.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ The Four E's Create Exponential Impact – When Essence (how you're wired), Experience (lived wisdom), Expression (natural communication), and Embodiment (walking your talk) align together, you create authentic authority that can't be manufactured or copied—it's the crystal clear signal that others naturally amplify.⚡ Embodiment Is Often the Missing Piece – Most thought leaders focus on knowing who they are and how to communicate, but people can sense when you're not taking your own medicine. Consistent practice of applying your frameworks to your own challenges creates the credibility that makes you a trustworthy guide.⚡ Use the Four E's as Your Diagnostic Tool – When you feel stuck, check each element: Essence (are you building around your actual strengths?), Experience (are you teaching from lived wisdom?), Expression (are you using your natural archetype?), and Embodiment (are you practicing what you preach?).PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentCONNECT WITH MACY:Download the free Resonant Thought Leader Starter Kit at macyrobison.comEmail: macy@macyrobison.comFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Scaling your expertise often stalls due to self-imposed narratives rather than a lack of strategy. The podcast dives into how humility can sometimes masquerade as fear, holding back impactful voices. It emphasizes the difference between scaling for ego versus for genuine impact. By addressing mindset barriers, listeners learn to expand their influence in a way that aligns with their values. The focus shifts from building a detached business empire to fostering connections that maximize contributions where they matter most.

Discover how thought leaders can amplify their impact by embracing simple systems over complex ones. Learn why setting ambitious, even impossible, goals can streamline decision-making and enhance focus. Hear inspiring stories of individuals refining their expertise to achieve exponential growth. Explore practical strategies like the Frame-Floor-Focus model, which helps eliminate distractions and align efforts with your most valuable contributions. This is about creating conditions for meaningful work to reach those who need it most.

Your ability to translate complex research into practical wisdom isn't just valuable—it's desperately needed in our evidence-light, opinion-heavy world where hot takes masquerade as expertise. The most trusted thought leaders don't choose between academic rigor and practical application; they bridge that gap by maintaining credibility with both researchers and practitioners who need evidence-based insights they can actually use.In this final episode of our thought leadership archetypes series, I explore the Research Innovator archetype—those thought leaders who excel at investigating evidence and forming opinions based on data rather than gut reactions. Through examples like Angela Duckworth's translation of persistence research into the accessible concept of "grit" and Adam Grant's ability to share evidence-based insights without losing scientific foundation, I demonstrate why your investigative approach is your competitive advantage.I reveal why traditional advice to create inspirational content or share hot takes undermines your greatest strength, and share specific strategies for building a platform that showcases both your research credibility and practical applications. Whether you're translating your own original research or synthesizing existing studies into actionable frameworks, this episode will help you understand why your rigorous foundation justifies premium positioning in a world hungry for evidence-based transformation.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ You're a Pre-Processor, Not a Real-Time Reactor – Research Innovators work with data and studies first as input, then deliver synthesized insights to help others make better decisions. Your credibility comes from research rigor, not charisma or personal stories, and this systematic approach is what makes you trustworthy in an opinion-saturated landscape.⚡ Bridge the Gap Without Losing the Foundation – Your unique value lies in making complex research practically applicable without dumbing it down to the point where it loses scientific rigor. Like Mark Cuban explaining business concepts without jargon, you translate academic findings into everyday language that maintains accuracy while creating real-world impact.⚡ Price for Years of Investigation, Not Hours of Delivery – When you can take something complex and make it usable through evidence-based approaches, organizations will pay premium prices because you reduce risk and increase likelihood of success. You're not charging for time in the room—you're charging for the rigorous foundation and practical translation you provide.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Angela DuckworthGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela DuckworthAdam GrantAdam Grant's InstagramBrené BrownDare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts by Brené BrownEsther PerelHarvard Business ReviewArmchair Expert podcastThought Leadership Archetype AssessmentBeyond Your Primary Archetype WorkshopCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Your ability to translate complex concepts into clear visual frameworks isn't just a nice skill—it's a superpower in our increasingly complex world that should be the foundation of your entire thought leadership approach, not a supporting element. The most transformative thought leaders don't hide their natural visual thinking abilities; they leverage them to create immediate comprehension that years of written explanations could never achieve.In this episode, I explore the Visual Thought Architect archetype—those thought leaders who naturally think spatially and excel at organizing ideas into visual frameworks, flowcharts, and models that create instant understanding. Through examples like Alex Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas and practical strategies for live visual facilitation, I demonstrate why fighting against your visual processing strengths leads to exhaustion and diminished impact.I reveal why traditional advice to focus on written content or audio formats forces Visual Thought Architects to work with one hand tied behind their back, and share specific approaches for making your visual frameworks the star of your platform. Whether you naturally sketch out ideas when explaining concepts or feel energized by creating clarity through spatial organization, this episode will help you understand why your visual thinking is your competitive advantage, not something to minimize.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ Visual Processing Is How You Think, Not Just How You Communicate – Just like Wisdom Writers need to write to understand their ideas clearly, Visual Thought Architects need to draw concepts out to think effectively. Your visual frameworks should be the foundation of your content strategy, not an afterthought.⚡ Immediate Clarity Commands Premium Pricing – When you can help someone instantly understand a concept they've struggled with for years through your visual approach, that transformation is worth thousands to organizations dealing with complexity. Price for the breakthrough comprehension you create, not just the time you spend.⚡ Stop Hiding Your Visual Genius – The frameworks, models, and visual tools you create solve problems people have wrestled with for years. Making your visual work secondary to written content is hiding your zone of genius and limiting your impact potential.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Alex OsterwalderBusiness Model CanvasBusiness Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers by Alex Osterwalder and Yves PigneurValue Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want by Alex Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Gregory Bernarda, and Alan SmithTaki MooreBrooke Castillo (The Life Coach School)Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentBeyond Your Primary Archetype WorkshopCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Your greatest credibility doesn't come from credentials or theoretical knowledge—it emerges from the transparent documentation of your personal implementation journey, including both successes and failures. The most trusted thought leaders aren't those who teach the most topics; they're those who embody the principles they share and refuse to teach beyond their lived experience.In this episode, I explore the Principled Practitioner archetype—those thought leaders who have a natural experimental mindset and feel energized by being their own best case study. Through examples like James Clear's years of personal habit experimentation before writing Atomic Habits and Tim Ferriss's "human guinea pig" approach, I demonstrate why your authenticity and willingness to document your learning process creates trust that simply cannot be manufactured.I reveal why traditional advice to "expand your expertise to reach more people" actually undermines your greatest strength, and share practical strategies for turning your personal experimentation into compelling content. Whether you're already documenting your journey or feel pressure to teach beyond your validated experience, this episode will help you understand why your commitment to lived validation is your competitive advantage, not a limitation.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ Your Authenticity Is Your Authority – People trust Principled Practitioners because there's no gap between what you say and how you live. Your credibility comes from lived experience, not borrowed expertise, and this transparent validation creates trust that theoretical knowledge alone cannot achieve.⚡ Document the Process, Not Just the Results – Your audience values watching your learning journey as much as they want to see final outcomes. Start sharing your experiments, insights, and failures in real-time rather than waiting until you have everything perfectly figured out.⚡ Refuse to Teach What You Haven't Validated – The pressure to expand beyond your lived experience actually weakens your impact. Your willingness to stay grounded in personal validation is what makes you trustworthy and allows you to command premium pricing for proven approaches.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Tim FerrissJames ClearAtomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James ClearMonica Packer - About ProgressInstagram: @aboutprogressAbout Progress PodcastCal NewportDeep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal NewportThought Leadership Archetype AssessmentBeyond Your Primary Archetype WorkshopCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!

Your most powerful thought leadership doesn't come from improving existing approaches—it emerges when you have the courage to create entirely new paradigms that others can't even imagine yet. The greatest danger for naturally contrarian thinkers isn't being wrong about their revolutionary ideas; it's abandoning their unique perspective to follow proven formulas that will never showcase their true genius.In this episode, I explore the Category Creator archetype—those thought leaders who instinctively question assumptions everyone else accepts as truth and feel energized by creating new paradigms rather than incremental improvements. Through examples like Seth Godin's creation of permission marketing and the Category Pirates' premium Substack approach, I demonstrate why trying to force revolutionary thinking through conventional marketing tactics leads to frustration and burnout.I reveal the specific strategies Category Creators need to build sustainable thought leadership: from writing paradigm-shifting manifestos to premium positioning based on category ownership. Whether Category Creator is your primary archetype or appears in your top scores, this episode will help you understand why that internal alarm system goes off when you follow standard advice—and how to leverage your contrarian perspective as your greatest competitive advantage.IMPACT POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE:⚡ Your Contrarian Perspective Is Your Competitive Advantage – Stop trying to soften your revolutionary thinking to appeal to more people. When you create new categories rather than compete in existing ones, you get to set the pricing standards and attract early adopters who are frustrated with conventional approaches.⚡ Revolutionary Ideas Need Revolutionary Marketing – Traditional thought leadership tactics fail Category Creators because there's no existing roadmap for what you're creating. Your platform should signal that you're not following conventional approaches through manifesto-centered content and positioning that feels completely different from industry standards.⚡ Create Discussion, Don't Seek Consensus – Category Creators build audiences by cultivating debate and attracting the right people while strongly repelling the wrong ones. Your job isn't to fit into existing categories—it's to fundamentally redefine them or create new ones that serve people more powerfully.PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Seth GodinaltMBAKatrina Ghazarian Gameday HRCategory Pirates (Substack)Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentBeyond Your Primary Archetype WorkshopCONNECT WITH MACY:Take the Thought Leadership Archetype AssessmentFollow on Instagram: @macyrobisonConnect on LinkedIn: Macy RobisonVisit: macyrobison.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more thought leaders who are ready to make an impact with their ideas. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Own Your Impact!