Moving from internal thought leadership to being a solo act means having to take on a lot of new roles. Marketing, research, and publishing all fall on your shoulders now. Are you prepared? Today our guest is Dan Pontefract, who, after a long prosperous career at companies like Telus, struck out on his own as a leadership strategist, change expert, keynote speaker, and award-winning author.  His fifth book Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team that Flourishes will be released in November of 2023. Dan shares his journey from working at Telus as Chief Learning Officer, using the company as a lab with the ability to real-time test ideas to teaching the models he helped create internally, to external companies guiding others through leadership development and culture change. As an author much has changed over the ten years since his first book was published.  Dan shares his experience both with untrustworthy and fantastic partners in publishing.  In addition, he explains why you should be ready to market the book yourself, the big differences between self, hybrid, and traditional publishing! If you are just getting started or about to break out from corporate thought leadership, Dan provides valuable advice for thought leaders at any stage!  Three Key Takeaways: ·         When doing market research look at others in your sphere at your level.  Then look at those above you and determine what sets them apart. What can you learn from what they are doing? ·         Be continually and continuously adding to your body of work. ·         Thought leadership can take a product that might not land you a meeting, and open the door to a more interesting conversation.