The Recognized Authority – Details, episodes & analysis

Are you a thought leader grappling with how to adapt to the rise of AI? In this episode, The Recognized Authority podcast host Alastair McDermott sits down with co-host Alistair McBride to discus a pivotal shift. They discuss

• The urgent need for AI literacy among experts and leaders
• Navigating AI's productivity benefits vs credibility risks 
• Ethical concerns like bias, privacy, and intellectual property
• Extending thought leadership to broader AI business applications

Tune in as these forward-thinking unpack unknown unknowns and try to map out this rapidly evolving frontier that you can't afford to ignore.

👉 Find The AI-Powered Business Leader here at AIPowered.biz

Key Insights:

- AI presents an urgent priority that businesses and thought leaders must address

- AI increases productivity but could compromise credibility if misused  

- Thought leaders need "AI literacy" to responsibly understand and apply the technology

- AI has profound implications across business processes, privacy, IP, society

Strategies:  

- Continuously evaluate and adopt new AI capabilities as the space rapidly evolves

- Establish ethical AI usage policies, including vetting training data sources

- Run AI models locally to avoid feeding private client data into cloud services

- Use AI as a supportive tool, not to fully automate authorship

Quotes:

"AI is coming for us first. So, this is kind of like the total reversal of technology in the past where we've usually been kind of inoculated against it." - Alistair McBride (9:31)

"We need to be literate; we need to be AI literate. We need to understand how these systems work." - Alastair McDermott (16:49)

"We need to figure out how this is going to impact us because this is going to change businesses. It's going to change society. It's going to change industries." - Alastair McDermott (17:53)

🎙️+📺 SHOW: The Recognized Authority is the podcast & YouTube show that helps experts & consultants on the journey to becoming a recognized authority in your field, so you can increase your impact, command higher fees, and work with better clients.

📲 | SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: https://rec.nz/ytsubscribe

🎓 COACHING: Find out more about working with Alastair: https://rec.nz/coaching

👑 - BOOKS: Searching “Alastair McDermott” on Amazon https://rec.nz/allbooks

Expert Authority Builder Series:

👑 33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Business Podcast: A Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Recording and Launching Your Business Podcast!

👑 Quick Win Content: How to Create a Single Piece of Engaging & Effective Content That Resonates with Potential Clients and Generates Quality Leads

👑 Efficient Content Creation: A Practical Guide to Consistently Creating High-Quality Content in a Busy Schedule

👑 How to Sound & Look Good on Zoom & Podcasts: Tips & Audio Video Recommendations for Consultants & Experts

🚨 - FOLLOW Alastair and The Recognized Authority ON SOCIAL MEDIA... 👇

👑 - LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AlastairMcDermott

👑 - FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheRecognizedAuthority

👑 - INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/TheRecognizedAuthority

💻 - WEBSITE: https://TheRecognizedAuthority.com

Are you struggling to establish yourself as an authority in your niche? Discover the proven strategies used by over 150 bestselling authors, thought leaders and industry experts.

In this insightful episode of The Recognized Authority podcast, host Alastair McDermott is joined by his friend Alistair McBride to reveal the top advice for building authority - extracted from over 162 episodes and 200+ hours of audio content.

You'll learn:

• The #1 tactic mentioned by a staggering 90+ guests to accelerate authority building
• Why specializing and niching down is critical (highlighted by 65+ experts)
• How to truly understand your ideal client's needs, fears and desires
• The key to providing genuine value that builds trust
• Specific content creation and distribution strategies that work

Key Insights:

• Creating content consistently is crucial for building authority over time
• Specializing and niching down allows you to become the recognized expert
• Understanding your ideal client's problems, language, and desired outcomes is essential
• Providing genuine value builds trust and attracts your ideal audience
• Having a strong point of view and clear positioning is important

Strategies:

• Repurpose content across multiple platforms like podcasts, videos, and blogs
• Use storytelling techniques to engage your audience
• Invest in quality audio and video equipment to appear more professional
• Raise your prices - you're likely undercharging for the value you provide

Don't miss this content-packed episode that distills the wisdom of the world's top authorities into an actionable blueprint you can follow.

🎙️+📺 SHOW: The Recognized Authority is the podcast & YouTube show that helps experts & consultants on the journey to becoming a recognized authority in your field, so you can increase your impact, command higher fees, and work with better clients.

📲 | SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: https://rec.nz/ytsubscribe

🎓 COACHING: Find out more about working with Alastair: https://rec.nz/coaching

👑 - BOOKS: Searching “Alastair McDermott” on Amazon https://rec.nz/allbooks

Expert Authority Builder Series:

👑 33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Business Podcast: A Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Recording and Launching Your Business Podcast!

👑 Quick Win Content: How to Create a Single Piece of Engaging & Effective Content That Resonates with Potential Clients and Generates Quality Leads

👑 Efficient Content Creation: A Practical Guide to Consistently Creating High-Quality Content in a Busy Schedule

👑 How to Sound & Look Good on Zoom & Podcasts: Tips & Audio Video Recommendations for Consultants & Experts

🚨 - FOLLOW Alastair and The Recognized Authority ON SOCIAL MEDIA... 👇

👑 - LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AlastairMcDermott

👑 - FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheRecognizedAuthority

👑 - INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/TheRecognizedAuthority

💻 - WEBSITE: https://TheRecognizedAuthority.com

I was asked for the"secrets" I have for marketing.

The biggest secret is this:

*drum roll*

Vertical specialization

*Jedi Wave* "this is the secret you've been looking for"

Really?

Yes, really.

Based on metric fscktonnes of research (that's the technical term) I conducted, and reading the research of others, I believe that positioning your business as specializing in a single vertical is the "magic bullet" that will result in more leads & sales than any other marketing strategy.

Why is it a secret?

Because niching down to a single vertical scares the crap out of people.

There are loads of reasons to fear it: it's turning down opportunity (somewhat valid but doesn't really happen) or "I'll get bored just working in one industry" (highly unlikely, as you specialize you find deeper, more interesting problems.)

And it's also difficult, and time consuming, and lots of other problems. But it's worthwhile.

What's my call to action?

Simple: don't just take my word for it:

Listen to Wolfram Moritz and Brad Farris and Jonathan Stark and Sara Dunn and Louis Grenier on the Marketing for Consultants podcast.

Go read Philip Morgan's "The Positioning Manual for Indie Consultants" where he walks you through how and why to specilize. 

Read the Business of Expertise from David C. Baker where he lists the pros and cons of vertical vs horizontal specialization. 

Read Spiraling Up from Lee Frederiksen & Aaron E. Taylor. 

In fact, check out everything from Hinge, including Kelly J. Waffle's interview with Yitzi Weiner in the Thrive Global Community.

Thank you for attending my TED rant.

If you've done any research on marketing your consulting business, you'll almost certainly have come across the advice to start an email newsletter or list. It's a relationship with your audience that you own directly, without the interposition of a third party platform. You'll often hear the phrase "don't build on rented ground" in relation to social platforms, and email is an answer to that. The mantra for many marketers is "build a list!" 

In this episode, Dylan Redekop and Alastair McDermott discuss how to grow an email newsletter, the different types of incentives we can offer subscribers to join the list, and why giving away value for free is crucial.

They also discuss how to create a nurture sequence to welcome and prep new subscribers, how to use email courses, quizzes & challenges to increase signups, and why the welcome email is so important.

“When people sign up to our newsletters it's important for us to keep in mind that the inbox is a very personal space, and so when we are invited there we need to be really considerate of that. 

We need to make sure that we're sending something that is worth sending and they will get value in receiving.” – Dylan Redekop on The Recognized Authority podcast

“When something like Elon Musk buying Twitter happens, it'd make me a little bit nervous if that was my only source of engaging with my audience.

But since I have grown an email list, I've taken those people and I've brought them into my own ecosystem where I can communicate with them, regardless of the platform I'm using.” -- Dylan Redekop on The Recognized Authority podcast

👑 Learn more about the Authority Labs mastermind group programme: https://therecognizedauthority.com/group 👑

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/how-to-grow-a-newsletter/ 👈👈

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✉️ Subscribe to the email list at TheRecognizedAuthority.com

🎙️ Record a question or voice message for the show at TheRecognizedAuthority.com/question

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube 

In this episode, I speak with Olympic gold medalist Joe Jacobi about performance in sport and business.

This conversation takes a slightly different road from other episodes, as we talk about the relationship between success and identity, why energy is crucial for performance & capacity, and the importance of connecting with nature. 

We also go a little tactical, discussing how to why course correction is crucial to performance, and how a coaching intervention won an Olympic gold medal.

“I've been on a start line of the Olympic Games where I've seen athletes who were so confident they believed in what they were doing, and they didn't have a good race. I've also seen athletes lacking confidence that went on to win a medal.” – Joe Jacobi on The Recognized Authority podcast

“If I told you a course correction would actually get you a gold medal at the Olympic Games, most people would say "You're crazy, that doesn't make sense! That's not the story of LeBron James or Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan - just gritty and resilient and being better and stronger. That's not how sport works." 

I'm here to tell you it can work like that.” -- Joe Jacobi on The Recognized Authority podcast

👑 Learn more about the Authority Labs mastermind group programme: https://therecognizedauthority.com/group 👑

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/performing-at-the-highest-level/ 👈👈

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✉️ Subscribe to the email list at TheRecognizedAuthority.com

🎙️ Record a question or voice message for the show at TheRecognizedAuthority.com/question

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube

Creating and publishing content is a cornerstone of the authority building process. Audio podcasts are one of the options we have to do just that, and there are many choices we can make around podcasting that will impact on how much it helps us build authority.

In this episode, Megan Dougherty and Alastair McDermott discuss how to plan your podcast strategically in order to build your authority, how you can use podcasts for research, and how guesting on other people's podcasts fits into your authority building mix.

They also discuss why starting your podcast with a short run initial season is a good idea, the dynamics of conversational interviews, and how to grow your podcast audience. 

“I think the networking and that relationship cultivation element of podcasting can't be overstated. "Hey, will you be on my podcast?" is this really natural opener to a relationship and you get so many touch points in the process to make a good impression, and so many reasons in the future to follow up again.” -- Megan Dougherty on The Recognized Authority podcast

“According to the data, yes, your podcast should be on YouTube. A shocking number of people listen to podcasts on YouTube, they just put the videos on plays in the background, they listen to it while they're going about their day.” -- Megan Dougherty on The Recognized Authority podcast

👑 Learn more about the Authority Labs mastermind group programme: https://therecognizedauthority.com/group 👑

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/building-authority-with-podcasting/ 👈👈

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✉️ Subscribe to the email list at TheRecognizedAuthority.com

🎙️ Record a question or voice message for the show at TheRecognizedAuthority.com/question

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube

Proposals are an essential part of winning business, but writing a consulting proposal is often a hugely time-consuming and frustrating process.

In this episode, Reuben Swartz and Alastair McDermott discuss how to create a stress-free consulting proposal, what elements are essential in the proposal document, and why presenting the proposal is such an important part of the sales process.

They also discuss how you should think about proposals (and why proposals are not brochures), how to use options and pricing curves, and where you can find proposal templates and resources.

“If you do the proposal right it doesn't feel like a necessary evil, which is what it used to feel like to me. It's kind of fun, almost like getting warmed up for the game. It's not something that you have to loath or be stressed out about.” -- Reuben Swartz on The Recognized Authority podcast

“When I started out, I was excited but also terrified and stressed out about how I supposed to write the proposal. I've subsequently learned that it happens to a lot of people, because I don't think we equip folks with the right way of thinking about proposals, and it turns it into this unnecessarily stressful event.” -- Reuben Swartz on The Recognized Authority podcast

👑 Learn more about the Authority Labs mastermind group programme: https://therecognizedauthority.com/group 👑

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/stress-free-consulting-proposals/ 👈👈

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✉️ Subscribe to the email list at TheRecognizedAuthority.com

🎙️ Record a question or voice message for the show at TheRecognizedAuthority.com/question

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube 

Books have long been associated with authority and thought leadership. "He wrote the book on it", "She wrote the book on it" - that's how we describe a true expert in a field. "Consultant, author and speaker" is the byline for many thought leaders, and even the word "author" is the major part of authority. But writing a good, valuable, and useful book is a difficult, time-consuming process. Or is it?

In this episode, Steve Gordon and Alastair McDermott discuss why a book is the gold standard of authority building, why outlines are so crucial, and how to write your book in 30 days.

They also discuss the mistakes most authors make when writing, how to use a book as a referral tool, and how a podcast can help create strategic relationships.

“I had to write several more books to figure out what I was doing that allowed me to write them so fast. We started refining that process, and now our clients are getting them done in about 90 days. That's about 30 days of dedicated writing, 30 days of getting it ready to publish and publishing it, and 30 days of promotion and launch.” -- Steve Gordon on The Recognized Authority podcast

“As an expert who does really complicated and intangible things for your clients, a book is a great way to let them sample ahead of time. They experience what it would be like to work with you, because they're interacting with your thinking.” -- Steve Gordon on The Recognized Authority podcast

👑 Learn more about the Authority Labs mastermind group programme: https://therecognizedauthority.com/group 👑

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/write-a-book-in-30-days/ 👈👈

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✉️ Subscribe to the email list at TheRecognizedAuthority.com

🎙️ Record a question or voice message for the show at TheRecognizedAuthority.com/question

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube 

Bonus Episode: Becoming a Recognized Authority - Alastair McDermott with Tamara Howard

To celebrate reaching 70 episodes, I have a special bonus episode for you!

I was recently on Tamara Howard's podcast The Better Way to Strategic Marketing where we had a conversation about authority and specialization.

Tamara is a super interviewer, and she has graciously allowed me to "re-pod" that interview, so here is the episode in full!

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode and links to Tamara's podcast, website and social profiles in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/bonus-becoming-a-recognized-authority 👈👈

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube

A key person of influence is someone who is able to separate themselves from the market, to command the lion's share of attention, and is able to charge a price premium. They are one of the few names mentioned whenever it's connected to a particular subject.

In this episode, Chris Do and Alastair McDermott discuss how you can become a key person of influence, why sharing the "secret sauce" is so important, and why it's better not to have a viral hit too early.

They also discuss how to create a hundred-day content strategy, the two types of YouTube channel you can create, and why you should specialize externally but generalize internally.

“Is there a benefit to sharing your work? If we don't share, if we don't write, if we don't produce content, how else will people discover you?” -- Chris Do on The Recognized Authority podcast

“When you have a viral hit and you've barely started to make content, you're still finding your voice. And a lot of people are showing up to see you still in that learning phase.  

To me, it's better that you practice in relative anonymity. It'll give you more confidence, you'll find your voice, and you'll find the thing that you want to do.” -- Chris Do on The Recognized Authority podcast

🗒️ Show Notes 🗒️

Access all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes here: 

👉👉 https://therecognizedauthority.com/be-a-key-person-of-influence/ 👈👈

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✉️ Subscribe to the email list at TheRecognizedAuthority.com

🎙️ Record a question or voice message for the show at TheRecognizedAuthority.com/question

⭐ Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review

🤗 Connect with Alastair and The Recognized Authority:

➡️ LinkedIn ➡️ Twitter ➡️ YouTube