240: My Realization of What's in MY Way to Thought Leadership with Carol Cox

Is there something holding you back from your thought leadership? If so, it just might be the way through.

In the episode from 2 weeks ago with Betsy Jordyn, we talked about Betsy’s realization, which she shared in her Thought Leader Academy graduation speech, that “What I thought was *in my way* to my thought leadership was *the way* to my thought leadership.”

The idea is that what holds us back, where we get stuck, what we’re putting off doing, what we’re afraid to talk about is precisely what we need to do.

Our audiences will relate to our struggles and WE will grow by pushing past the doubts and fears.

I’ve been reflecting about what holds me back - and it’s that I don’t like being in the spotlight.

This seems counter-intuitive and ironic and ridiculous.

After all, I’ve been speaking on stages of all sizes for years, have been on TV for the past 15 years, and have been doing this podcast for 4-½ years.

And yet I’ve started to realize that my default behavior has become to say ‘no’ to opportunities and find someone else to put the spotlight on instead of myself.

In this episode, I share how I came to this realization, the impact that a very hard professional experience had on me, and how I’m making progress.

I also share with you questions I’ve been asking myself to get to the root of what may be holding you back that you can use too.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/240

My Summit Speech 2021: https://youtu.be/5H2FysOKvdw?t=1001

Download our FREE workbook on how to position yourself as a thought leader: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/guide/.

Join our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/.

Schedule a consult call to talk about creating your signature talk and thought leadership platform: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/contact.

Connect on social:

• Carol on LinkedIn = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Carol on Instagram= https://www.instagram.com/carolmorgancox
• SYB on YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS7AtXV0f_HL09mepAON65w/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 185: My Journey as a Thought Leader and How We’re Evolving at Speaking Your Brand with Carol Cox
• Episode 232: Are You an Influencer, an Expert, or a Thought Leader? with Carol Cox
• Episode 233: 3 Types of Thought Leadership Models with Carol Cox
• Episode 238: What's IN Your Way IS Your Way to Your Thought Leadership with Betsy Jordyn

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable