What if your next client already feels like they know you—before you’ve ever spoken a word?

This week on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter talks with Jim Schleckser, founder of The CEO Project, a peer advisory group for high-performing CEOs. Jim shares insights from advising over 125 CEOs across 40 states, leading organizations with revenues from $25 million to over $2 billion. His unique perspective offers a window into how top leaders are using thought leadership as both consumers and creators.

We dig into why CEOs crave curated content that helps them grow—and why books and podcasts still dominate their learning habits. Jim explains how the right idea, delivered through the right channel, can build trust and drive decisions long before the first handshake. We explore how CEOs and their teams are becoming more intentional about content creation—not for vanity metrics, but to attract the right clients, partners, and talent.

Jim also unpacks the shifting role of AI in content development. As more companies turn to AI for marketing output, he challenges us to think deeper: What’s your human layer of insight that the algorithms can’t replicate?

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for CEOs, content creators, and thought leaders who want to build meaningful influence, not just volume.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Quality Over Quantity in Thought Leadership
CEOs aren’t looking for mass appeal—they want relevant insights from trusted sources. Thought leadership that resonates with a niche but high-value audience can drive business results far more effectively than chasing viral reach.

• Books and Podcasts Still Matter
Despite the flood of digital content, CEOs continue to prioritize books and podcasts as their go-to learning tools. These formats allow for deeper engagement and often serve as catalysts for future business relationships.

• AI Is a Tool, Not a Strategy
While AI can assist in generating content, it can’t replace the value of human insight. Leaders must use AI thoughtfully—adding expertise and perspective—to ensure their thought leadership remains authentic and impactful.

If you found Jim Schleckser’s insights on high-impact, CEO-focused thought leadership valuable, you’ll want to check out Episode 498 with Will Milano. Will shares how organizations can turn their senior leaders and subject-matter experts into trusted voices of authority—without relying solely on the CEO. Together, these episodes explore how to scale thought leadership, deepen trust, and focus on quality over quantity. Don’t miss it!

Have you ever wondered why some nonprofits make a huge impact while others struggle to grow? The difference isn't always their mission—it’s their ability to fundraise and scale effectively.

James Misner, founder of the Kipos Group, joins us today to reveal why bigger doesn’t always mean better in the nonprofit sector. James spent 25 years witnessing smaller nonprofits achieve incredible results—only to remain largely invisible due to weak fundraising skills.

We dive into the critical business skills most nonprofit founders lack, from building fundraising teams to understanding marketing ROI. James explains how he helps these leaders think differently, equipping them with essential tools to fundraise confidently and sustainably.

James also shares powerful insights on thought leadership strategy. Instead of chasing large, vague markets, he advocates for targeting highly specific audiences. He discusses why giving away your best insights freely creates a pipeline of opportunity, helping more people and generating growth simultaneously.

Finally, we explore the challenge of perfectionism in thought leadership content. James encourages leaders to overcome their fear of judgment and embrace sharing imperfect but impactful ideas. If your mission matters, James argues, it’s time to hit “publish.”

Three Key Takeaways:

• Smaller nonprofits can achieve massive impact if they master fundraising and marketing skills typically seen in larger organizations.

• Focusing your thought leadership on a narrowly defined audience can drive stronger engagement and better outcomes than chasing broad markets.

• Overcoming perfectionism and generously sharing valuable insights can create trust, generate opportunities, and significantly accelerate your organization's growth.

If you found value in James Misner’s insights on equipping nonprofits with the tools to scale through thought leadership and targeted fundraising, you won’t want to miss our conversation with Stu Manewith in the episode "Thought Leadership Advocacy for Nonprofits". Stu dives into how nonprofit leaders can leverage their voices to advocate for their mission, build trust with donors, and create lasting impact. Together, these episodes offer a powerful playbook for nonprofit professionals looking to pair strategic thinking with storytelling to drive real change. Listen to both and discover how to amplify your organization’s influence from the inside out.

What if your greatest business challenge could become your launchpad into thought leadership?

Today, Bill Sherman sits down with Aaron Marcum, visionary behind Breakaway 365 and bestselling author of EntreThrive, to explore how a journey from entrepreneur to industry thought leader unfolds—often unintentionally. Aaron shares how his frustration with data gaps in the home care space led to the founding of a data analytics company and, unexpectedly, a national reputation as a thought leader. Along the way, he leveraged the insights of thinkers like Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber, and later deepened his impact through a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology under the guidance of Dr. Martin Seligman.

Aaron breaks down how storytelling with data shifted his role from CEO to an in-demand industry voice, fueling brand growth, product evolution, and ultimately, a lucrative exit. But he didn’t stop there. With EntreThrive, he’s now equipping entrepreneurs to beat burnout, overcome inertia, and find lasting fulfillment. Whether he's on stage, coaching leaders, or writing his next big idea, Aaron exemplifies how thought leadership evolves with intention and legacy in mind.

He doesn’t just teach frameworks—he lives them. And his mission? To empower other coaches and entrepreneurs to do the same, with impact that extends beyond business and into family, travel, and values.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Thought Leadership Can Be Accidental—But It Shouldn’t Stay That Way: Aaron began as a consumer of thought leadership, applying insights from Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber to his business. Over time, he evolved into a recognized voice in the home care industry by solving real problems with data, eventually becoming an intentional and strategic thought leader.

• Data + Storytelling = Impact: His ability to interpret data and turn it into actionable insights transformed his brand visibility, customer engagement, and exit valuation. By controlling the narrative through thought leadership, he elevated his company’s reputation and market value.

• Purpose Drives the Next Chapter: After exiting two companies, Aaron continues to lead with purpose—not for profit, but for impact. Through EntreThrive and Breakaway 365, he’s focused on coaching entrepreneurs to overcome burnout and thrive, combining positive psychology, personal experience, and a calling to serve others.

If you're exploring how thought leadership can evolve from personal insight to organizational strategy, this episode offers complementary perspectives. In Discovering Thought Leadership, Mark Smith shares his journey from HR research to establishing a formal thought leadership role at SHRM, navigating internal structures to align research with actionable business goals.