Icons don't their way to income.
They build it - by design.
📍In This Issue:
- The painful truth about "respected but broke"
- When passion stops paying - and what to do next
- How one man built legacy from lived experience
- Why waiting is the most expensive decision you'll make
- Three revenue leaks most thought leaders never plug
From Impostor to Industry Icon - Baddy's Safe Space Revolution
Let's start with Baddy's story.
With Baddy in Davos at The African Hub at The World Economic Forum
When Baddy first joined The Industry Icon Program, he wasn't asking:
How do I get rich?
He was asking:
How do I turn my mission into a movement that funds itself?
Because for Baddy, this work was never about ego.
It was about healing - for himself, and for the people who needed him most.
He as already changing lives - helping families with neurodiverse children feel safe, seen, and supported.
But hardly anyone knew his name.
His story.
Or the fire behind his mission.
Long before he became a keynote speaker in Davos, Switzerland, Baddy worked in private security in Cameroon - protecting others during politically unstable times.
But when things turned dangerous for him personally, he fled.
Not out of fear - but with conviction.
He made himself a promise:
"From now on, I'll spend the rest of my life creating safe spaces - wherever I go."
That mission followed him to Zurich.
So did his heart.
But his message? It was getting lost in the noise.
He was visible, yes.
But not monetised.
Not packaged.
Not heard in the rooms where real decisions - and real funding - were made.
That changed when he stepped into the Industry Icon Program.
🎤 His first keynote?
Standing ovation.
Tears.
Sponsors.
Contracts.
A message the world was finally ready to hear - because it was finally delivered in a way they could receive.
Today, Baddy leads a growing team.
He coaches corporate and government leaders.
And he's booked out until 2028.
He didn't become more passionate.
He became more positioned.
Because when your story is aligned, visible, and backed by strategy - you don't just get seen.
You get funded.
Influence Isn't Income - And AI is Coming for Yours
Let's be blunt.
If you're brilliant... but broke -
It's not your fault.
But it is your responsibility to change it.
I see so many thought leaders out there who aren't failing because they lack ideas.
They're failing because they don't know how to sell them.
Yes, they create.
Yes, they inspire.
And they absolutely serve.
Here's the issue.
No one's buying.
People say: "That's amazing."
But not: "You're amazing - how do I work with you?"
And that's the disconnect.
What you need to understand is this:
Your audience loves your message,
But they're not investing in your method.
Which means, you're either:
✅ Given too much away for free
❌ Never made a clear offer
🧩 Or packaged it in a way that they can't say yes to
Meanwhile...
🔥 AI is learning to do what you do - faster, cheaper, and 24/7.
The reality is:
AI isn't insecure.
It doesn't get stage fright.
It doesn't wait to be "ready".
It just shows up.
If you don't step into your expert identity now - and monetise your IP with clarity - you leave the door wide open for someone else to do it louder, cheaper, and algorithmically.
Here's what you're doing:
You're letting the platform choose the winner - not the value.
If you're not fast?
If you don't change?
Your audience will have already moved on.
Here are the facts:
- Your brilliance is not enough
- Your visibility is not a business model
- And your message doesn't build legacy - unless it pays for itself
It's time to stop guessing.
And start designing an income engine that actually reflects your value.
Real Thought Leaders Don't Wait for Permission
I've mentioned this before - and you can see it everywhere.
The world is on edge.
You can feel it in the news.
In the markets.
In boardrooms.
Even in your own industry.
Everything feels unstable - governments, economies, even truth itself.
And while most people are waiting for things to "go back to normal"...
Thought Leaders and Icons don't twiddle their thumbs.
They lead - without waiting.
So now, step up and speak with clarity -
otherwise AI will.
And when the lines between real and artificial start to blur...
Your voice - your human story - becomes your only real asset.
Ray Dalio says the world resets every 80 years.
The last reset? 1945.
Post-war. Post-crisis. America took the reins.
Today, 80 years later...
We're in another storm.
New players. New power shifts.
China. India. AI. Algorithms.
The future is up for grabs.
And you? Are you still waiting - or are you stepping in?
Remember: silence is not safety.
It's permission for someone else to lead in your place.
Thought Leaders Rise When the World Feels Shaky
- They don't wait for the algorithm to approve their message.
- They don't rely on a title to give them permission.
- They don't play small and hope to be discovered.
They speak with conviction - even when things feels foggy.
Because people don't follow perfection.
They follow presence.
In uncertain times, we don't need more content.
We need more clarity.
If you've ever wondered whether now is the right time to speak up, sell, or scale -
Look around.
Now is exactly the time.
The world is watching.
They just need someone worth following.
📣 That's what we can build with you in the Industry Icon Program -
A brand that speaks on your behalf.
A presence that opens doors.
And a message they'll remember long after the room clears.
We map it all out for you with our Industry Icon Roadmap - from obscurity to full ownership.
👉🏾 Apply here ->
Tactical Action - Monetise Like a Thought Leader
Your homework today:
Let's monetise like a real thought leader.
Sit down and reflect:
- Is your message powerful?
- Does your story carry weight?
- Have you already proven your value?
If the answer is YES -
Then the only question left is:
Why isn't it paying you yet?
Here are 3 core questions to get you started today:
- Who pays for the result you deliver?
Stop solving problems for people who don't have a budget.
Focus on clients who are ready to invest in transformation - not just ask for advice. - Where are your invisible revenue leaks?
Are you answering questions, giving feedback, coaching in the comments - all for free?
You're probably helping hundreds of people.. and charging none of them.
Plug that leak. - What can you earn while you sleep?
Passive ≠ Lazy.
It's means your IP is doing the heavy lifting, even when you're not in the room.
From The Thought Leader's Playbook
Chapter 39: Monetise Your Omnichannel & Legacy
Let's be honest - for most people, "monetisation" sounds like a dirty word.
But in the world of thought leadership, it's the difference between being visible and being viable.
"It's not just about making money; it's about creating a legacy that keeps on giving."
Chapter 39, Thought Leader's Playbook
In this chapter, I break down the exact strategies used by world-class speakers and coaches to build multiple revenue streams - from live events and mentoring, to affiliate sales, digital products, and brand partnerships.
📚 Want to read the full book?
Click here to purchase The Thought Leader's Playbook
Now - ready to put this into action?
I've prepared 13 ways for you to monetise your personal brand - like an Icon.
These aren't random tips.
They're proven strategies used by speakers, coaches, and consultants around the world - to turn their voice into income and their message into momentum.
If you're ready to start earning like the expert you already are...
This resource is free - but only for subscribers.
