Most leaders lose deals, fees and recognition - not because their status doesn't match their talent. If you're brilliant but still overlooked, here's the reason - and the fix.
π In This Issue
- Why you're still overlooked (even if you're 10x more talented)
- How one client 10X'd her fees with the same product
- Why "status" is the new credibility currency
- Tactical steps to boost your influence this week
Why Your Status Powers Everything
Throughtout history - in every tribe, town, kingdom and corporation - one invisible force has always chosen the leaders.
Not money.
Not fame.
Not connections.
Not even power.
It's status.
Status is the invisible crown.
It's how others rank you in the hierarchy of trust.
And it's built on three things:
ππΎ What you've done
ππΎ The story you've told about it
ππΎ The positioning that story gives you
In today's world, you can't fake status.
But you can engineer it.
To be a true Thought Leader, you must:
- Have big ideas - insights that shift minds and spark conversation
- Know your audience - the people you need to hear from you
- Be found - visible, loud, and crystal-clear in your messaging
- Deliver value - create results, transformation and income
- Convert attention into positioning - so others fight to work with you
And all of this feeds your status.
Status is how someone decides - in seconds - if you're worth listening to, following or paying.
π Status Throughout History
Let's talk icons:
- Cleopatra - No social media. Just immense personal branding.
- Leonardo da Vinci - Ideas 500 years ahead of his time.
- Oprah - Built an empire by understanding her audienc better than they understood themselves.
- Elon Musk - Not the richest, but percieved as the boldest visionary.
- The Dalai Lama - Spiritual status with no product, no funnel, no CTA.
What they have all in comon?
π₯ A powerful narrative
π₯ A magnetic presence
π₯ A status that creates opportunities before they even arrive
This isn't just history.
It's your playbook.
So the next time someone says " It's all about who you know," you'll know the truth:
It's aall about who believes in you - and that starts with your status.
Status Isn't A Luxury. It's The Oxygen of Influence.
Every society, in every era, runs on one silent but powerful currency: status.
Without it, you'll get overlooked.
You'll get underpaid.
You'll be replaced by someone less talented - but more visible.
There are three main ways people climb the status ladder:
- π£ Dominance -> "I'm the best."
Think Messi or Ronaldo. They dominated football through unmatched talent and relentless performance.
Translation for you: You don't have to shout. You can radiate warmth and confidence. Be the calm in the chaos. Show mastery without arrogance. - π’ Success -> "I have more."
Think Richard Branson. Whether you love him or not, he's held a reputation for 3 decades as the favourite CEO and founder on the planet.
Translation for you: Instead of flashing your wins, offer your expertise generously. Teach. Share frameworks. People follow those who help them level up.
- π‘ Virtue -> "I stand for something."
Think Michelle Obama or the Pope. Their power comes from priciple over popularity.
Translation for you: Show up with sincerity, consistency and transparency. Say the hard truths. Live your message.
The real magic? When you combine all three.
That's when you become unstoppable.
That's when your BE -> DO -> SAY model locks into place.
That's when status fuels your growth instead of blocking it.
Most people think being "good" is enough. It's not.
You Can Be Smart. Talented. Brilliant.
But without status - you're invisible.
If you're not seen as an Industry Icon, you're not getting the calls.
You're not commanding the fees.
You're not shaping the conversation.
And here's the kicker:
You could be 10x more skilled that the person who is getting the deals.
But if your status doesn't reflect it? You lose.
Status isn't optional. It's oxygen.
You don't need to be filthy rich. But you need financial flow.
You don't need millions of fans. But you do need a tribe that believes in you.
You don't need to dominate the room But you do need to be quotable, visible and emotionally resonant.
Let's take two real-world case studies:
- Shah Rukh Khan
He didn't become a global icon through action scenes or spectacle.
He became one of the most beloved actors in the world for a different reason:
He knows how to touch hearts.
For over 30 years, audiences have trusted him to deliver emotion, humanity and meaning.
He brings warmth, depth and presence - often in roles you didn't even know you needed.
That's the kind of status built not on hype, but on empathy, longevity and trust. - Tom Cruise
On the other end of the spectrum, Tom Cruise built his status through spectacle.
He's in his 60s, yet still jumps off cliffs, hangs from planes and reboots the box office.
Audiences don't just watch a Tom Cruise film - they line up for the experience.
They know they'll get scale, adrenaline, and commitment like no one else.
They don't need convincing. They already trust the brand.
That's not just acting anymore.
That's Iconic Presence.
Here's the truth:
Status isn't about you.
It's about how others feel about you - and whether they can place you in a mental box of authority, consistency and value.
If you can't communicate it, you can't own it.
If you can't translate it into action, you can't scale it.
So the real game isn't just about what's inside you rhead.
It's about what's inside their head - and how you bridge the gap.
Want a rise?
You need:
ποΈ A voice they trust
π§ Ideas they remember
π€ A way to connect back to you
Because the tighter the feedback loop between what you create and what your audience feels, the faster you become the obvious choice in any room.
That's how Icons are made.
Celebrities like SRK and Tom Cruise show us two different faces of status.
But here's the point: you don't need to be in Hollywood or Bollywood to play this game.
One of my own clients proved it in the business world - and the results were just as dramatic.
Arjun (not his real name) : From Investor to Industry Icon
Arjun didn't need help with business. He needed help with status.
When we first started, he was already a sharp mind in the world of startups - an angel investor with an uncanny ability to spot future unicorns.
But he wasn't positioned.
He had the brains, the track record, and the capital - but not the influence to match it publicly.
Then came the opportunity: a new Indian TV show, a cross between Shark Tank and Dragon's Den.
This wasn't just about appearing on TV. It was about owning the room, controlling the narrative and becoming the face of startup success.
So we got to work:
β
Refined his public persona
β
Rehearsed every on-camera moment
β
Built strategies to be the judge producers couldn't ignore
The result?
π₯ Became a permanent judge on the show
π₯ Became a producer and co-founder of the show's IP
π₯ Turned into a household name among India's startup elite
π₯ Mentor to founders, consultant to institutions, advises family offices
π₯ And now? He is the brand.
He doesn't need PR.
He is the PR.
He doesn't need a pitch deck.
He is the pitch.
He doesn't chase opportunities.
He attracts them.
Arjun went from investor-> icon -> national influence architect.
His expertise was invisible until it was packaged with status.
That's the power of playing - and winning - the Status Game.
π£ Ready to Raise Your Status?
Arjun's transformation proves: talent without positioning gets overlooked. With the right system, you can become the obvious choice in any room.
That's exactly what the Industry Icon Program is built for.
ππΎ Apply for the Industry Icon Program here -> https://www.speakonstage.com/the-industry-icon-program
β‘οΈ Dave only works with 3 new clients each month - so if you're ready to rise, this is your window.
10 Smart Ways to Use (or Build) Your STATUS as a Thought Leader
Whether you're just stepping into the spotlight or already have some head on your name, these are strategic plays to amplify your visibility, credibility and monesation.
Here are the first 3:
- Build Financial Leverage
Use your status to open doors to paid keynotes, consulting gigs, courses, partnerships and retainers.
π‘Status makes you top-of-mind and first on the shortlist when money is being spent. - Boost Self-Belief & Confidence
The higher you perceive value, the stronger your internal self-belief becomes.
π‘ External recognition fuels internal conviction. That confidence becomes contagious. - Expand Your Network
Status attracts other high-status individuals - organically.
π‘ You no longer chase connections. They seek you out.
