Seven years. No wins. Countless heartbreaks.
My son Abrar has been on the ice since he was five. Now fourteen, he had yet to play on a team that won a championship. Season after season, they worked hard, only to fall short.
But here’s what I observed over those years:
- We made better decisions each season.
- He showed up 3, 4, sometimes 5 times a week.
- We sought out better coaches.
- Built stronger connections with teammates and families.
- Stayed rooted in faith, praying for ease and guidance.
- Kept giving our best, even when it hurt.
Then, this past Labor Day, it finally happened. His team faced an “unbeatable” opponent in the finals. Down 3-1. They tied 3-3. Then came double overtime.
At that point, it wasn’t about skating faster or shooting harder-it was about mindset, resilience, and teamwork.
And then… the impossible: a teammate, a girl hockey player, scored the winning goal. After seven long years, Abrar’s team won the championship.
That moment taught me something every leader needs to hear:
✨ Wins don’t come overnight.
✨ Every setback is building your edge.
✨ When the pressure is highest, leadership is about mindset, not muscle.
That championship game was about more than hockey. It was about perseverance, belief, and the courage to keep showing up even when the win felt impossible.
As a mom, I felt the emotions deeply. But as a leader and entrepreneur, I also saw a bigger lesson: stories like these aren’t just moments to remember-they’re powerful tools to build credibility and authority.
Imagine taking a story like this-or one from your own life-and leveraging it in five ways to position yourself as the go-to expert, attract opportunities, and open doors you never thought possible.
“Stories aren’t just moments to remember-they’re powerful tools to build credibility, authority, and opportunities.”
5 Proven Ways to Build Authority and Attract Opportunities
- Write Multiple Bestselling Books
Books are one of the most powerful ways to showcase your expertise and solve problems for your community. A bestselling book is more than just pages-it’s a passport to credibility and new opportunities.
Take Brenna Davis, CEO of a multi-million-dollar organic company. She wrote Leadership Through Fire to capture her values as a leader, and that book solidified her position as the go-to expert in her industry.
- Get Featured in Media
Position yourself where the world is already paying attention. Media coverage-through online publications, business outlets, or podcasts-puts you in front of large, trusted audiences.
For example, Laura Clancy was featured across hundreds of affiliated media outlets when debuting her one-woman off-Broadway show in New York. That exposure gave her visibility, credibility, and a powerful platform. Speaking on podcasts and interviews creates the same ripple effect of trust and recognition.
- Appear on TV as the Go-To Expert
Television interviews instantly boost your authority. Being featured as the expert people turn to adds weight and visibility that can’t be ignored.
Global Girls Glow, for example, was featured on the It Takes COURAGE TV show, aired on ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon TV. They shared their principles for helping hundreds of young girls find their voice and create impact-instantly expanding their credibility and influence.
- Speak on Influential Stages Like TEDx
Nothing signals credibility quite like standing on a red dot. Platforms such as TEDx allow you to amplify your message on a global scale and attract life-changing opportunities.
When I gave my TEDx talk, Coming to America: A Story of a Hijab-Wearing Woman, it gained over 112,000 views. Not only did it spark a movement in my community, but it also led to TV appearances, media features, and the chance to share my experience in bestselling books like Speak With Influence. Today, I’m often asked to train speakers who want to share their voices with power and impact.
- Get in Front of Trusted Audiences
Whether you’re invited by an influencer to speak on their stage or you create your own platform-virtual or in-person-access to a trusted audience accelerates your authority like nothing else.
Drew Lawrence, bestselling author of Possibility and a TEDx speaker, has been invited multiple times to speak in front of trusted audiences thanks to his credibility and visibility. Each time, he’s grown his reach, expanded his business, and made a meaningful impact on new communities.
Similarly, Tabby Biddle created The Feminine Voice Revolution Summit not only to speak at the event herself, but also to invite other thought leaders to share their insights. This collective approach brought together diverse audiences, giving the summit a powerful ripple effect of influence and impact. That’s the smart advantage of creating your own stage-you don’t just share your voice; you amplify it through collaboration.
Final Thought
Authority isn’t built by chance. It’s built by design-through stories, platforms, and the courage to share your expertise with the world. Whether it’s writing a book, stepping onto a TEDx stage, or getting featured in the media, each step positions you as the trusted voice people want to follow.
If you’ve ever thought about writing a book but felt stuck or overwhelmed, I’ve created a simple resource to help. My checklist, Write Your Book in 30 Days, will guide you step by step so you can capture your ideas quickly and boost your thought leadership with confidence.
You can download it at izdiharjamil.com.
Because your story, your expertise, and your message deserve to be heard-not years from now, but today.
About Dr. Izdihar Jamil, Ph.D.
Dr. Izdihar Jamil, Ph.D.-A 21x Bestselling Author of Speak With Influence, Are You Visible?, Money Makers, and other books. Izdihar is a TV Show Host and Visibility Expert, appearing on FORBES, FOX TV, and TED.com. She helps leaders become bestselling authors, get featured in the media, and speak on the TEDx stage. She’s also the Curator and Organizer for TEDxHuntingtonBeach and is featured in Heroes, Leaders and Legends with Oprah, Jack Canfield, and Deepak Chopra. Izdihar lives in California with her husband and children and loves baking and reading.
More info: www.izdiharjamil.com
Read More: https://globalbizoutlook.com/navigating-the-artificial-intelligence-ai-a-roadmap-for-change-leader/
