How does one get to be an influencer/thought leader?

Bill O'Reilly still writes plenty, and has done quite well. He's just switched from politics to historical non-fiction. Most of his "Killing" series of books (The 10th one is out now; all of them were written in the past 10 years) have been New York Times best-sellers.

 

1. Never apologize
2. Frame your abuse of people as "doing what you had to do in this business"
3. Lie frequently
4. Distort
5. Accept money from dubious sources
6. Embrace conflicts of interest
7. Act like you know more than the professors who taught you
8. Cultivate relationships with people who can promote your site/show etc.

 

First time I heard about "influencers" was when Lori Loughlin was trying to buy her daughter's way into USC. The daughter said her career goal was to be an "internet influencer." And last week, it my semi-regular FB argument with a far righty, one of his friends came in to help him. I looked her up and she listed her occupation as "beauty influencer." After looking at her photos, I was going to post that she obviously is in the wrong line of work. But I didn't.

 

When looking for travel videos on YouTube, you'll be hard pressed to find someone who isn't gorgeous. A lot of couples, but somehow the males don't seem to be in the thumbnails much.

 

Wow, that takes me back. Starting to come around to the idea he was this board's Andy Kaufman. Or something like that.

 

Well, the world needs "before" pictures, too.

 

smart enough to trick the rubes but dumb enough not to be too 'elite'