There’s a growing breed of attention merchants online… confusing visibility with value, and missing the real meaning of the “attention economy.” Not creators. Not thought leaders. Not builders. Just seekers… circling controversy, recycling or attempting to create, outrage, or hammering away at various tired topics. All in the hope that if they yell loud enough, they’ll finally stumble into influence.
But influence isn’t earned by chasing shock value.
Views aren’t credibility…
Clicks aren’t community…
And noise isn’t leadership.
Real influence requires more than visibility, it requires substance. It’s built on patience, consistency, and trust. It comes from showing up as yourself, not as a caricature of whatever happens to spark attention in the moment. And it creates value one relationship at a time.
ATTENTION may get you noticed, TRUST is what keeps you respected…. that’s the line between Imposters and Leaders.