Sometimes there just isn’t room for you at the top. If you’re in a field with experts and join late, then you’re going to have a hell of a time getting to authority status. It’s not impossible, but you’re setting yourself up for a tough fight.

I’ve been finding myself in that spot over the past couple days. There are some different paths that I can take:

1. Keep trying to get to the top
2. Put down the guys at the top
3. Invent your own authority

I tried option #2 once, and it wasn’t the way to go. I feel really bad about it and won’t do it ever again if I have any choice.

2 is also the fastest way to get attention. Go figure.

Lately, I’ve been looking to #3. I have decided that I’m not going to convince the other experts that my way is right. They have their own ideas, and that is just fine. We need that in order to foster innovation, after all. I need to create my own market.

One thing that I do swear to do is really get to know my industry better and know what the differences are. Your opinion only becomes stronger when you truly understand all of the alternatives.