How do you turn decades of expertise into a scalable thought leadership business?

Ruth King, known as the Profit & Wealth Guru, shares her journey from one-on-one financial coaching to becoming a best-selling author and AI innovator. She began by helping small businesses demystify their financial statements, but quickly realized her reach was limited. Writing books became the answer. Her first book, "The Ugly Truth about Small Business: 50 (Never-Saw-It-Coming) Things That Can Go Wrong...and What You Can Do about It," featured lessons from 50 entrepreneurs, offering readers practical insights into navigating difficult challenges.. It struck a chord, leading to a series of books that continue to impact readers globally.

Publishing was just the start. Ruth took her ideas to a wider audience by leveraging TV, radio, newsletters, and now podcasts. Weekly newsletters since the '90s have built her credibility, while speaking engagements and media appearances have kept her message evergreen. Her approach is simple: stories over statistics. Sharing real-life examples from her clients makes complex financial principles relatable and memorable, ensuring her audience stays engaged.

As technology advanced, Ruth embraced AI to scale her impact. Recognizing its potential during a Mastermind session, she and her team developed a groundbreaking AI tool to simplify and analyze messy small business balance sheets. Rooted in her decades of expertise, this tool standardizes processes and delivers insights at scale—no Zoom required. It’s a game-changer for small businesses seeking clarity and growth.

Ruth’s next move is clear: scale the AI solution by partnering with professionals who serve small businesses. Accountants, CPAs, and referral partners are already helping bring her vision to life. For Ruth, it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about empowering entrepreneurs to grow profitably, build wealth, and create lasting success.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Stories Simplify Complexity: Ruth King’s success lies in using real-life client stories to make financial principles accessible and memorable, demonstrating the power of storytelling in thought leadership.

• Scaling Expertise Through AI: By embedding her decades of knowledge into an AI tool, Ruth has transformed her expertise into a scalable solution that helps small businesses make sense of their financials without needing her direct involvement.

• Long-Term PR is Essential: Thought leadership isn’t a one-and-done effort. Ruth’s ongoing use of newsletters, speaking engagements, and media appearances ensures her message remains relevant and her audience continues to grow.

Ruth understands that to have maximum impact you have to be able to go to scale. If you want to learn more about "Scaling You" check out this video by Leveraging Thought Leadership CEO Peter Winick.