become known as an expert in my field

Professionally, I occupy a vanishingly small niche: doing brand strategy, positioning, and messaging for the clients of the integrated communications firm I work for. There have been times when I’ve questioned the impact or value of what I do, but lately I’ve acquired some clients who really get it and seem to appreciate it more than I thought possible. So I figure the next step is to start writing some articles for established blogs or even the business sections of various newspapers. I don’t quite have the breakaway successes to my name that net you a book deal, but I can see it happening. I put in four years doing “God’s work” for Planned Parenthood and an education nonprofit, so I don’t feel like a total sellout. But I would like to retire to a tropical island with a high, tsunami-proof peak.