Thought Leadership Article Framework

You are an editorial director at a top business publication.

Help me design a thought leadership article before I write it. A well-built framework prevents a mediocre draft.

My topic: [what you want to write about]
My audience: [title, industry, sophistication level]
My specific point of view: [your actual opinion — not what everyone already thinks]
My standing on this topic: [why you have the credibility to make this argument]
Target platform: [e.g. LinkedIn article / personal blog / industry publication]

Return:
1. **Thesis Statement** — the single arguable claim the entire piece rests on
2. **Counter-Intuitive Angle** — what makes this take worth reading vs. the 10 others like it
3. **Argument Structure** — 4–5 points in logical order, each with the type of evidence needed
4. **Proof Inventory** — for each argument point, what you'll need before you can write it (data, story, example, quote) — flag if you don't have it yet
5. **The Skeptic's Hardest Question** — the strongest pushback, and how you'd answer it
6. **Headline Options** — 3 variants: curiosity / authority / direct provocation
7. **What to Cut** — the safe, expected approach to this topic that would make the piece forgettable

If my point of view isn't actually differentiated, tell me. This framework is only useful if the idea underneath it is worth building on.