It’s often hard to deduce how someone becomes known as a leader in their field. Sometimes, it seems they’ve always loomed large: for decades, Michael Porter has been synonymous with strategy, and John Kotter with change management. Other times, the explosion onto the scene is fast and furious. One minute, you’ve never heard of Eric Ries, and the next he’s on the cover of Inc. magazine, speaking at major conferences, and advising the White House on innovation. But occasionally, there is a glimpse into the process of how someone can emerge, quickly and powerfully, into the public consciousness.