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- A Question That Might Make You Squirm
Note: You will find an explanation of our first digital product, a brand audit, with a report, assessment, and understanding of where you are and what you can do better with your digital presence at the bottom of this email. Huge thank you in advance to our internal team and David Rodnitzky for your help bringing this to life.
What do people say about you when you’re not in the room?
If someone asked you to explain your personal brand in 30 seconds, what would you say?
If you’re here, you probably have a better idea than most people, who assume a personal brand is something for influencers. But whether you realize it or not, you already have a brand. It's the first thing that comes to mind when someone hears your name. It's what people say about you when you're not in the room. It’s what they consider when they choose your product or service, or decide to go with someone else.
The question isn't whether you have a brand; it's whether you're intentional about it—and how it’s helping or hurting your progress in work and life.
Why Your Brand Actually Matters
I've watched talented people get passed over for opportunities because they couldn't articulate their value clearly. I've seen others with less experience land bigger roles because they understood exactly what made them different and valuable.
Your brand isn't vanity. It's clarity. It's the difference between being seen as "just another" consultant, coach, or executive and being the obvious choice for the work that matters to you.
When you're clear about your brand, opportunities start finding you instead of you chasing them. People refer you because they know exactly what you're good at and who you serve. Conversations become easier because you're not trying to be everything to everyone.
When you're not clear? You get lost in the noise. You compete on price instead of value. You take whatever comes your way instead of attracting what you actually want.
The Problem with Winging It
Most professionals approach their brand casually. They post occasionally on LinkedIn, update their website when they remember, and hope people figure out what they're about. That's not a strategy.
Others go the opposite direction. They spend months crafting the perfect bio, getting professional photos, and building a beautiful website. But when it's all done, it still doesn't feel like them. It looks professional but doesn't generate real opportunities. Or, they don’t share it effectively, making it a waste of time, resources, and energy.
So, what can you do about it?
What You Actually Need to Know
Building a brand that works requires understanding five key areas:
Message & Identity: Do people understand what makes you different? Can you explain your value in a way that makes people lean in instead of tune out?
Digital Foundation: Is your online presence working for you or against you? Does your message align across platforms and bring prospective clients to you, or are opportunities slipping through the cracks?
Content Strategy: Are you sharing insights that build authority, or just adding to the noise?
Relationship Systems: Are you capturing and nurturing the connections you're making?
Authority and Visibility: Are you positioned as someone worth listening to, or are you still waiting for permission to share your expertise?
Most people have no idea where they actually stand in these areas. They think they're further along than they are, or they underestimate the progress they've already made.
The Four Types of Brand Builders
After working with hundreds of professionals, I've noticed that people fall into four categories:
Foundation Builders know their stuff but struggle to communicate it. They're usually great at what they do but terrible at talking about it. They get opportunities through word-of-mouth but can't scale beyond their immediate network.
Platform Builders have some pieces in place but they don't work together. They're creating content and have a decent online presence, but it's not generating the opportunities they want. They're busy but not strategic.
Authority Builders have built something that works, but they're not maximizing it. They're getting opportunities, but they could be getting better ones. They're recognized in their field but not positioned as the go-to expert.
Supreme Thought Leaders have cracked the code. Their brand consistently generates high-quality opportunities, and they're recognized as leaders in their field. They don't chase opportunities—opportunities come to them.
Why You Need to Know Where You Stand
You can't improve what you don't measure. Most people are building their brand based on what they think they should do instead of what they actually need to do based on where they are right now.
If you're a Foundation Builder, you don't need a content strategy right now; you need message clarity.
If you're a Platform Builder, you don't need more content; you need better systems.
If you're an Authority Builder, you don't need more visibility; you need strategic positioning.
But without knowing where you stand, you're just guessing. And guessing is expensive—in time, effort, and missed opportunities.
What You'll Actually Learn
Our Brand Audit gives you a clear assessment of where you are and what you need to focus on next. You'll get:
Your current brand development stage and why you're there
What's actually holding you back from the next level
Specific actions you can take to improve in each area
How your current brand is impacting your business
A clear roadmap for moving forward
But more importantly, you'll understand the difference between having a brand and having a brand that works.
The audit takes about 10 minutes, but the insights can reshape how you approach your entire professional trajectory.
You're going to have a brand whether you're intentional about it or not. The question is whether it's working for you or against you.
P.S. - After you complete the audit, you'll receive a detailed breakdown of your results and specific recommendations for your next steps. No generic advice—just insights tailored to exactly where you are in your journey.
Community Notes:
I’ve really loved getting to know JD Schramm lately. He recently wrote a newsletter Having The Courage to Follow, and thought it was excellent. Read it!