I often ask clients, “What’s the next mountain you want to climb?” But in fact, there might be a more apt way to phrase this. “What room are you about to enter?”
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, solopreneur, or C-Suiter, your career advancement has a lot to do with the rooms you occupy. Your reputation precedes you, but your achievements reflect differently depending on the room. And your next big endeavor may call for a reframe of sorts.
Now, I’m a big believer in taking a holistic approach to Personal Brand building. The least stressful, most impactful way to present yourself is via a concise, “360-degree view of you.”
If you’re a Founder, for example, exiting a startup, and you intend to focus on a new endeavor, it is a disservice to yourself to assume that those who know your name (or Google your name*) will know how the experience of building a company has transformed you.
You likely have spent years being “the Founder of ______,” and titles/bragging rights aside, you are entering a room full of new sensibilities and disparate personalities, and it helps to bring a fresh collection of capabilities to the party.
If you’re reading this, you’re what I call an “ever-evolving achiever.” That’s different from being ambitious. You continue to grow with each accomplishment (including “failure-lessons”), and your journey is the destination. I know this, because you could be –
- Delivering…
- Prompting…
- Posting…
- Doomscrolling…
…or any number of other worthy pursuits. But here you are, seeking growth – and not just the 10x Growth (although that’s great!), but the kind of growth that makes you feel whole.
You may decide you want to do any or all of the following:
- Take a Break & Reflect – Recharge before deciding your next move.
- Start a New Venture – Use your hard-won experience and network to build again.
- Invest in Startups (Angel/VC) – Fund and mentor promising entrepreneurs that remind you of yourself :).
- Advising, Mentoring, or Board Roles – Share insights without daily operations.
- Philanthropy & Giving Back – Support causes, fund social impact initiatives.
- Corporate or Government Role – Join a company or shape policies for impact.
Of course, you might want to:
- Build a Personal Brand – Refine, define, and deploy yourself to expand influence in any direction that aligns with your big picture and legacy goals.
Doing any of the above requires a shift in perception, right?
- New Venture = Position yourself as a repeat founder with expertise in your new industry.
- Invest in Startups = Establish credibility as an investor.
- Advisory Roles = Highlight your experience in scaling businesses.
- Giving Back = Convey your passion for impact-driven initiatives.
- Corporate or Government Role = Shift your messaging to leadership, governance, and policy-making, to drive change at scale and collaborate with stakeholders.
So, building a Personal Brand might actually be the FIRST order of new business.
Because one thing is for sure: more people know you now than ever did before.
And given that fact, each step you take matters more, too.
I build brands that open doors – our clients achieve greater impact, influence, and growth through messaging, brand voice, and brand strategy. If you’re ready to unleash your INCOMPARABLE self in the service of your mission, book your complimentary Personal Brand Audit now.
You can get on the pre-order list for my book HERE.