The best personal brand is living a life worth talking about.
Not manufacturing one.
Most "personal branding" feels like dressing up as someone you think others want to see.
But what if you focused on living an interesting life instead?
Try something difficult.
Make something unusual.
Solve interesting problems.
Share what you learn along the way.
When you're genuinely passionate about your work and experiences, you don't need clever marketing tactics.
Your enthusiasm becomes contagious.
Your stories become memorable.
Your insights become valuable.
The strategy isn't complicated:
Do things that matter to you.
Tell the truth about them.
Repeat.
No need to manufacture a persona.
Your personal brand isn't something you create separately from your life – it's what naturally emerges when you're living authentically.
The most compelling stories come from people who aren't trying to be compelling.
They're just being themselves.
Here's how to tell your story authentically, day in and day out, here on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eh9pVVuf
I’ve been interviewing candidates for a new role and there’s one thing I’ve seen 90% of them struggle with: sharing the story of their career achievements.
But don’t worry—I’ve got a simple hack that can help you overcome it:
✏️ Create a monthly ritual to review and document every significant work win, and turn each into a mini-case study.
Documenting your wins regularly will save you HOURS when you prep for your next interview—plus it’s great fodder for:
⤷ your annual performance review
⤷ your 1x1s with your manager
⤷ your resume
Here’s my 3-step process:
1️⃣ Weekly Check-in: Turn work ➡️ wins
⤷ Start a weekly habit of documenting your wins (grab my free template in the comments).
⤷ Block 30 minutes on your calendar every Friday to hold yourself accountable.
⤷ Ask yourself, “What did I accomplish this week that moved the needle?”
2️⃣ Monthly Recap: Turn wins ➡️ headlines
⤷ Identify 1–2 significant achievements and summarize them using this formula: [Action Verb] + [Specific Metric] + [Timeframe] + [Business Impact]
⤷ Make a bullet-point list (so you can stay organized and repurpose it for your resume later!)
⤷ Include dates and timelines for your own records—you’ll use them in step 3.
3️⃣ Quarterly Story-Building: Headlines ➡️ stories
⤷ Identify your top 3 quarterly wins.
⤷ Start a fresh document and map out each of those wins using the STAR method:
️
⭐ Situation: What was the context?
️⭐ Task: What was your specific responsibility?
⭐ Action: What steps did you take?
⭐ Result: What measurable outcome did you achieve?
⤷ Ask AI to help you share that information as a story. Here’s the prompt I like to use:
✍ Can you help me turn this achievement into a story using the STAR framework for an upcoming interview for a [title here] role? Please keep it concise. [paste win]
Here’s what this looks like in action 👇
⤷ Weekly win: March ’23 → Decreased CPA by 28% & increased conversion by 15%
⤷ Monthly recap: Optimized paid search campaigns in March 2023 that decreased CPA by 28% while increasing conversions by 15%, resulting in higher profit margins for the company.
⤷ Quarterly story: When I joined the marketing team in January 2023, our paid search campaigns were generating leads but at a high CPA, with budget constraints approaching in Q2.I was tasked with reducing CPA without sacrificing lead volume. In March 2023, I audited our campaigns and implemented three key changes: restructured ad groups with tightly-themed keywords, refined match types with strategic negative keywords, and A/B tested value-focused ad copy. By month-end, these optimizations decreased cost-per-acquisition by 28% while increasing conversion volume by 15%, saving budget and creating a scalable framework for future campaigns.
What are your tips for storytelling in your interviews? I’d love to hear them.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭?
In the race to grow their personal brand, I’ve seen people:
✔ Post what they think will go viral
✔ Copy formats, tones, even personal stories
✔ Speak like a brand, not a human
And while it may get likes, it often loses the one thing that truly builds trust — 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲.
When I started building my personal brand, I promised myself:
I’d rather grow slowly as myself than fast as someone else.
Here’s what helped me stay grounded while showing up online:
📍𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸
Your posts shouldn’t sound like a brochure. If you’d never say it out loud in real life, don’t type it.
Tone = trust. And trust builds connection.
📍𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗶𝗻-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀” 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Everyone loves a success story. But people connect with the messy middle.
Not every post needs a perfect outcome. Sharing the journey builds more credibility than polished perfection.
📍𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁
Not what’s trending. Not what’s getting others likes. But what reflects your experience, your lens, your thoughts.
The more real you are, the more people remember you — not just your content.
People trust individuals more than brands. That trust only comes from being you, not a curated version of what you think people want.
Your personal brand shouldn’t feel like a performance.
It should feel like an amplified version of your real self.
How do you make sure your content stays true to you? Drop your take👇
#PersonalBranding#AuthenticityOnline#LinkedInCreator#TrustMatters#ShowUpReal
73% of people admit their online presence doesn’t represent who they truly are.
Honestly? Yea!
We live in a world where social media pushes us to be “marketable,” “polished,” and “always-on.”
But guys—being seen ≠ being understood.
My job? To fix that gap. Without losing the real “you.”
Here’s how most business owners get it wrong.
👉 They think ‘professional’ means ‘boring.’
You don’t have to sound like a corporate robot to build authority. Your quirks? Your humor? They’re your superpowers.
👉 They focus too much on aesthetics.
A great profile pic and sleek visuals are nice, but your words and stories are what build trust and connection.
👉 They struggle with consistency.
Posting once in a blue moon won't make you memorable. Building an authentic online presence is like going to the gym—you’ve got to show up regularly.
👉 They copy trends instead of owning their voice.
Trends fade. Your unique experiences? Timeless. Stop being a knockoff; start being the original.
So, how do you fix it?
Think of personal branding like a first date:
📍Be yourself (but the best version).
📍Show, don’t just tell.
📍Stay consistent but not repetitive.
And most importantly—speak to people, not at them.
Why do we need all of this effort?
86% of consumers prefer an authentic brand personality over a polished one.
In short: Authenticity wins. Always.
If your LinkedIn, Instagram, or website doesn’t feel “you,” it’s time for a change.
Let’s fix it—without the fluff, without the fake.
What do you think? Does your online presence truly reflect YOU? Or just a version you think people want to see? 🤔
DM me or book a call if you're ready to build a REAL personal brand.
#PersonalBrandingExpert
How Do I Get Noticed by Recruiters Before I Even Graduate? 🚨
Recruiters don’t wait for placement season and neither should you.
Your LinkedIn profile is often your first impression, long before you apply for a role or send a resume.
The good news?
You don’t need a long list of internships or a perfect GPA to stand out.
If you want to stand out, all you need is clear, consistent and intentional PERSONAL BRANDING.
Because while qualifications get you shortlisted,
- It’s your personal brand that makes you discoverable.
- It’s your clarity and curiosity that make people remember you.
Now the question is: how do you do it right?
🔹1. Optimize Your Headline.
Instead of a generic: “Student at XYZ University”
Try something like:
“Aspiring Marketing Strategist | Final-Year BBA Student | Passionate About Branding & Digital Campaigns”
This kind of headline communicates:
- Who you are
- What you’re studying
- Where your interests lie
Keep it clear and aligned with your career goals.
🔹2. Make Your ‘About’ Section Work for You.
This is your opportunity to go beyond your resume and tell your story. A well-written About section should answer:
- What are you currently doing?
- What fields or roles are you interested in?
- What value or curiosity do you bring?
Example:
“ I’m a final-year BBA student passionate about the intersection of creativity, consumer behavior and strategy. With a strong interest in brand building and digital marketing, I’ve worked on academic projects focused on market research and social media strategy. I’m actively exploring roles where I can combine data-driven thinking with creative execution to solve real-world marketing challenges.
🔹3. Post Consistently.
Posting regularly helps you show up and stay top of mind.
Here's what you can share:
- Project summaries
- Key takeaways from events or webinars
- Tools you’re learning
- Internship experiences
🔹4. Engage Consistently and Intentionally
Before you send a connection, request or ask for guidance, engage with the person’s content.
- Leave thoughtful comments
- Repost with insights
- Ask meaningful questions
Remember: People notice people who notice them.
Personal branding isn’t about followers, it’s about being findable.
Be clear.
Be consistent.
Build your personal brand today, so opportunities can find you tomorrow.
#PersonalBranding#CareerTips#StudentSuccess#LinkedInTips#CareerGrowth#JobSearchTips
Creating content online and being an "influencer" are two very different things. Let me explain!
In today's hyperconnected world, your reputation precedes you - often in the form of Google search results. Welcome to the era where personal branding isn't just for influencers; it's infact a very crucial career asset for every professional.
Here is why Personal Branding Matters:
1. First Impressions: 70% of employers screen candidates on social media. Your online presence is often your first interview.
2. Opportunity Magnet: A strong personal brand attracts opportunities - be it job offers, speaking engagements, or collaborations.
3. Trust and Credibility: In a world of information overload, personal brands help establish you as a trusted voice in your field.
4. Career Insurance: Your personal brand is portable. It stays with you even when you change jobs or careers.
5. Networking Amplifier: A well-crafted brand makes you memorable, facilitating stronger professional connections.
So how do you build Your Brand:
• Define Your Unique Value Proposition: What sets you apart?
• Consistency is Key: Align your message across all platforms.
• Showcase Your Expertise: Share insights, create content, engage in discussions.
• Authenticity Wins: Be genuine. Your brand should reflect the real you.
• Continuous Evolution: As you grow, let your brand grow with you.
Remember, in the digital age, you have a personal brand whether you actively cultivate it or not. The question is: are you taking control of your narrative?
What steps are you taking to build and maintain your personal brand? Share your thoughts!
.
.
#linkedinforcreators#personalbranding#contentcreation
Your LinkedIn headline is one of the first things a recruiter reads about you.
More than that, though, it’s an important part of search results.
When a company uses LinkedIn Recruiter to search for candidates, the information in your profile’s headline weighs heavily in search results.
Optimizing your headline is like optimizing your entire profile for better placement results when recruiters run a search.
My favorite formula for a LinkedIn profile headline is:
TARGET JOB TITLE | 3 HIGH-PRIORITY SKILLS | PERSONAL BRANDING STATEMENT
Let’s break down each one.
First, you want to use your target job title.
If I’m a recruiter running a search on LinkedIn for a client services manager, I will use this position title to pull profiles of candidates who are already in this role or have past experience in this position.
Second, as a recruiter, I will include specific skills in my search that are critical to success in the role.
I might use “customer relations,” “sales,” or “operations.” This will give me a list of candidates with the relevant experience and skills required for the role.
Third, the personal branding statement is your chance to convey value to the hiring manager. It’s what gets them to click on your profile and read it, versus another candidate.
It’s your unique differentiation factor.
On my profile, I use this personal branding statement: I help executives attract better job offers with personal-brand-focused resumes.
This branding statement communicates who I help (executives), the value I deliver (attract better job offers), and how I do it (with personal-brand-focused resumes).
Those three elements combine to create a unique value proposition.
When creating your personal branding statement, include who you help, how, and to what end.
I used this headline formula to update my husband’s profile last year when he launched his job search.
He received a message from a recruiter within 24 hours of his headline update.
Melissa, one of my LinkedIn Unlocked course students, saw a 1,277% increase in profile views after updating her headline.
Another student, Josh, saw a 2200% increase in profile views after updating his.
#Networking#JobSearch#Careers#LinkedInTopVoices
"I don't know what to post about?"
We hear it all the time. We got you👇
Most people aren’t afraid of judgment.
They’re staring at a blank screen.
So they post nothing. Or worse, nonsense.
And wonder why nothing changes...
Let’s fix that. Here's how Thomas and I break the block:
1 - First, define your direction.
Use ChatGPT to discover what matters.
Build content from what actually fuels you:
"Act as a personal brand strategist. Guide the user through a step-by-step process to uncover their core purpose and define the foundation of their personal brand. Each step builds on the previous one. Do not skip steps. At the end, generate a clear, compelling personal purpose statement and brand summary. Follow this sequence:
Passions & Drivers
Ask the user to list 5 things they deeply care about.
For each, ask why it matters to them on a personal level.
Identify recurring emotional drivers or values behind their passions.
Strengths in Action
Ask the user to describe 3 skills, traits, or talents they believe they excel at.
Request one story or moment where each strength made a meaningful difference.
Highlight the core abilities they naturally bring to the table.
Peak Fulfillment Moment
Ask the user to describe a time they felt deeply fulfilled, proud, or like they were doing what they were “meant to do.”
Explore what made that moment special, who it impacted, and why it stuck with them.
Purpose Patterns
Reflect on all previous answers. Identify patterns in motivation, skills, and fulfillment.
Generate 2–3 possible purpose statements based on those patterns. (e.g. “I exist to empower...”, “My work brings clarity to...”, etc.)
Ask the user to select or refine the one that resonates most deeply.
Brand Summary Statement
Using their chosen purpose, strengths, and interests, generate a one-sentence personal brand summary - suitable for use on a personal site, bio, or elevator pitch. It should feel inspiring, grounded, and true to who they are."
2 - Start with your goal
Charlie quit 9–5 after 30K followers.
Tom landed a job with 700. It’s not luck.
3 - Pick your content pillars
Choose 1–3 topics you can post forever.
Clarity wins attention and trust.
4 - Optimise your profile
Your profile is your homepage.
People decide in 10 seconds.
5 - Study what works
Use Kleo to break down top posts.
Success has patterns. Steal them.
6 - Turn daily life into content
Slack threads. DMs. Little wins.
If it made you think, it’s post-worthy.
7 - Choose a format that fits you
Video, text, carousel - your choice.
Stick with what feels natural.
8 - Test, then double down
Track performance. Follow engagement.
Clarity comes from putting in reps.
9 - Engage like it’s your job
Daily comments > random posting.
Build before you ask.
10 - Keep evolving
Your content will shift. Let it.
Consistency + flexibility = long-term growth.
6 months of consistent posts can change your life.
Not maybe. Probably...
Save this for when you overthink it.
The Class of 2025 faces unprecedented challenges—but your greatest asset isn't just your degree, it's your capacity for transformation.
Research consistently shows that sustainable career success emerges from internal motivation:
↳ 68% higher employment satisfaction when work aligns with personal values, according to Workforce Analytics
↳ 2.9x greater career resilience when skills development is self-directed, according to Harvard Business Review
↳ 81% improved interview performance when candidates articulate authentic purpose, according to PSYCHOMETRIC RECRUITMENT LIMITED
To activate your career transformation engine, master these five essential components:
🔹 Design your "Skills Acceleration System": Map your learning against emerging industry needs. Graduates who dedicate 5 hours weekly to strategic upskilling secure roles 40% faster (LinkedIn Workforce Report).
🔹 Craft your "Rejection Resilience Protocol": Convert interview feedback into growth opportunities. Candidates who implement structured feedback review processes receive 3x more follow-up interviews.
🔹 Develop your "Network Cultivation Rhythm": Create systematic touchpoints with industry connections. Professionals with consistent relationship-building practices receive 57% more unsolicited opportunities.
🔹 Create your "Opportunity Visibility Framework": Establish daily practices that position you where serendipity happens. Graduates in 3+ industry communities encounter 4x more "hidden market" roles.
🔹 Formulate your "Professional Identity Narrative": Craft and practice your unique value proposition until it becomes second nature. Candidates with coherent personal narratives advance 2.5x faster in early career stages.
That's how you become career-resilient in a competitive landscape—by systematically building the professional identity that creates opportunities where others see only obstacles.
What's one step from this framework that sparks your curiosity? Share below.
Coaching can help; let’s chat.
Joshua Miller#Classof2025#CareerAdvice#Executivecoaching
People Google everything.
Including you.
Before meetings, interviews, or even dates, your online presence is scrutinized.
It's not just about looking good online,
it's about strategically positioning yourself as an authority in your field.
Here's how to make your PERSONAL BRAND stand out:
1. Create content that showcases your expertise
• Write articles or blog posts on industry trends
• Share insights from your professional experiences
• Showcase unique stories from your personal client experiences.
2. Use SEO to ensure your content ranks
• Research relevant keywords in your industry
• Optimize your LinkedIn profile with these keywords
• Include them naturally in your content titles and descriptions
3. Build a network that amplifies your voice
• Engage meaningfully with others' content
• Collaborate on projects or co-create content
• Participate in relevant LinkedIn groups and discussions
4. Consistency is key
• Maintain a regular posting schedule
• Ensure your messaging aligns across all platforms
• Keep your visual branding cohesive (profile picture, banner, etc.)
5. Showcase your achievements
• Update your profile with recent accomplishments
• Share case studies or success stories
• Request and display recommendations from colleagues
These strategies can transform your digital footprint from a mere online presence into a powerful personal brand.
It opens doors to new opportunities, builds credibility, and creates a lasting impression in the minds of potential employers, clients, or partners.
What steps are you taking to enhance your online presence?
P.S. Need help with your personal brand? Send me a DM.
#PersonalBranding#ProfessionalDevelopment#OnlinePresence#LinkedInTips