Personal Branding Podcast

Today, I’m continuing the discussion on the rise of silent brands, but this time, we’re focusing on personal brands. The rise of silent personal brands is incredibly important, especially in an aging system like ours. The Silent Brand in Action Sometime back, I was with my business consultant, John Armah, who specializes in helping MSMEs and businesses grow. During our discussion, a colleague of ours came up in conversation. Then, someone said, “It’s been a while since we saw his posts on social media. Where has this guy been?” The interesting thing is that this individual has built a solid offline presence that’s now globally connected—with very little social media presence. Yes, this person found ways to position himself strategically, network with the right people put the right mechanisms in place, and pitch his expertise effectively to the right audience. I thought, That’s amazing! So today, we’re going to break down how you can achieve something similar. Th

Can brands be silent? Some think they must be loud and everywhere to make an impact. Today, let’s explore “The Rise of the Silent Brands” — brands that are quiet yet impactful and profitable. A few months ago, I traveled to Kumasi, Ghana, for a project. While settling in, I needed to get some water. When I asked for popular water brands at a small neighborhood shop, they handed me an unfamiliar brand. Initially, I was hesitant and decided to look elsewhere. I visited a larger store in the municipal market, but the same unfamiliar brand was all they stocked. Surprised, I had no choice but to buy it. The following day, I went out again, taking a different route, hoping to find the brand I preferred. To my surprise, every shop along that path also sold the same water. It became evident that this was the dominant brand in the community. Despite the noise on radio and TV about other popular brands, this quiet brand reigned supreme in that area. This experience got me thinking about the power of s

Today, we are looking at the idea that two can play the game—a story about partnership and how it can enhance your brand and business as you move forward. Let me share this story with you. A couple of weeks ago, as a dad, I was observing my kids play. Young kids play a lot, and most time, I’m there watching them. Sometimes they play on their own, picking up toys or creating their games. But on this particular occasion, I noticed something interesting. My older daughter was calling her younger sister to play with her. She was so insistent, almost crying, that she needed her sister to join her. I wondered why it was so important, so I asked her. She explained that the game they were playing required two people. One needed to act as a teacher and the other as a student. Sure, she could have used her imagination to create a figure to play with, but this time, she wanted her sister to sit in the “class” so she could teach her directly and have her repeat the words after her. This got me thinking. It se

Capable vs. Competent: Understanding the Difference What does it mean to be capable yet not competent? At what point can someone declare themselves competent, and how do we distinguish between capability and competence in both personal and professional spheres? Let’s break this down. Capability: The Starting Point Capability refers to your ability to perform a task or take action, even if it’s not at an expert level. It’s a foundation—a skillset or willingness to do something, even if the result isn’t perfect. For example, imagine you’re at home with a minor plumbing issue. You may be capable of applying a temporary fix, such as using glue or tape to stop a leak. This solution might hold for a while but isn’t sustainable or reliable in the long term. For a permanent fix, you’ll need a professional plumber who is competent in their craft. Similarly, in professional settings, capability can serve as a stopgap. Suppose the receptionist is momentarily unavailable, and you’re at the desk. You might be capabl

Building Capacity for the Race Ahead I believe this will be helpful not just for the coming year but also […]

Hey, guess what this podcast was listed among the top 100 branding blogs by Feedspot. Thanks to all of you for your support. The theme here is reflections—an especially relevant concept during times like these, as the year winds down and a new one approaches. This is a good moment to reflect on what we accomplished over the past year, what we couldn’t achieve, and what we hope to work toward in the coming years. Reflection is vital—a deep introspection that allows us to examine ourselves internally, evaluate what we’ve done, and identify what we can learn from those experiences. Let me share a story to illustrate this point. The other day, I found myself in a suburb of Accra, at one of the vibrant city locations. Amidst the ever-evolving skyline, I noticed new skyscrapers rising in various spots. One building, in particular, caught my attention. Its architecture was striking, and from my vantage point, I could see a projected model displayed on its side, showing the architect’s vision for th