Branding = Leverage
"If you are not a brand, you are a commodity." – Philip Kotler
In 2025, this hits harder than ever.
If you don’t have some kind of online presence — you’re invisible.
No leverage. No recognition. No opportunities flowing to you.
Think about it:
Tesla is Elon Musk.
Apple was Steve Jobs.
MrBeast is the product.
The person became the brand — and that brand became the business.
A personal brand can’t be copied.
Your voice. Your style. Your values. Your energy — they're one of one.
And that's your leverage.
The internet is infinite.
AI is everywhere.
Attention is scarce.
People don't just buy products anymore.
They buy stories, vibes, alignment.
And if they can’t see you or feel what you stand for — they’ll scroll right past.
Whether you're building a business, freelancing, or climbing the corporate ladder:
your personal brand is your edge.
We’re past the era of faceless companies and ghost founders.
Today, people don’t just buy what you’re selling — they buy who’s behind it.
Post your work. Share your thoughts. Show your face.
Or risk becoming a replaceable line item in someone else's spreadsheet.
Everyone’s selling something — a product, a service, a skillset, a perspective.
So how do people choose who to trust, who to hire, who to buy from?
They follow the brand. The human. The story.
If you’re not actively shaping your online identity, you're not just missing out on visibility — you're losing leverage.
You're competing on price, credentials, or luck. That’s what happens when you’re seen as a commodity: easily replaceable.
But when you build a personal brand — even a simple one — things shift.
Suddenly, people know you.
They respect your voice.
They trust your opinions.
And when they need what you offer, they come to you — not the other way around.
We live in a world where everyone is selling — even if you're not in "sales."
You're always selling your ideas, your perspective, your energy, your skillset.
To clients. Employers. Investors. Collaborators. Even strangers online.
If you’re not shaping how people perceive you, you're leaving it to chance.
And when that happens, you lose leverage.
No brand? You're a commodity.
Just another CV. Just another pitch. Just another DM.
But when you build a brand — even a simple, authentic one — everything changes.
In a world of AI-generated content, faceless businesses, and infinite options, your brand is your moat.
It creates unfair advantages.
It makes you unforgettable.
It multiplies your surface area for luck.
It doesn’t need to be loud or flashy.
It just needs to be you, online, consistently.
Start small —
Share what you’re working on.
Talk about what you believe.
Document the journey, don’t just show the highlight reel.
In a sea of sameness, authenticity stands out.
So stop thinking of branding as optional.
It’s survival.
You don't need to go viral.
You just need to show up — consistently, honestly, and with intention.
In 2025, attention is the new leverage. Use it wisely.
Sales is the greatest skill you can have.
Because the truth is:
If you’re not selling yourself, you’re being sold short.
