Being known in your field is the ONLY countermeasure against everything trying to replace you..
But here’s what most people get wrong about building that presence..
The whole personal branding circus creates this illusion of celebrity that takes you away from what actually matters – being of service.
Building a personal brand is NOT about you. Get over it.
It’s not about you, or your awards, or designation or how many people report to you or how powerful you are.
It’s about thought leadership. It’s about helping the younger version of yourself. It’s about sharing what you’ve learned so others don’t have to make the same mistakes.
What that does is create a shield around you – detaching you from designations, jobs, bosses. You become your own person.
Was talking to a friend who’s a senior CXO saying “I want to start but can’t find time.” Begin now with baby steps. In 2-3 years, you’ll see the impact. Start wherever you are.. write, record whatever… create! It’s like building an insurance.
Another close friend wanted to start a podcast for years, told him to commit to 100 episodes before even starting. Making one is easy, but consistency compounds. He’s now at 25 episodes and growing. Super proud of him because he’s truly sharing value, and he’s evolving into a thought leader in his own niche.
When you’re known for your thinking and not your title, more doors open, more opportunities flow, more people listen.
The alternative to being known for your thinking is being ignored when your designation disappears.
Start sharing what you know. Help someone who was where you were five years ago. The freedom that comes from that? Priceless.
Blog/Vlog
When your designation disappears, so does the spotlight..
Recently met with a CMO friend who’s been thinking about building a stronger thought leadership..
In our conversation.. he was telling war stories from campaigns, leadership pressures, sharing his take on how marketing is evolving, and opening up about everything in between..
It was pure insight gold that any marketing professional would find invaluable.
But here’s what I’ve noticed – most CMOs and senior leaders spend so much time being busy leading teams that they forget to build their own voice.
Then one day, they suddenly no longer have a job, or they quit, or they burn out.
That’s when reality hits
The fancy marketing event invitations stop coming. People stop following them. Comments on their posts decrease. The world was after the designation, not the person or the thought leader.
If you invest time in building and sharing what you’ve learned, you become detached from the designation. You become known for your thinking, not just the company you work for. That’s real freedom.
How many other leaders and CXOs are sitting on their goldmine of insights, waiting for the “right time” to share their authentic stories?
from my experience, the one thing thought leadership does for you personally.. is kill job insecurity.. and drives you towards a more purpose driven freedom wali life :)
Fast, Cheap and Viral session @ INDmoney
The energy, the enthusiasm at INDmoney. The vibe, the culture.. took me right back to early ixigo days. When teams are hungry to learn and experiment, magic happens in the room.
Had a blast doing the Fast, Cheap & Viral session with this incredible crew. Fan of what INDmoney is creating..thanks for having me over! Ashish Kashyap .. grateful :)
PS: Nikita Bhasin loved the interview conversation about all things money to creativity :)
Throwback: This creativity hack requires 0 budget, 6 seconds, and whatever objects are within arm’s reach
Years ago in a hospital cafe, long before videos or short form content or anything.. my friend and I created a fun challenge: make a 6-second film using only objects on our table. A sugar sachet and ketchup packet became a mini-story about Delhi road rage!
These quick creativity exercises are like mental push-ups – they force you to see possibilities in ordinary objects with zero pressure for results.
What 6-second story could you tell with what’s on your desk right now?
Try using CAR method..
C: Conflict or context
A: Action
R: Resolution
And give 2 seconds to each, and you have your 6 second film..
Just take a 10 min break today and create something.. doesn’t have to be perfect.. it’s mind gym.. but do share if not here in DM :)
You’re drowning in digital marketing updates. How can you stay current without losing your mind?
Here’s the thing about updates – there will always be too many. The key isn’t to keep up with everything, but to know what matters for your audience.
From experience: Focus on changes that impact how you serve your users better. Everything else is just noise.
Create a simple process: Keep track of what’s working with your audience. When you see engagement dropping, that’s your cue to check what changed. Let data guide your updates, not FOMO.
Remember: Platforms change, algorithms update, but good content that serves real needs always works.
All the best!