Reach for t’Sky

Season 1, Episode 12: Why’s the Quiet Guy Here?

The first time I realised that I had a personal brand, I overheard someone asking, “Why’s the quiet guy here?” I was the quiet guy. It was one of those moments that catches you off guard but makes you think. Sure, I had always been reserved, preferring to observe rather than speak up. But hearing that question made me realise something important: in the eyes of my colleagues, I had already been labelled.

At that moment, I understood that if I wanted to progress in my career, I had to take control of my personal brand. Being perceived as the "quiet guy" wasn’t necessarily a negative trait, but it was limiting. It wasn’t the brand I wanted to be known for in the long run. I needed to redefine how I was seen, not by drastically changing who I was, but by being more intentional about how I communicated, how I contributed in meetings, and how I shared my expertise.

Building a personal brand is about more than just standing out; it’s about aligning how others perceive you with how you want to be perceived. It involves understanding your strengths and values and finding ways to showcase them consistently. For me, that meant speaking up more, volunteering for visible projects, and positioning myself as someone who could offer thoughtful, valuable insights - even if I wasn’t the loudest voice in the room.

If you don’t actively manage your personal brand, others will define it for you. And trust me, you want to be in control of that narrative. Whether you’re the quiet guy, the tech whiz, or the go-to person for problem-solving, think about how you want to be known and make sure your actions reflect that.