Personal Branding Podcast

“The next generation is watching—let your brand be the permission they need to rise.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive So today we are looking at some personal branding mistakes that people often overlook in building their personal brand, particularly through the lens of cultural and religious settings—especially in Africa—and how brands can break through to succeed and impact the lives of those who matter to them most. The need to build a personal brand—rising above the noise, social limitations, and cultural myths or biases—is critical to standing out. You know, long before now, some religious and cultural systems didn’t give women the opportunity to lead or take the front lines. I mean, to spearhead great initiatives or even engage in challenges like going to war—those were seen as men’s responsibilities. Over the years, things have evolved, and now women are taking up major roles. However, the belief systems that shaped earlier generations still hold many women back. When they reflect on how

“A business without customers is just a hobby with expenses.” – Bernard Kelvin Clive Today, we continue our series on customer care, customer experience, and handling negative feedback. This is especially vital for small business owners and brands who want to build and sustain a cordial relationship with clients. Businesses thrive on clients—without them, there is no business. That’s why every single customer should be treated like gold. There are many instances where businesses fall short, and these shortcomings must be addressed. In the previous article, I shared some personal experiences with vendors and clients, and how I handled them. That piece sparked a lot of conversation—others shared similar stories, especially from the entrepreneurship ecosystems in Ghana and Nigeria. So, let’s get into some of those insights and lessons. The Customer Care Shift: From Humble to Haughty Most small business owners start off strong with customer care. When they’re just launching, their focus is on gaining

In this article, we’re looking at trends and traditions—the dangers of following trends blindly and the risks of sticking to traditions when the signs are clear for a transition. In it right? In a small business management group, we discussed the content we share for an organization whose portal we manage. One of the interns suggested that we should run the captions in a particular way because they had seen several similar organizations using the same pattern. I paused for a moment and then told them that just because others are following a particular pattern doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for us. Firstly, it doesn’t mean it’s right. What they are doing may be completely wrong. Just because they are screaming and shouting doesn’t mean we should also scream and shout to get the attention of our audience. We need to run our content through a set of filters to ensure that what we produce aligns with the brand we are working on. Blindly following trends is dangerous both for b

Entertainers Seek Likes. Entrepreneurs Seek Leads. Have you ever posted something online and received thousands of likes but saw no real business growth? In today’s digital world, it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers—likes, views, and shares. However, if you’re serious about building a brand or growing a business, you must focus on the right metrics. The Fundamental Difference Entertainers crave likes. Entrepreneurs crave leads. Entertainers go after likes. Entrepreneurs go after leads. This distinction is so critical for one’s success in the digital ecosystem. If you position yourself as someone who simply follows the trends, chasing followers and social media virality without a solid plan to monetize your efforts, you may miss the essence of doing business in this digital age. Positioning Yourself for Growth You need to decide: Are you merely entertaining people for likes, or are you strategically positioning yourself to generate leads? Having a post go viral with thousands of likes means little

The ten times ten strategy: creating a silent brand army “True influence starts small; ten committed individuals can quietly create a movement that echoes across industries.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive Today, I continue with the emergence of silent brands. Businesses and brands doing remarkably well but unseen in the digital sphere, devoid of clear signs or online presence. We will use a strategy similar to how several multilevel marketing (MLM) functions. Using the (MLM), approach in recruiting and building a team, their conventional wisdom such as “bring x number of people, and they will bring x number, in that order” is widely used. Similarly, we will be using a methodical, scalable technique that will enable us to acquire a presence in the market even without great visibility, therefore strengthening a powerful, selling brand. Digital Visibility: The Challenge The concept of “1,000 true fans” and the difficulties of establishing a digital presence in a market growingly satu

“Attention is one of the most prized assets in this age” – Bernard Kelvin Clive. In this digital age, attention is indeed one of the most valuable assets. The ability to capture and hold attention determines the success of brands, businesses, and individuals. To illustrate its true worth, let’s examine the Super Bowl halftime show, a prime example of how strategic attention management translates into massive impact and value. Did you know that a 30-second Super Bowl ad costs approximately $8 million? According to a report by Forbes, when you factor in production costs, talent fees, and marketing expenses, the total investment can range between $10 to $20 million. Why such a high price? Because at that moment, millions of people are glued to their screens, providing brands with unparalleled exposure. The greater the audience, the higher the value of the attention being sold. However, not all attention is equal. If you’re getting millions of viewers but not converting them into las

The Power of Ungooglable Brands: The Silent Influencers Who Shape Industries Understanding Ungooglable Brands This week we continue our series on the ‘Rise of the Silent Brands. This is the thing; not all the powerful brands are visible. Some of the most influential individuals and businesses operate quietly, pulling the strings behind the scenes while remaining virtually unknown. I call them “ungooglable brands.” They don’t flood search engines, nor do they chase online fame, yet they hold the real power—making decisions that shape industries, politics, and businesses without the public even realizing it. These individuals include quiet influencers, global shapers, and industry movers who operate under the radar. They may not have a social media presence, but they command significant influence in politics, business, and various industries. Their impact is felt, but their identities remain concealed from the public eye. The Power of Invisible Influence A while ago, there was a local politica

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

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 capable of w

Building Capacity for the Race Ahead I believe this will be helpful not just for the coming year but also for the days and years ahead, particularly as we focus on setting and achieving goals, meeting resolutions, and hitting targets. In times like these, it’s important to reflect on how we can strategize effectively for the future. I want to discuss what I call the “relay focus” in a race. This analogy can help guide us as we prepare for the new year and work toward our goals. Whether you’re planning to lose weight, take a new course, explore a new career path, write a book, or make lifestyle changes, these reflections can be valuable. Whatever your aspirations or resolutions—what you want to stop doing or start doing—this is a worthy pursuit. I encourage you to go for it. But first, let me share a story to provide some perspective. The Two Athletes in High School Back in high school, during athletic competitions, two young athletes always drew attention and applause from the audience and student body. There

“Masters today, were Starters Yesterday, so begin now.”― Bernard Kelvin Clive Today, I want to share some thoughts on public speaking, drawing from my latest book co-authored with my friend, Samuel Agyeman-Prempeh, on the fundamentals of public speaking. In the book, we discuss the basics for anyone—entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, or professionals—looking to venture into public speaking or presentations, whether for business or sales. These foundational tips will help you kickstart your speaking career. We also share our personal experiences, including the challenges we’ve faced and how we’ve overcome them throughout our 15-year journey in the field. The Debate Recently, when I announced the release of the book on one of the platforms, a friend —Gilbert reminded me of something that happened about 25 years ago. We were in our teens, attending junior high school. The story he shared with me reflects how far things have changed and reminds us that, no matter where we start, we can always rise from our failures and

The Impact of Parenting, Modelling, and Mentoring on Kids Bernard Kelvin Clive here. Today I want to share with you how pairings, careers, or passions influence us in diverse ways in terms of who we become, and even the career paths and decisions that impact our lives in the later years. Story 1: Kobby Blay and His Son I visited my friend Kobby Blay, who is a practicing nurse and also passionate about digital media and photography. He had a professional camera, and anytime I visited him, I noticed he would take some shots around. His son, observing his father, developed a desire to play with the camera. One day, the boy picked up the camera. Instead of shouting or screaming, Kobby used it as a teaching moment. He showed his son how to strap the camera around his neck and hold it properly. Although the camera wasn’t meant for the boy, Kobby’s consistent guidance helped nurture his son’s interest. The boy began taking family pictures, developing his skills by mimicking his father. This hands-on experience allow

Today we’re diving headfirst into the power of exceptional customer experience.  I will share with you why prioritizing your clients, especially in the realm of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), is the secret weapon you’ve been overlooking. “Often times consumers, clients, and customers are not just buying a product or service, they are buying an experience, a feeling, a perception, a person(YOU)” – Bernard Kelvin Clive Let’s face it, customer service in some parts of the world can be, well, let’s just say lacking. And for many SMEs, the focus often lands on simply getting the job done. But what if I told you that by shifting your mindset and truly prioritizing the customer experience, you could unlock exponential growth for your business? Intrigued? Then buckle up, because we’re about to explore real-world examples and practical strategies to make exceptional service your competitive edge. Here’s the first Story Two Designers and the Power of Going the Extra Mile Let me illustrate this concept with a

“Where you plant your feet determines your feats.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive Let me share this with you.  One morning, while I was cleaning my car, I noticed something interesting. I had worked hard to make the car’s body look shiny and clean, even though there was a lot of dust around because of the Harmattan season. But when I stepped back to look at my work, I saw that the tires were still dirty. This made the whole car not look as nice as I thought. This situation reminded me of a lesson from my childhood. When we were kids, my uncles would tell us to make sure we washed the tires of the car really well, not just the body. They said that a car doesn’t look completely clean if its tires are dirty, even if the rest of it is spotless. They kept reminding us that this was important, showing us that we often focused on the parts that were easy to see and forgot about the rest. This lesson is not just about cars; it’s also about life. A car needs good, clean tires to move properly, just like we need to take care o

How to Grow Your Personal Brand in 2024 It’s to take your brand to the next level. Whether you’re a new brand or an established one, you need to achieve at least one of these milestones/goals in the upcoming year to remain relevant and competitive. 1. Raise the bar on yourself It is all about having a growth mindset to place a demand on yourself to go higher and do better. Let me draw your attention to this simple observation: I know several brands in my circle that offer the same services and products of high quality and standard, yet they are underpaid by their clients. Why? Well, my survey revealed one major setback: a lack of confidence in their expertise. They lack the boldness to price their products and services as they deserve. Let me break it down this way. The Psychology of Pricing with Confidence: Listen, if you don’t place a premium price on yourself, others will treat you like a commodity. Truth be told, you are powerful, gifted, talented, and skilled. Yes, you, you have to believe that. It all b

How can you enhance your content creation and branding with these five productivity tools? Enhancing Productivity in Content Creation and Branding In today’s podcast, I discuss five productivity tools that can significantly enhance content creation and branding. So, I’ll share some insights from that episode, focusing on the importance of finding the right tools to boost productivity and maintain your unique voice while creating content and building your personal brand. 1 The Power of Audio-to-Text Tools The first tool I discussed was Swellai.com, a powerful tool for recording and transcribing audio. What sets Swell Icon apart is its ability to generate titles, summaries, article formats, and even social media shareable content based on the audio message. This feature is particularly useful for podcasters, as it allows us to maintain our unique voice while using AI content-generating tools. 2 Proofreading and Editing with Grammarly Next, I delved into the world of proofreading and editing with Grammarly. This

Building your brand in challenging times Growing in times Like These! The acronym for GROWTH is a great tool for personal and professional growth. Each letter represents an important trait or action that can help you navigate the different stages of growth. Let’s go through each one: G- Grits & Guts: Grit is a combination of perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It means having the determination to see something through to the end, even when things get difficult. Guts, on the other hand, is the courage to take risks and try new things, even if you’re not sure you’ll succeed. Together, grits and guts can help you take on new challenges and overcome obstacles in your path to growth. R- Reason & Research: Reasoning and research are essential for making informed decisions and setting realistic goals. By being logical and analytical, you can evaluate different options and choose the best course of action. Researching and gathering information also allows you to have a more well-rounded understanding of the

13 years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Kobby Blay, a driven and passionate young nurse. It was at the peak of my first book launch and blog and I was doing multiple radio and TV interviews. We all felt passionately committed to driving positive change in our society through our gifts and passions. Kobby was on a mission to fill the gap in health information through his blog and medical photography. His unwavering passion led to the creation of the highly successful Ghana Health Nest, which has become a trusted source of health information. Kobby’s passion project has taken him on a journey around the world, and it can happen to you too! I have seen firsthand how several of my friends have transformed their passions into profitable ventures. Today, I am thrilled to share my knowledge and offer tips and strategies to help you kickstart your own passion-driven business. It all starts with taking that first step and starting today! Are you tired of working in a job that doesn’t fulfill you or align with you

The Top 5 Myths about Goal Setting – And How to Ditch Them for Good Are you trying to make changes in your life but feeling stymied by goal-setting myths? Do you ever wonder if setting goals is worthwhile? You are not alone if this sounds familiar. Goal setting is a popular topic, especially during this time of the year, but it can be fraught with misconceptions. In this article, I will debunk the top five goal-setting myths and offer practical advice on how to get rid of them for good. Continue reading to learn how setting goals can help you achieve your dreams and realize your full potential. 1. Your Goals must be in writing! Not entirely true, you can have unwritten goals. You know what? When I wrote the last book – Bruwaa, which I published last year, I didn’t have a goal of writing it, but once I thought about it, I wrote it and published it! You should have a goal, but your goal doesn’t have to be in writing. For achieving goals, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You can still make your goal, even

Building your Personal Brand as a Student Here are a few quick tips to help! “Personal Branding is the combination of one’s SKILLS and TALENT to produce VALUE for others, that creates an IMPRESSION, PERCEPTION, and REPUTATION…” – Bernard Kelvin Clive 1. Start with a clear vision for who you want to become and what your goals are. (Find yourself) 2. Be innovative and think outside the box when it comes to marketing your brand. (Find your power, Get Skilled!) 3. Develop an effective social media strategy that will help you connect with your target audience. (Find your place) 4 . Think about ways in which you can monetize your brand, and make sure all of your strategies are legal and ethical. (Find a need) 5 . Stay true to yourself, and don’t be afraid to experiment – this is how you’ll find out what works best for you and YOUR brand! 6 . Keep track of trends so that you know where the industry is going, and adjust accordingly! 7 . Make use of technology resourc