Joseph Aladenika. MBA, MSc, SPOC®, FIMC, arpa, CSSGB’s Post

Can we just talk about those cringe-worthy "gratitude" posts for a second? You know the ones - where people try to keep it real but end up sounding like they're spouting white noise? Case in point: stumbled upon a post from someone in our industry, going on about the "trials" of 2023 and how they're oh-so-grateful. Oh, and they casually mention laying off dozens of people. Woe is me (not woe is the person losing their job). But that was the "raw" and "honest" part, because guess what? It’s OK because the team had so much fun along the way! Well that's alright then. What an inspiring message. Let's be real here: making redundancies isn't exactly a barrel of laughs. Been there, done that, and it's anything but fun. No high-fives, just heartache. Not something to take advantage of on social media. But apparently, some people think they're being authentic when really, they're just manufacturing noise. Newsflash: trying too hard and making foolish statements just makes you look like a clueless clown. You don't have to tell us everything. You don't have to give us life affirmations. Sure, you'll have your little fan club cheering you on, but most of us just think you are a cockwomble. So, if you want genuine personal branding, skip the manufactured rubbish and go see Arthur. Trust me, he's the real deal. #CutTheCrap #ArthurKnowsHisStuff #PersonalBranding Oh and he is going to be at the #recruitmentagencyexpo where he will be 🆃🅷🅴 go-to expert in personal branding there.

Substance over show. Reflecting on my past experiences, I've realized that I often did things just to brag and look important in public. I would meet people and network—not for genuine connections—but to post about it on social media so friends, family, and others could see how "big" I'd become. But that was fake; it didn't help. There was no substance behind it. I didn't actually build meaningful connections; I focused more on PR than anything else. This behavior extended beyond networking to my projects as well—numerous instances of bragging without real progress to back it up. I'm not saying we shouldn't promote ourselves or build our personal brands, but it shouldn't be our first priority. We shouldn't put emotions over practicality. As I mentioned in a post a few days ago, you don't want to prioritize your emotional life over your material life. This is an example of putting emotions ahead of the actual substance that makes things happen. So, that's what I've learned: focus more on practicality. I'm not going to stop promoting myself, but I now understand that substance is the most important thing. It's more long-term—you don't get immediate dopamine hits from it—but it's something you need to do.

Last week was tough. The kind of tough where you question everything and get stuck in a doom-and-gloom spiral. In the past, I've been someone who shares the highlights, avoiding anything that might look too vulnerable or make me seem less credible. So instead of hiding BTS, I posted a video about my struggles that week. AND BOY, did I get a vulnerability hangover. “Should I really share this?” “Is this too much” “Will people judge me?” “CRINGE CRINGE DELETE” All the usual normal human thoughts and feelings came to the surface - but I pushed through the discomfort and decided to practice what I preach. Being vulnerable. And you know what happened - the right people connected. Many reached out, sharing that they’d been feeling the same way. I believe personal branding doesn’t have to mean sharing your personal life, but I also believe people want to connect with the human behind the brand. And sometimes this means embracing the messiness of life and business, and vulnerability can be a powerful way to connect with your audience. Note: I’m not here to throw a pity party for engagement. Everyone has a story worth sharing, and you never know who you’re inspiring when you choose to share yours—not just the highlight reel. How comfortable are you with leaning into vulnerability in your content on LinkedIn? What usually holds you back? Let me know 👇 PS, DM's are always open if you're experiencing something similar. #boldmood #linkedingrowth

HOW TO DISCOVER WHAT YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT When I build personal brand systems and strategies, my clients discover their superpower. One of the 4 practices helping to unlock your superpower is to ask your environment straightforwardly. Ask others to share what they think you are good at. The environment may include colleagues, clients, partners, friends and even relatives The trick is that we cannot see all our talents and abilities without external assistance. I never advise what I don’t practice myself. I exercise this practice myself once a year. ❗ Important Note: Before requesting other people`s opinions it is important first to make your list - what you consider to be your talents, strong points and abilities Last week I had the opportunity to ask 4 people who have known me for less than 6 months in a professional context to highlight my abilities. This is what they shared: ◾ going above and beyond, exceeding expectations, maintaining a healthy sense of perfectionism ◾ independent from others' opinions, self-sufficient ◾ strong organizational skills, leadership qualities, the ability to rally others around you ◾ making quick decisions ◾ connecting unrelated concepts, thinking systemically,  sincerity  ◾ a sense of style and aesthetics.   Believe it or not, I was fully aware of only 2 points from the list above. This post is not about self-bragging. It’s here to help you understand that our superpower is a blindspot for us. This confirms the idea that we often overlook our potential and cannot see our superpower What you need to do 1. Make a list of qualities and abilities that help you succeed 2. Select 10 people and send them a note to share what you are really good at. 3. Compile their responses in 1 list 4. Find similarities 5. Compare self-perception and what others admire about you 6. Make conclusions ____________________________ Like the post or DM to let me know if you need a template (a script) on how to ask people to share their honest opinions about you. I will send you the text template. #DiscoverYourSuperpower #SelfDiscoveryJourney #UnlockYourTalents #KnowYourStrengths #PersonalBranding #SelfAwareness #Talents

One of the challenges no one talks about is how consistency isn't child's play. • • There are challenges that come up, things we can't always control, like 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲, 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐞𝐭𝐜. • • After a long day on Sunday, I was very reluctant to make a post. I had been so exhausted and choked up with writer's block. I was almost tempted to procrastinate. • • I had a different idea in mind but ended up writing about affirmations. • • Affirmations are something I hold dear to my heart. What I do every week is accumulate any word that resonates with me during the week to form different affirmations. • • Back in school, my room was covered in sticky notes filled with inspiring words, inspired by the movie "𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦." • • I had sticky notes pasted to the wall, so anytime I turn and look, there's always something to remind me of what I wanted to be like. • • When people entered my room, the first thing they'd say is that I'll make heaven. 😂 • • I joined LinkedIn in 2022. I left the app for a year, and I came back 22 days ago. (Story for another day.) • • When I saw over a hundred reactions on the post, my impression skyrocketed to over a thousand. I had an increase in followers and connections. Waking up, everything felt like a dream. • • ... and yes, this is the biggest milestone I've achieved, here on LinkedIn. I was so excited I felt I would burst, lol. • • To think I was reluctant to make that post, cracks me up. How God works, bah? • • 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭. I mean, those times when you don't want to do something, that's when you ought to do it. • • This is me saying thank you to everyone for connecting with me. Let's do great things together. 🌺 • • 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲? ----------------------- I'm Wodu .A. Mabel, here to sprinkle some creative magic on your online presence. If you're seeing my post for the first time, feel free to connect with me for more helpful tips! #Writer #ContentWriter #Consistency #PersonalGrowth #Affirmations #LinkedinNetworking #Day23ofConsistencyWithTechSisi

I have an alarm that goes off on my phone every morning at 10am that reminds me "It's fun to be me!" Even when I'm doing hard things, even when things aren't going as planned, even when it feels like everything is falling apart.... It's fun to be me! When I'm less prepared than I would like for a speaking engagement... it's fun to be me! When I'm shaking in my boots and buried in imposter syndrome and I fear the audience will think I don't belong on that stage...it's fun to be me! And of course when things *are* going my way, and I'm in The Zone, and owning the room with all my power .... it is also super fun to be me. Here's a clip from a recent talk I gave about how this reminder can help you any time you get ON STAGE to speak. ~~~ Drop in the comments "It's fun to be me!" and celebrate what a delight it is to be YOU. ~~~ Want support bringing more of YOU to the stage, no matter the situation? DM me and let's talk. Or download this free PDF "How to tell stories that attract clients and make bigger impact" (all while having fun being you, of course) at this link: https://lnkd.in/gFx2SXc

The real-life Vit Schlesinger has become famous on LinkedIn. Here is how: 1) He uses authentic pictures. 2) He shares authentic stories. 3) He is kind. Yeah, and he has established the right target group in his connections + follows technical best practices. So, is he perfect? No way: 1) He may share more specific know-how, as he just did at our conference. 2) He may quit switching the languages of his posts. 3) He kinda uses too many emojis. But that is all right; he is a marketing guy, after all 😛 So, you don't need to be perfect to become one of the most visible people in your industry on LinkedIn. You need to be you. Respect a few technicalities. Work hard. And do all of that regularly.

My goals for the week was you? This week I aimed at posting everyday, throughout the week. Attending the DOLBAF Conference Completing my work-related task that are due before the week runs out. Did I achieve all of this? YES Did I notice a significant change? NOT REALLY. Will I stop at what I am doing because of that? Definitely not why? This is as a result of my CONVICTION. one of the insight I gained at the DOLBAF Conference was the assertion made by Joyce Daniels she opined that Effective communication is usually based on conviction that is anchored on these key areas: ** knowledge(what you know can fuel you) ** Experiences (events in your life that shaped you into who you are can fuel you) ** Desire (what you intend to achieve in the world can fuel you) **Relationships (people whom you have associated with can fuel you) She asserted further that Conviction might not necessarily tick the boxes of **legality (legally acceptable) **morality (right or wrong) **policy (rules or set principles) So, the decisions and trajectory you choose to embark on, In order for it to be communicated and expressed effectively in the borderless world, must come from a place of conviction anchored or having as a benchmark one or the combination these 4 areas that are unique to you. This will guide and refine your approach to the things that you do. That something doesn't work the way you intended it to, that you didn't achieve your set goals for the week, Doesn't mean you should give up on that goal, instead you should revisit your conviction that shows you why you started what you are doing in the first place. This can be that reoccurring message, reoccurring theme, that product or service you developed from your conviction that you want to express and communicate in the borderless world. so my insight for you this weekend is that regardless of the outcome as regards the goals you have set for the week, LET YOUR CONVICTION FUEL YOU TO KEEP GOING Just imagine if the creator of LinkedIn gave up. Did you know that LinkedIn launched way before Facebook did? This is it my friend cheers!!! P.S what is that conviction that fuels you to do what you do on this platform? Drop your answer in the comments. How is your weekend coming along? #happyweekend #expressionintheborderlessworld #conviction

💬 "One comment brought me to tears..." - It was a simple message, but it meant the world to me. - Recently, life threw unexpected tasks my way, and I couldn’t post on LinkedIn for a few days. - My impressions plummeted, and I started questioning whether all my hard work was slipping away. 📉 - It's a terrible feeling, isn't it? - Putting in the work but seeing no results… - But Yesterday, something happened. - I posted despite the dip in engagement, and the response was overwhelming—not in numbers, but in something more meaningful: impact. - One comment compared my content to a well-known figure in the industry Justin Welsh. - Others shared powerful words of support and encouragement. - It brought me to tears, reminding me of something essential: 🔑 Impact > Impressions. - We get caught up in numbers—likes, views, impressions. - When they drop, it's easy to feel disheartened. But today I realized... 1- Impact matters more than stats. 2- You’re not defined by the numbers. 3- Your voice matters, even when the stats don’t show it. - What I learned from this experience: 📌 Numbers don't always reflect your value. - It’s easy to think that lower engagement means your work isn’t worthwhile, but that’s not true. - The right message reaches the right people when it’s needed most. - Here's what I learnt : 1️⃣ Quality over quantity. 2️⃣ Consistency is key. 3️⃣ Keep showing up. - You never know whose life you're touching, even if the numbers don't reflect it. 📌Have you faced a dip in engagement and found meaning in it? - Drop your experience below 👇 Let’s lift each other up and remember why we started. P.S. It’s okay if your impressions are low—what matters is the lasting impact you make. 📌Keep creating, keep believing. Your voice matters. "Success isn't measured by the applause—it’s measured by the impact you leave behind. Keep going, even when no one’s clapping."

Dear LinkedIn Community, Engagement is crucial, and it hinges on how we present ourselves, both visually and vocally, as well as the substance of what we say. If you find that people are losing interest during conversations, consider focusing on these three key elements: 1. Auditory Engagement: How you use your voice is vital. Speaking clearly and with purpose can greatly enhance your ability to connect with others. Ensure your vocal delivery is confident and engaging. 2. Visual Engagement: Your body language and facial expressions play a significant role. Maintain a strong presence and use your visual cues effectively to keep your audience engaged. 3. Content: Share interesting and thought-provoking information. In short, don't bore people with unnecessary facts. To improve these areas, here's an analysis I want you to try out. Record yourself speaking for 10 minutes and review the footage. Ask yourself: - Was my content compelling? - Was I visually expressive? - Did I sound engaging? I encourage you my dearest reader to try and focus on these aspects. By then, you can significantly enhance how others perceive and engage with you. Stay tuned to this page for updates on how productive this week has been.