Part 2: 9 Reasons to Harness Your Brilliant Difference and Start Making Edge Moves in Your Career

Dear Leader, 

Two weeks ago, I introduced you to nine reasons to start harnessing your Brilliant Difference (personal brand) and make Edge Moves in your career.  

I first double-clicked on the Personal reasons: 

1. Burnout and disengagement. 

2. Career well-being. 

3. Generational differences. 

You don’t need to read edition seven to continue with this edition, but if you haven’t read it yet and would like a more thorough explanation of these three reasons, you can read about them here. 

Now, let’s continue with the next three reasons, which fall under Organizational: 

4. Return to office. 

5. Proximity bias. 

6. Demand for skill evolution. 

4. Return to Office 

How does making Edge Moves with your Brilliant Difference relate to remote, hybrid, and in-person workplace environments? 

Starting in 2020, the pandemic disrupted the workforce by making remote settings commonplace. For the first two years, it was rare to be working in an office, and of course, this varies by industry. Around the three-year mark, companies then started integrating hybrid models, with employees transitioning to in-office two out of five days of the week and the rest working at home. And now, as we close out the four-year mark, there’s a push for returning to the office full-time. 

And here’s where your Brilliant Difference and making Edge Moves comes in. The ignition of remote settings in 2020 has ramped up the competition: 98% of people now prefer working in a remote setting. But here’s the kicker: remote jobs get 7x more applications than in-person jobs.  

Instead of worrying about the increased competition of job applications, think about how you can present yourself, your resume, and online platforms to stand out among the talent pool. Having a strong grasp of your Brilliant Difference makes this a whole lot easier and informs you on the Edge Moves you can make to stand out.  

5. Proximity Bias 

Proximity bias is a concept of people preferring things that are closer to them in time and space. This shows up in the workplace by, dare I say it, in-office workers getting preferred treatment compared to remote workers.  

I don’t agree with this. Your talent and worth don’t change based on your work setting. But the data doesn’t lie. 

According to a Wall Street Journal report, “People working from home got promoted 31% less frequently in the past year than office-based workers.” 

Whether you work remote, in-office, or hybrid, you need to seriously consider leveraging your Brilliant Difference to help you make leaps in your career and get the promotions you desire.  

6. Demand for Skill Evolution  

The skills and talents you have make up a massive part of who you are, your Brilliant Difference. You’ve invested time and effort to develop the skills you hone and use at work today, but to get to where you want to go in the future, you need to continuously improve them and even learn new ones.  

From August to December, I surveyed corporate professionals and leaders to get a pulse on career concerns and the workplace sphere for 2025. All the data is being collected into a report, which you can download December 13! Get a copy delivered right to your inbox upon release by joining my community newsletter.  

What the data shows so far is the skills that people are proficient in, that got them to where they are today, aren’t the skills they’ll need to grow in the future. 

What are those skills? Find out when the report is released! 

But this is something to think about: what skills are you already good at? What skills have carried you to success this year? What are new skills you’d like to add to your resume next year? 

Remember: 

• Think about how you can leverage your Brilliant Difference to stand out among a competitive talent pool.  

• Understand how your Brilliant Difference sets you apart, no matter your work environment.  

• Consider the skills you want to continue developing and which new ones you want to learn to build upon your Brilliant Difference to shine at work. 

I’m rooting for you and wishing you all the best as you wrap up 2024 and head into 2025. Don’t forget to flex your Brilliant Difference and lead boldly!  

Yours truly, 

Finka 

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