The Truth About Making Real Change with Your Personal Brand

Ever notice how some people can create massive change while others barely make a dent?

It's not about money, power, or having millions of followers on social media.

The real secret to creating massive change lies in something far simpler - and far more powerful. Something you already have, but probably haven't realised yet.

Want to know what it is?

Understanding impact isn't like anything you've been taught before.

It's not the fluffy, feel-good version you see in corporate brochures. Instead, it's about the real, raw truth of how tiny actions can explode into massive change.

And here's the difficult pill to swallow.

Most people spend their whole lives trying to make a difference. They chase influence, throw money at problems, and fight for attention online. But they're missing the one thing that actually matters.

You're already doing it every single day.

Why Impact Matters

Let's get real about something.

Every single action you take creates ripples.

Some tiny, barely noticeable at first.

Others are massive, changing lives in ways you might never see.

But they're all connected, building on each other like waves in an ocean, or ripples in a lake.

That's the power you hold.

The Ripple Effect

This is a technique taught to me by a lesbian interfaith minister shortly after my fiancé, Naz, took his own life in 2014. It has been a key part of my social impact and outreach process ever since.

Think about the last time someone changed your life.

Maybe it was a parent who believed in you unconditionally. A friend who showed up at your lowest moment. Or even a stranger who asked you, "Are you okay? What can I do to help?".

These small actions might seem tiny at the time. But they create ripples that keep moving, touching more lives than you can imagine.

It's important to be patient and give your positive actions time and space to ripple out to others in their network or community.

That's how real change happens.

Give it time and be patient.

Your Hidden Power

Here's something most people don't realise.

You don't need a fancy title or a million followers to make a difference. You just need to understand how impact works.

Small actions, done with purpose, over an elapsed period of time, can create bigger changes than grand gestures ever could.

Let me show you five ways this works:

1. Standing up for what's right, even when it's hard.

2. Helping others find their voice.

3. Sharing your unique story, or giving up your platform so others can share theirs.

4. Building bridges between different groups.

5. Taking action instead of just talking.

These aren't just nice ideas - they're fundamental building blocks that can spark real change. I know, because I've used all of these to help grow my charity Naz and Matt Foundation over the last ten years.

Your Personal Brand Can Change the World

Want to know what's more powerful than a viral video?

It's something called purpose-driven personal branding.

But forget everything you think you know about building a brand. This isn't about perfect Instagram feeds or polished LinkedIn profiles. This is about turning who you really are into a force for good.

When you build a brand around your purpose - your real, raw mission to make things better - something magical happens.

People don't just follow you, they join your cause.

They become part of your movement.

The Big Picture

The biggest changes in history didn't start with grand plans or massive movements.

They started with single actions, taken by regular people who probably had no idea what they were starting.

That's how movements grow.

That's how revolutions begin.

That's how you change the world.

When I started Naz and Matt Foundation back in 2014, I had no clever strategy. I had no contacts and no experience of running a charity. All I had was immense pain, a dream, a vision, and a feeling I wanted to feel when I knew our work was complete.

Real People, Real Change

Let me show you what this looks like.

Take someone like Malala ( Malala Fund ). She didn't start with a master plan to change global education. She just started writing about her life. One blog, one story, one voice.

Now, Malala has made a lifelong commitment to her work and changed millions of lives.

But she endured great pain to get there.

And she is, quite literally, changing the world.

This journey is not for the faint-hearted. Or a person who will give up when the going gets tough.

This journey is for someone who has pain they want to resolve and will do everything it takes to fix it.

Your Power in Action

Every day, regular people are creating massive change.

They're working on racial justice, fighting climate change, or standing up for equal rights.

They're helping kids get education, making sure people have clean water, and protecting animals.

These aren't superheroes or billionaires.

They're people just like you.

And they're crushing it.

Making It Happen

Here's the thing about real change.

It's not about waiting for the perfect moment.

It's not about having everything figured out.

It's about starting where you are, with what you have.

Take one small action today.

Then another tomorrow.

Before you know it, those ripples start turning into waves.

That's how you build momentum.

The Truth About Impact

Let's break this down into something simple.

You can create change right now. Today.

Without asking anyone's permission.

Without waiting for the perfect moment.

Without needing a fancy plan.

Just start by identifying what makes you angry, what causes you pain, what breaks your heart, or what gives you hope.

That's your compass.

Where and When to Start

Is the fear of what others will think of you holding you back?

Is procrastination telling you to wait one more day?

Start small, but start now.

Pick one thing that matters to you.

Maybe it's becoming an ally and fighting for equal rights for trans individuals. It could be helping out at the local food bank. Perhaps it's helping asylum seekers, refugees or people without homes in your area. Or it might be standing up for someone who can't stand up for themselves.

Pick something that emotionally connects to your heart and take action today, however small.

The Future is Yours

Here's what most people get wrong about making a difference.

They think they need to change the whole world at once.

But real change doesn't work that way.

It starts with one person, taking one action, making one small difference. Then another. And another.

Then, with time, patience and consistent action, the effects will compound, and you will have started a movement.

Your Turn

So here's my question for you.

What ripple will you create today?

What small action could you take today that will help someone with less privilege than you?

The world doesn't need more people waiting for the perfect moment. It needs people who are willing to start now, right where they are.

Remember: Every massive change started with someone just like you, making one small decision to act.

Your move.

What's it going to be?

About the author, Matt Mahmood-Ogston

Thank you for reading this edition of my weekly newsletter, Becoming a Personal Brand. A newsletter that explores the intersection of changing the world + personal branding.

Hit the subscribe button to receive a new edition each week.

Who am I? I'm a purpose-driven personal branding coach and social responsibility photographer for half of my week, and a multi-award-winning charity CEO for the other half.

I use my unique stack of skills and experiences as a charity CEO, tech startup founder (x4), UX consultant, graphic designer, coach, and photographer to support my mission-driven clients and maximise their positive impact and visibility.

I've worked with iconic brands such as Magnum Photos, Meta, Capgemini, RBS, NatWest, Barclays, Lloyds Bank, TSB, AVID, and helped a Dragon from BBC’s Dragons’ Den brand and launch five startups.

In my rare moments of downtime, you'll find me in London walking my disabled French Bulldog, Lola, or working on Bona Parle, my new social impact platform for creators.

If you want to maximise the impact of your personal brand, or document the value of your investment in social responsibility with photography, I'm here and ready to support you.

Find more free guides on ogston.com or follow me here on LinkedIn → Matt Mahmood-Ogston 🧲

See you next week!