The Power of personal and corporate branding: How Consistency & Authenticity Build Trust and Opportunity

"Ever notice how Hollywood just loves to put one person center stage at a time? They pick a 'face of the brand,' someone who embodies everything they want to sell. Take Kendall Jenner, for example. She reportedly got paid a massive amount—I'm talking millions—just to be the face of L'Oréal. That's because she already has a strong personal brand, associated with fame and a certain lifestyle, and the company knew they'd profit from that connection. That's branding in action, right there."

Building Your Digital Footprint

 In today's interconnected world, an online presence is no longer optional; it's essential. Whether through a personal website, a business profile, or social media, being online allows you to control your narrative. I've personally experienced the reach of a digital presence: people I don't know personally, and have never even told I have a blog, will tell me, "I read your blog, THE SMILING DREAMS. I love it so much!" This demonstrates the power of a consistent online footprint in attracting an audience.

The Essence of Consistency and Authenticity

A key element of effective branding is consistency. Your audience needs to know you'll always be there, reliably present. This commitment can even influence real-world opportunities; some jobs, for instance, are contingent on a stable local presence. On social media platforms like Instagram, consistency can manifest as a specific aesthetic or an elegant feed. Investing in your page's overall look and feel – its aesthetics – is truly worthwhile, as it creates an immediate impression and reinforces your brand identity.

However, consistency must be paired with authenticity. Some brands are merely a facade, and discerning customers quickly see through it. Trust is earned when your online persona genuinely reflects who you are. The story of TikTok's Charli D'Amelio, whose relative in marketing reportedly helped her achieve massive online success, highlights how strategic branding, when combined with genuine engagement, can create significant impact. You see the same thing with people joining reality TV shows, aiming to grow their brand and later sell stuff for profit. It's all about strategic visibility.

Branding for Opportunity and Trust

Ultimately, branding is how you market yourself. It's about building an audience that not only recognizes you but trusts you enough to engage or even buy from you. This involves consistently posting and sometimes, yes, sacrificing a bit of privacy to maintain that presence. But for many influencers, this near-lack of privacy becomes a worthwhile trade-off, leading to a cascade of brand deals and opportunities—deals upon deals that often grow so extensive they require an entire management team. They build an entire livelihood, living solely based on their personal brand. Just look at the numbers: the global influencer marketing market, valued at an estimated $23.59 billion in 2025, is projected to surge to $70.86 billion by 2032, boasting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.0% (Fortune Business Insights). These brand cooperations usually only happen when a company's search for the right personal brand matches theirs, and they clearly see the potential for a successful collaboration.

For businesses, branding dictates everything from the entrance decor to employee attire, all contributing to a unified message. This intense focus on brand identity has even led companies to hire dedicated social media specialists and entire branding teams, showcasing the true investment required. When it comes to online reviews, some businesses meticulously address every negative comment to manage their brand to be consistent. Others, with an established market and strong brand loyalty, might choose not to, confident that their core audience will remain.

Having a strong personal or corporate brand increases opportunities. It allows opportunities to find you. Take the story of Sophia Turner, for instance, who famously shared how her large follower count directly landed her a job. For many, cultivating such an online presence isn't just about side gigs; it can even turn into a full-time career as an influencer, where their audience itself becomes their livelihood. In this digital age, your online presence ensures you are discoverable, allowing you to shape perceptions and open doors. Ultimately, your brand is the story you tell about yourself to the world – a living, evolving narrative that, when crafted with consistency and authenticity, not only opens doors but truly defines your impact.

Still smiling in the dream world... 

Xx, 

Liz

Olympics, more than just Games

I first became captivated by the Olympics when I heard of Michael Phelps and his dynamic swimming abilities. My love for the Sport of Gymnastics grew in 2016, with Simone Biles’ unparalleled performance that developed my passion for the sport of gymnastics. Over the years, I've come to realize that beyond the athletic feats, the most inspiring moments are the ones that teach us powerful lessons about life, love, and personal growth.

The Power of Heartfelt Moments

This year's Olympics was filled with breathtaking moments, record-breaking feats, and heartwarming displays of affection that were more addictive than any drama series. The Swedish-American pole vaulter, Armand Duplantis, embracing his girlfriend after shattering the world record was a picture of pure joy. Similarly, the viral moment between Tara Davis-Woodhall and her husband after her gold medal win in the long jump was a heartwarming picture of love and support. They hugged each other almost bruising their lungs in the tightest of embraces. These moments remind us that even at the highest level of competition, love and human connection are the greatest wins.

The Role of Mindset and Self-Belief

I was enthralled by the display of athletic prowess exhibited by Gabby Thomas, the Harvard graduate and Olympic champion in the 200-meter sprint. Her recent interviews revealed the potency of positive thinking and visualization, through which she manifested her championship status even before stepping onto the starting block. Ultimately, it’s about giving one's best effort. I believe she is a role model for countless young girls due to her significant impact beyond the sporting arena, particularly in the realm of global health. You can listen to the interview with Gabby Thomas discussing visualisation here. 

Compete with Yourself

The most striking lesson I have learned from the Olympics is to compete only with oneself. Rather than comparing yourself to others, set and achieve your own goals while striving to surpass your previous achievements. This is perfectly exemplified by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who has broken her own 400-meter hurdles world record an astonishing six times. Her current record stands at an astounding 50.37 seconds. Likewise, Usain Bolt shattered his own 100-meter record, setting a new benchmark of 9.58 seconds that remains unmatched since 2009.

I'll conclude with the words of Michael Phelps: “If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.”

What lessons from the Olympics have inspired you? Share them in the comments below!

Ideas are Currency: A Guide to Protecting Intellectual Property

“What is the most resilient parasite?Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient. . . highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed — fully understood — that sticks; right in there somewhere” 

 - Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception (2010)

Ideas pop up in our brains every day and some have a wonder to them that can set a series of far-reaching success. And can change EVERYTHING. That's why you have to turn your ideas real. It is easy to assume that you need extreme preparation and connections to make it work, but sometimes you just have to take the first step and that could be wildly exhilarating! 

 

 As you are manifesting your ideas in to reality and monetising them, you got to protect yourself from cancerous thieves ready to kick you in the balls. Because an idea is not enough. This brings me to the concept of intellectual property. An intellectual property in its purest form is an idea. Through patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets we protect our ideas. 

 

Patents: Securing Your Invention

A patent is a grant that gives an inventor a temporary monopoly on the use and development of an invention. Companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft thrive not just on their physical products but on the innovative ideas that propel their development, which are often protected by patents. Bill Gates, for example, built an empire by creating patents on software, becoming one of the richest people in the world. The goal of a patent is to allow you to make money from your invention—whether through licensing, selling it, or building your own company—before it becomes public domain.

Trademarks: Protecting Your Brand

A trademark gives you the exclusive right to use a word, logo, or phrase in a particular country and industry. It protects your brand identity. A famous example is the 2017 legal battle between Kylie Minogue and Kylie Jenner. Minogue successfully prevented Jenner from trademarking their shared first name “Kylie” for her new beauty brand. Had Jenner been successful, no one else could have used that brand identity without facing a legal battle for infringement.

Copyrights: Safeguarding Creative Works

Copyrights are meant to protect creative works such as books, movies, music, and characters. Unlike trademarks, copyrights don't have to be registered to exist. If you listen to a hit song that samples another track, the original copyright holders—the songwriters and producers of the sampled song—are entitled to a big portion of the revenue. This compensation is typically referred to as a royalty.

Trade Secrets: Keeping It Confidential

Some companies use a trade secret to protect their intellectual assets, such as a recipe, manufacturing process, or technology. These are meant to be kept strictly confidential. The formulas for the Starbucks Frappuccino, KFC, and Krispy Kreme are all considered trade secrets. They remain undisclosed and outside the public domain, ensuring competitors can't gain access to the formula. If someone happens to leak a trade secret, you can sue them for misappropriation, provided a non-disclosure agreement was signed beforehand.

A Final Word on Contracts

In an age where ideas are the real currency, it's crucial to protect them. Remember the poignant rift between Sylvester Stallone and Irwin Winkler over the Rocky franchise. Stallone had ignorantly and naively sold the rights to the film when he was a struggling actor and had no idea how massive it would become. Before signing any agreement or contract, thoroughly read and red-line it. Don’t sign away your life, your image, and your rights without fully understanding what you’re giving up.

Do you think creators are doing enough to protect their intellectual property, or is more education needed? Share your thoughts below!

BREASTFEEDING: AN UNSUNG MIRACLE

The whitish creamish substance scribbled all over her T-Shirt. Just when she thought she had cleaned all of it up, a droplet oozed out and moved a mini-micro millimeter in the wrong direction. She mentally sighed and finally decided to wear a new top all together. As a lactating mother, she always had to be prepared for those instances when her breast milk leak, soaking her dress. Thanks to her padded bra and her pump, those instances were becoming rarer and rarer. However, that didn't stop her from deciding to breastfeed her son till he was 2 years 6 months. After all, the World Health Organization advises that we breastfeed even after baby turns one year.

I totally concur with this recommendation because breastfeeding has so many numerous benefits that can be stretched from the earth to the sky. For instance, breast milk contains omega-3 and omega- 6 fatty acids (PUFAs) which are of critical importance for the development of the brain and nervous system. Breast milk also protect the baby from illness as it contains antibodies and other active substances. It is in this light that I do make it a point to make sure my patients are taught how to properly breastfeed their babies before they are finally discharged. What we don't want to see is a mother coming again with a jaundiced baby. God in his infinite wisdom created the sincerest and purest form of equity that lies in breastfeeding. Women no matter their race or socio-economic status have the most natural means to provide essential nutrients to their babies through breastfeeding. Truth be told, a good maternity bra that offers comfort, support and convenience, makes all the differences. Imagine it being so comfy that you can sleep in or even swim in it in peace and quiet. Finding such a comfortable bra can sometimes be daunting. And that’s why Rihanna deserves all the flowers for creating one that is just right.

Although the world breastfeeding week was celebrated during the first week in August, its message is timeless, "Let's make breastfeeding and work, work!" To be honest, we cannot talk about breastfeeding without talking about the duration of Maternity leave. Sometimes, it is considered a frivolous amusement, rather than a serious call to action. That is the main reason we should applaud countries that make paid maternity leave a priority. Breastfeeding without doubt is a wonder and a truly Unsung Miracle.

HEALTH, SACRIFICES AND WHAT NOT

While watching Inventing Anna, I realised that Money, Power, Image & Love are what tend to motivate people. Nevertheless, you are not going to enjoy these if you are not healthy. Rightly said, "health is wealth." One that is usually not appreciated until it's no more. 

DISEASE OUTBREAK RESPONSE

Got in Satan's halitosis with no escape, earnestly struggling for air. That is how it felt trying to dissect this medical mystery. 

A Wedding, a Pandemic, and the Lessons in Between

After a beautiful wedding ceremony, Mr. X began to feel an unexplained eeriness. His temperature rose gradually until he was boiling hot, and his bowels began to spew their contents with the rapidity of a tornado. His whole world suddenly changed. Instead of enjoying his honeymoon, he was confined to the four corners of a hospital room with IV medications connected to his veins.

 

The Unfolding Mystery

From then on, things went from bad to worse. The very next day, Mr. X had reddened eyes, and on auscultation, a diastolic murmur was heard. His blood pressure was dropping by the second, necessitating a dobutamine infusion for days. It was clear this was not a simple case of enteric fever. There were more questions than answers.

A diagnosis of viral hemorrhagic fever was being contemplated, with the Marburg virus as a leading concern, as it had recently been confirmed in Ghana. It was a Herculean task to get his sample to an accredited facility for proper analysis. Although, in this case, it turned out not to be Marburg, the experience revealed significant gaps in our healthcare system.

 

A Deeper Dive and a New Perspective

Somehow, there was a solution to it all. An echocardiogram revealed that he had viral myopericarditis. A deeper dive into his history revealed that he had been diagnosed with Covid-19 two months prior, and he was now suffering from post-Covid complications.

More than ever, Covid-19 has shown the grueling impact of a pandemic and the essence of having a robust disease outbreak response. Undeniably, its roar and subsequent backfired triumph led to better advances in public health.

 

Moving Forward

Our disease outbreak response should be nothing but top-notch. With the advent of Digital Disease Detection (DDD), sequencing of viral genomes, and rapid diagnostic tests, we should be singing a different tale.

On July 23, 2022, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, declared the monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This was a step in the right direction, given that it took so long for SARS-CoV-2 to be declared a public health emergency. 

Knowledge is power, so be aware and stay safe!

LIVING A SOFT LIFE

Happy? We are mostly never taught how to be happy. Someway somehow we either figure it on our own or lash onto someone for it. Some say being happy is akin to living a soft life. When I first heard of the term soft life, I immediately thought of ease and comfort. But it is more than that. It is about living a balanced life that brings you happiness. More importantly, it is about maturity. 

First, living a soft life involves molding yourself into a person who is able to accept things for what they are and not stress over them. Like it is famously said, "this too shall pass." It is also a gentle reminder of the 4A's of stress management: avoid, alter, adapt or accept. 

Looking, praying and wanting can seem daunting if not sprinkled with the medicine called Laughter. Trying to laugh in the pain can break and melt problems away. Unwrap the tortuous whirlwind of thoughts and just laugh. Often times, over thinking and analysing can turn the most innocuous thing into a mountain. 

One way or another you have to cut out toxic people out of your life or manoeuvre your way around them so as to have as little interaction with them as possible. These are people who make feel unhappy, insecure and unwanted. Be choosy of those you put in your inner circle. Everybody isn't your friend. 

In a recent episode of the Kardashians, Kendall Jenner was struggling to cut a cucumber and we saw how quickly Kris Jenner called for their personal chef. Sometimes, you just have to make things easy for yourself. Ask for help, call for support, don't try shouldering all the burden. More often than not, you don't enjoy your life because you tend to do everything yourself. 

Make time to unwind and relax. A little party here and there, a little break here and there..., a little nap here and there. And travel whenever you get the chance. Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battut

Glam up and show out. Dressing up can be therapeutic. Feeling good is looking good.

Having a soft life is about having the "can't be bothered mindset". This is where you don't let things get to you. You don't let your emotions control you, and really really don't care what people think about you.

Cheers to living a soft life! 

Xx, 

Liz.