“Your job is to find your calling…” Oprah Winfrey

“I remember vividly when my manager called me into the office. I found myself with the HR person who explained the situation and told me my services were no longer needed.”

Daniel Gurrola, a senior Telco executive who found himself suddenly unemployed after the company he worked for went through a reorganisation. A graduate from HEC, a top French top business school, Daniel enjoyed an uninterrupted career as top Telco Executive, working in major corporations, top consultancies and was the VP of Strategic Engagement, before all suddenly end.

“Typically, you think you’re prepared for this, but you’re not, and you find yourself in a situation you have never been in before. There’s a bit of a stigma in society when someone is in transition or unemployed.

You ask yourself what should I be doing? Should I tell people? What should I tell my family and what should I do? Where do I even start?

All these questions come to your mind and you’re confused about where to go. How would people perceive you now and what your social circle will become? “

Daniel decided to take advantage of this transition and go on a journey of self-discovery to rediscover himself and dig down into his values and aspirations before jumping into the next venture.

Unless you stop to examine your life and understand yourself on a deeper level, you are unlikely to project a strong and authentic brand.

Personal branding starts with credibility. That is why you must define and communicate clearly who you are, what you want, what is important to you, why you do what you do, and what makes you stand out from the crowd.

To inspire others, you must know yourself. To be a true leader, you must have a point of view, can express yourself with originality, and can speak effectively and frequently about your convictions.

This first pillar, Know Yourself, is the necessary foundation without which it’s impossible to build a lasting personal brand. It allows you to be who you truly are, no more and no less, and work from a place of authenticity.