Shaping the Person You Bring into Every Room

In November 2025, I got to present to the students and athletes at Durban Christian Residence on how developing and consistently living out a personal brand brings clarity and peace to your life. I went through how to establish a personal brand and left them with questions to work on in their own time:

• what is your purpose,
• what values are important to you,
• what actions will represent your purpose and values,
• what three strengths do you notice in yourself,
• what makes you different in a good way and
• who keeps you accountable...

I ended my presentation with some 'Momma Bear' advice. These young adults come to stay in the Residence from all around the country and the continent while they are studying, working, or training in the hope of making the Sharks team, so in solidarity with their moms who miss and worry about them daily, I couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

• Develop your personal brand over time by creating atomic habits. Don't rely on motivation, be disciplined enough to implement your daily schedule consistently so that it becomes a habit. Habits require very little thought and energy in the long run.
• What anyone else thinks about you, is none of your business. Only you and God count. When culture shifts you need to know who you are.
• You can be universally liked or you can be authentic - you can’t be both.
• Get clear on the life you want, then say no to everything that doesn’t lead you there.
• Short term pain for long term gain - instant gratification doesn’t work.
• When someone insults you, pause, look them in the eyes, ask them to repeat what they said and don’t be afraid to reply ‘that doesn’t warrant a response’.
• Never flip your lid because you lose your power. Calm silence works brilliantly in every situation - on the sports field, in a classroom, in the office.
• You can’t heal what you don’t reveal. Remember to work on your emotional and spiritual strength and not just your mental and physical strength. Talk to someone. Ask for help.
• Be Brave - be prepared to take risks and look like a fool. Do the things that scare you. Say yes to everything good.

Remember you are not defined or restricted by who you have been. You can change your personal brand through consistent actions. You will make mistakes. The power lies in picking up the ball as quickly as possible after dropping it.

Your personal brand is not something you build once. It’s something you live, breathe and grow into every single day. You’re not just preparing for a job or a career, you are shaping the person you bring into every room, team and opportunity. The choices you make, the habits you create, and the way you make people feel will tell your story long before you do. So be intentional, be authentic, and be brave enough to evolve.

Your brand is your power, it’s your promise to the world...and the best part is, you get to decide what that promise is.

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