Most people stay invisible. These six truths could change that (if you act now).
📌 IN THIS ISSUE:
By the end of this edition, you'll:
- Spot the silent habits killing your authority
- Dodge the rookie mistakes that cost real money
- Learn how the top 1% build lasting influence
- Apply 6 brutal truths to level up fast
- Know your exact next move to grow you brand
🎯 BONUS: Unlock tools from The Thought Leader's Playbook
The Shift That Made Clients Come to Me (Instead of Me Chasing Them)
These days, people either want to work with me - or they don't. That's it. No awkward pitches. No convincing. No dancing.
Because by the time they reach out, they've already done the homework.
They've seen my videos.
Heard the testimonials.
They've already made the decision.
But it wasn't always like that.
Back in the UK, I went to 20-30 job interviews in the media - each promising to bring in diverse talent. What I met instead were brick walls and polite rejections. Despite my BBC journalism training, years of experience as an entertainer, and a proven ability to perform under pressure,I was just another name on a list.
I even went on Blind Date, won the episode in from of 20 million viewers, and because briefly famous. But it didn't open doors. It just proved I was good. Still, no jobs came. No offers. No chance to step up.
So I left.
I chose a different ocean. One with fewer sharks.
In Dubai, the attitude was refreshing. If you say you can do it, show us.
And if you fall, that's on you. But if you deliver? You win.
That's Blue Ocean in real time.
In red oceans - where everyone's fighting over the same scraps - it's all about price, ego and scarcity. Even if you're brilliant, you'll waste your time cometing with louder voices, lower fees, and legacy systems designed to keep you out. But when you take your unique value to a new market - one that's hungry for your expertise - you stop competing. You start leading .
That's what I did. I created a brand, showed up with proof, stayed consistent, and made sure I was easy to trust but hard to replace. And then something magical happened: I stopped bring interviewed. I started being booked.
Clients now come with one question: How soon can you start - and what's the price?
If you're tired of begging to be seen, build a brand that can't be ignored.
If you're stuck in someone else's market, create your own.
When you operate in a space where your skills are rare, the choice becomes binary: yes or no.
That's why personal branding matters.
That's why positioning as a thought leader pays off.
And that's exactly what I'll show you in this issue.
If You're Tired of Being the Best-Kept Secret...
Let's be honest: most people get this wrong.
They think if they work hard, someone will notice.
Then they'll get promoted.
Then they'll get rewarded
Wrong order. Wrong strategy. Wrong era.
Hard work without visibility is just quiet suffering.
If nobody knows what you do, how can they ever say yes?
Here's the truth:
✅ You don't need to be famous.
✅ You don't need a million followers.
✅ You don't even need to talk on a stage.
But you do need to be seen.
By the right people.
At the right time.
For the right things.
If you want promotion, you need proximity.
If you want influence, you need presence.
If you want legacy, you need visibility.
That means by having:
- Proof of results.
- People who advocate for you.
- A personal brand that speaks when you're not in the room.
It's not about being loud.
It's about being known.
There's nothing more painfrul than being passed over - watching someone else less talented, less experienced, and less committed take the role you deserved... simply because they made noise and you didn't.
If you're tired from answering to someone who shouldn't be your boss, this is your wake-up call.
You don't need to become someone else.
You just need to stop hiding who you are.
Because when you're truly great - and no one knows it - you're not just underpaid.
You're replaceable.
Let's fix that. Now.
Why I Built This. And Why You Belong Here.
I didn't create The Icon Insider to go viral or feed my ego.
I built it for you - because I know how rare it is to find someone who actually believes in your greatness.
Let's be real:
School never taught you how to be exceptional.
It taught you how to fit in.
To follow outdated rules.
To chase jobs that barely exist now.
No wonfer you've questioned your value.
You were measured by irrelevant metrics.
But here's what I know - what my life has proven:
🔑 You don't need permission to be brilliant.
🔑 You don't need a certificate to know your worth.
🔑 You just need somone to show you how.
That's why I'm here.
To pass you the cheat codes.
To speed up your journey.
To get you closer to your best life - on your terms.
Not a life built on luck, but by design:
- Purpose-driven work
- Powerful partnerships
- Financial stability
- Fulfilment in your skin and your soul
When you love yourself, everything changes.
And when others see that you know who you are - they back you.
The real ones want to help you win.
That's what this newsletter is.
A tribe.
A shortcut.
A signal to the world that you're becoming an Industry Icon.
I can see your path.
I'll walk by your side.
Let's build your legacy - one bold move at a time.
She Didn't Quit. But Her Career Took Off Anyway.
Mary had a steady job, a full schedule, and a quiet belief that she could do more.
As a long-time friend from my radio days, I knew she had the heart and curiosity to help people - but she'd never had a platform.
She'd spent years studying workplace wellbeing, happiness and resilience. But the knowledge sat in a drawer while she kept the office running.
Like many professionals, Mary was waiting for permission.
Here's what changed:
- She started with a no-risk offer: running a short wellbeing session for her team - free, no red tape.
- She collected feedback, adjusted the format, and built case studies.
- She shared her results internally, and her company backed her.
- Then she scaled - first to other departments, then to external conferences.
Without quitting her job, Mary went from managing an office to shaping cultures across borders.
Her company didn't just approve - it empowered her.
She became the trusted voice for wellbeing, a go-to speaker, and a valued ambassador for the brand.
The lesson?
You don't need to leave your role to lead.
You just need to reposition what you already know and turn it into something others can benefit from.
Start small. Prove the value. Share the wins.
Then let your brand open doors.
The 4-Word Question That Builds Your Brand (Silently)
You don't need to post daily to grow your influence.
But you need a strategy that speaks even when you don't.
Here's the question I ask every client:
What do people say when you leave the room?
That's your invisible brand.
And in high-stakes environment - like boardrooms, events, and executive WhatsApps - that's often the only thing that travels faster than your CV.
Use this 5-minute drill:
- Write down the top 5 compliments you hear in your current or past roles.
- Write down the 3 things you wish they'd say (even if they don't yet).
- Now bridge the gap. What proof, stories, or content could show that aspirational version of you?
Your goal isn't to be liked. It's to be remembered - for the right things.
This is how quiet experts become iconic ones.
🔥The Ruthless Reality Check
If you want to play in the big leagues, you can't keep following rules built for benchwarmers
Here are 2 of the 6 ruthless truths the top 1 % already know ... and pray you never figure out.
- It's Not About Talent. It's About Positioning
You can be the most gifted person in the room - but if your audience doesn't know where to place you, they won't trust you.
Experts get applause. Thought leaders get booked.
Want the truth? Talent is only trusted after you're seen as the go-to authority.
That's why I built The Thought Leader's Playbook - so you don't waste another decade being the best-kept secret in your industry.
👉🏾 What You Can Do NOW:
Update your LinkedIn headline to clearly say who you help and how.
(Eg. I help experts turn their knowledge into booked keynotes and brand deals.) - Visibility Beats Ability
Being brilliant in the shadows is a recipe for frustration.
The ones who stand out aren't always the smartest in the room - but they're they most seen.
Why? Because perception is reality.
Clients, decision-makers, and media can't buy what they can't see.
If you're not visible, you're not viable.
Content is not king - distribution is.
👉🏾 What You Can Do NOW:
Post a 60-second video busting a myth in your industry - and share your take.
Not filters. No fluff. Just your truth.
because it's not about being loud - it's about being seen saying something that matters.
These are just two of the six truths that separate industry icons from the burnt-out experts still hoping someone notices.
Want the full set?
You've seen two fo the ruthless truths.
But that's just the start.
Inside the subscriber edition, you'll unlock:
- All six ruthless truths used by the top 1%
- Tactical steps to apply each one immediately
- A mini SWOT to assess your brand positioning
- Strategic insights from The Thought Leader's Playbook
- And a PDF download to keep forever
But they're only available to our newsletter subscibers.
