In this episode, we dig into how navigating your career is like driving a car – you need a clear destination to avoid burning fuel but going nowhere.
Inspired by the Brand Builder Lab newsletter, this discussion on why the secret to standing out isn't just talking about your past accomplishments but clearly articulating the future you want to build.
Listen to get tips on the following:
- Understanding the broader landscape using the question: "What will people do more, do less, need more of, need less of over the next five years?"
- Identifying your zone of credibility by asking: "What three topics do people ask you about most?"
- Finding fulfillment at the intersection of emerging trends and your natural expertise
- Activating your future vision by connecting your strengths to real-world needs
- Becoming more compelling by clearly articulating your specific direction and contribution
- Using Arthur Ashe's philosophy: "Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can"
Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.
Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter.
Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn.
Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon.
Episode Transcript
Welcome back to Brand Builder Lab.
We're here with your creativeinspiration to help you build
your brand.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
That's right, and today we're digging into
something really universalfiguring out your path,
especially when things arechanging around you.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Yeah, and we're drawing on some great thinking
from a Kai D Wright's newsletter.
You probably know him brandbuilder, author, lectures at
Columbia, advises startupsreally sharp guy.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Definitely, and his insights feel particularly
relevant right now, don't they?
It's, you know, may, june,graduation season.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Oh for sure, yeah, millions of people making big
transitions.
What is it like?
Nearly seven million grads thisyear, high school, college,
advanced degrees.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Exactly A huge moment .
But you know, as Kai points outin the newsletter, transition
isn't just for graduates.
It happens to all of us, right,Whether you're 22 or, frankly,
52.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Totally so.
Our goal today is to unpacksome actionable ideas from his
newsletter that anyone can use.
You know when you're facingchange, big or small.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
So Kai kicks it off with this really great analogy
it's about driving lessons.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Right the driving.
Thing.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, he says navigating, work and life is
like driving.
You can be moving.
You know busy putting in themiles but, just being in motion
isn't enough.
You need a destinationDirection.
He says, that's everything.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
That makes so much sense.
Just spinning your wheels getsyou nowhere fast, so how does he
suggest finding that direction?
What's the core idea?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well, the main thing is activating what he calls a
future oriented vision.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
OK, future oriented vision.
What does that actually mean?
Is it like picking a job title?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Not exactly, and that's kind of the key point.
It's less about a specific jobtitle right now and more like
forming a hypothesis about whoyou want to become.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
OK, because usually we focus so much on the past,
right Like resumes, linkedin,it's all.
Here's what I did.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Precisely.
But the real power, especiallywhen things are shifting, comes
from looking forward,articulating the future you're
aiming for.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
So how do you start doing that?
It sounds a bit abstract.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Well, he gives us two really powerful questions to
wrestle with.
The first one is about lookingoutwards.
It's over the next five years.
What do you think people willdo?
More, do less, need more of,need less of.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
I like that.
It forces you outside your ownhead to think about actual
trends what the world might need.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, where are things actually going?
It helps you align yourpotential contribution with like
real world needs, makes youmore relevant, more resilient,
maybe.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Right, okay, so that's looking out.
What's the second question?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
The second one flips the perspective.
It asks you to think about howothers see you already.
What three topics do people askyou about the most?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Interesting.
So that's about identifyingyour sort of natural credibility
, what people already trust youon.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Exactly your zone of credibility, as you put it, and
he makes this point that itoften comes from authenticity,
you know, not just your degreeor your job title.
It's about the value peoplegenuinely believe you bring, the
way you think.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Okay, but what if the things people ask you about
aren't you know what you wantyour future to be?
Speaker 2 (03:02):
That's a fair question.
I think the idea isn't that itlimits you but that it shows you
where you're starting from.
It's the foundation of trustyou already have.
It's about recognizing thatauthentic value.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
others see Got it.
So you combine thatunderstanding of future needs,
which is question one with thisawareness of your authentic
credibility.
Question two what happens then?
Where does that lead?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, that's the sweet spot.
According to Kai, thatintersection is where you find
fulfillment, real motivation, asense of purpose.
It's aligning who you genuinelyare with where the world is
going.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Okay, so this isn't just theory For anyone listening
, feeling stuck or facing achange.
What are the practical steps?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
The newsletter suggests really sitting with
these questions, like don't justanswer them off the cuff.
Spend a week, maybe two.
Write stuff down, reflect,reframe your thinking.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And talk about it right.
Share your answers.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yes, Talk to people you trust a mentor, family, a
friend, maybe an old colleague.
Getting that outsideperspective is huge.
Kai even mentioned sometimesoffering advice on LinkedIn DMs,
which is pretty generous.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Wow, okay, so reflect , write, talk it out.
It reminds me of that ArthurAshe quote.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
He included oh yeah, the start where you are, use
what you have, do what you can.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Exactly, it grounds the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
It all comes back to that driving analogy, doesn't it
?
You can just drift along or youcan actually steer towards
something meaningful.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Drive with intention.
Define your destination,activate that future vision.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, understanding that future vision and your own
authentic credibility.
They're really powerful toolsfor navigating whatever comes
next.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Absolutely, and if you want to explore these ideas
more definitely check out Kai DWright's Brand Builder Lab
newsletter on LinkedIn.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
And his book Follow the Feeling Brand Building in a
Noisy World.
It really gets into theemotional side of building
brands that connect.
He's got more coming too, likeHot Shot.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Great recommendations .
So, as you're thinking aboutall this, ask yourself what is
your work life destination?
All right, that's our time fortoday.
See you next time in the BrandBuilder Lab.
Let' s Get to Work.
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