We returned from safari to the wildfires of LA. It’s been a tumultuous time in the city… heartbreak, loss, anxiety, tragedy. Laini and I were minimally impacted living in Westwood, but so many colleagues and friends suffered immense loss. In moments like this, Jayzen’s belief in the power of personal brand resonates as insightful and relevant. Because it’s in times of crisis that one asks, “What’s your leadership brand?”
The 3 P’s of my leadership brand
Jayzen asked me how I’d describe my leadership brand and I landed on an alliteration like any good P&Ger 😆. Here are my three P’s and what they mean to me:
- PERSONAL – To be human, to apologize when I’m wrong, and to utter those three difficult words (“I don’t know”) when I need to. It’s about being vulnerable and open, so people can see me, because this is foundational to building trust.
- PURPOSEFUL – To create purposefully, identifying new ways of working and realizing something useful+entertaining+compelling that should exist but doesn’t. This might mean getting intentional with time and priorities, redefining how we connect with others, or next-level storytelling.
- POSITIVE – To approach work with an energetic and curious mindset. This is not naiveté or misplaced optimism. Rather, positivity is choosing growth and asking the question, “What has to be true?” as counterpoint to “It can’t be done.”
Don’t forget: Brands evolve
So does your leadership brand, and thank God for that! I reflected on the list of people I need to apologize to, for not being at my best and sometimes at my worst. Thank goodness we grow and learn from our mistakes. And remembering this, I try to extend grace to those who negatively impacted me, too. Because everyone is a work in progress. Here are two ways I’ve evolved:
1. Softened – When I was younger, I needed to be smart and right. And as the child of Asian immigrants, I was taught to be tough and stoic. In fact, while chatting with Jayzen, I shared (for the first time) my worst memory of myself.
As Starbucks cmo, I remember a Lays brand marketer who pushed very hard to meet with me. Now, I knew we wouldn’t shelve their products so when I saw her on my calendar, I approached the meeting resentfully. You see, I forgot she was a human, trying to do her job. I was overly focused on my job and frankly, my inflated sense of self.
Even today, I feel terrible about that meeting. But I’ve learned and will never treat any interested partner or vendor that way again. Because I now realize there’s strength in softness and courage in vulnerability.
2. Integrated – Raised in Asian family, the almighty work was almost a sacred thing, held separate from home life. Coming from this environment, I treated work very differently in my earlier years. I felt the need to keep work (and the people) distant from my real self.
On the pod, I shared how Will Travis served as a mirror to my attitude and behavior. He was truthful in a helpful, gentle way – thank you Will! Because of his coaching, I now identify as human first, where who I am in life takes priority over my job title.
The Rule of Three: Give yourself space to evolve.
We often get itchy to change jobs, seek promotion, or move to a new opportunity… before we’re ready. You see, I believe it takes more than two years to maximize what you can learn and contribute in a job. By staying in a role for three years, you give yourself time to evolve:
- Year One: The first time you do something (like budget, marketing, or comp planning), you’re mostly learning. Now, you’ll get the job done, but most likely, not in an optimized fashion.
- Year Two: This time, the process feels familiar, and you’ve got a list of things you’d do differently. You’ll ask smarter questions, get further ahead of timelines, and deliver a better product.
- Year Three: Now you’re majorly contributing! You got the the process and you’re nailing the timeline. You focus your attention on optimization, getting more efficient and creative in ways of working to create an outstanding product. What you do and how you do it raises the bar.
Thanks Jayzen for an awesome conversation! 🫶 Click here to listen to the full podcast
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