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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

Presence Before Pitch

Walk into any business networking room and you will witness something far more telling than exchanged cards or polite handshakes. You will see personal brands at work — quietly, powerfully, and often unintentionally. The way a business owner carries himself, engages with others, and competes for attention in public spaces reveals more about future growth than balance sheets ever will. At a recent networking meet, two business owners from the same industry stood out — not because of what they...

Presence Before Pitch

Walk into any business networking room and you will witness something far more telling than exchanged cards or polite handshakes. You will see personal brands at work — quietly, powerfully, and often unintentionally. The way a business owner carries himself, engages with others, and competes for attention in public spaces reveals more about future growth than balance sheets ever will. At a recent networking meet, two business owners from the same industry stood out — not because of what they said, but because of how they behaved. One was visibly assertive, bordering on aggressive. He pulled people aside, positioned himself strategically, and tried to dominate conversations to secure advantage. The other remained calm, composed, and observant. He engaged without urgency, listened more than he spoke, and never attempted to overpower the room. Both wanted business. Both were ambitious. Yet the impressions they left could not have been more different. For someone new to the room — a potential client, collaborator, or investor — this contrast creates confusion. Whom do you trust? Whom do you align with? Whose values reflect stability rather than desperation? Often, decisions are made instinctively, not analytically. And those instincts are shaped by personal branding, whether intentional or accidental. This is where many business owners underestimate the real cost of their behaviour. Personal branding is not about visibility alone. It is about perception under pressure. In networking environments, where no one has time to analyse credentials deeply, people read cues — tone, composure, generosity, restraint. An overly forceful approach may signal insecurity rather than confidence. Excessive friendliness can appear transactional. Silence, when grounded, can convey authority. Silence, when disconnected, can signal irrelevance. Every move sends a message. What’s at stake is not just one meeting or one deal. It is long-term growth. When a business owner appears opportunistic, others become cautious. When someone seems too eager to win, people question their stability. When intent feels unclear, credibility erodes. This doesn’t merely slow growth — it quietly redirects opportunities elsewhere. Deals don’t always collapse loudly. Sometimes, they simply never materialise. The composed business owner in the room may not close a deal that day. But he leaves with something far more valuable — trust capital. His presence feels safe. His brand feels consistent. People remember him as someone they would like to work with, not someone they need to protect themselves from. Over time, this distinction compounds. In today’s business ecosystem, especially among seasoned founders and leaders, how you compete matters as much as whether you compete. Growth is no longer just about capability; it is about conduct. Your personal brand determines whether people lean in or step back — whether they introduce you to others or quietly avoid alignment. This is why personal branding is not a cosmetic exercise. It is strategic risk management. A strong personal brand ensures that your ambition does not overshadow your credibility. It aligns your intent with your impact. It allows you to command rooms without controlling them, influence without intrusion, and compete without compromising respect. Most importantly, it ensures that when people talk about you after you leave the room, they speak with clarity, not confusion. For business owners who want to scale, this distinction becomes critical. Growth brings visibility. Visibility amplifies behaviour. What once went unnoticed suddenly becomes defining. Without a refined personal brand, ambition can be misread as aggression. Confidence can feel like arrogance. Silence can be mistaken for disinterest. And these misinterpretations cost more than money — they cost momentum. The question, then, is not whether you are talented or successful. It is whether your personal brand is working for you or quietly against you in spaces where decisions are formed long before contracts are signed. Because in business, people don’t always choose the best offer. They choose the person who feels right. If you are a business owner or founder who wants to grow without compromising credibility — who wants to attract opportunities rather than chase them — it may be time to look closely at how your presence is being perceived in rooms that matter. If this resonates and you’d like to explore how your personal brand can be refined to support your growth, you can book a complimentary consultation here: https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani Not as a pitch — but as a conversation about how you show up, and what that presence is truly building for you. (The writer is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Can the RCB Juggle the Cup Without Dropping It?

IPL 2026 – where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) strut into the arena like prom kings fresh off a fairy-tale win, only to realise the crown’s made of kryptonite. After shattering an 18-year curse with that nail-biting 2025 triumph – Virat Kohli’s beard practically glowing under the Ahmedabad lights – the big question isn’t “Will they?” but “Can they without imploding like a bad sequel?” Picture this: The squad that finally cracked the code now faces the auction guillotine, with a purse slimmer than Kohli’s patience on a bad day (Rs 16.4 crore for eight slots, anyone?). It’s like winning the lottery, then blowing half on therapy for the near misses. But hey, optimism is RCB’s middle name – right after “Chokers Anonymous”.


Let’s dissect this circus act. Retaining 17 players, including six overseas firecrackers, RCB’s basically yelling, “If it ain’t broke, duct-tape it harder!” Captain Rajat Patidar stays at the helm, the quiet assassin who turned collapses into confetti last year. Kohli, the Run God, anchors like a barnacle on a battleship – 741 runs in 2025, because apparently, retirement’s for quitters. Openers Phil Salt (the cheeky Englishman smacking sixes like afternoon tea) and Devdutt Padikkal provide fireworks, while Tim David and Romario Shepherd turn the death overs into a demolition derby. Bowling? Josh Hazlewood’s laser-guided yorkers make batsmen weep, Bhuvneshwar Kumar swings it sneakier than a politician’s promise, and Yash Dayal’s left-arm zip adds that “oops, you’re out” spice. Krunal Pandya’s all-round wizardry and Jitesh Sharma’s glovework round out a core deeper than a fan’s denial phase.


But releases? Oof. Booting Liam Livingstone (112 runs at 16 avg – more flop than pop) and Lungi Ngidi feels like firing the clown after one bad balloon animal. Mayank Agarwal and Manoj Bhandage hit the eject button too, leaving the middle order whispering and the spin bench warmer than a forgotten samosa. With the December 16 Abu Dhabi auction looming, RCB’s got eight slots and a wallet that says “bargain bin only”. Can they snag a mystery spinner or a finisher without breaking the bank? Or will they end up with more “projects” than pros, turning M. Chinnaswamy into a batting parlour?


To SWOT this soap opera – because nothing says “fun” like corporate buzzwords in cricket drag:


Strengths (The Superhero Cape): Bulletproof batting backbone with Kohli’s obsession and Salt’s swagger – they chased 200+ like it was a grocery run. The Hazlewood-Bhuvi-Dayal trio is a swing symphony that choked PBKS in the ’25 final. Depth in all-rounders (Krunal, Shepherd) means no panic buttons. Winning vibes? Intangible, but hey, trophies cure imposter syndrome.


Weaknesses (The Kryptonite Crutch): Purse poverty – Rs 16.4 crore for eight bodies? That’s espresso money in IPL terms, not an espresso machine. Livingstone’s exit leaves a power-hitting vacuum wider than AB de Villiers’ smile. Spin department’s Swapnil Singh and Suyash Sharma – solid, but not “unplayable on a turning track” solid. Injuries to Hazlewood (he’s human, shockingly) could turn defences into doormats.


Opportunities (The Plot Twist Potential): Auction’s a treasure hunt! Snag a budget overseas spinner like Noor Ahmad redux or a domestic dasher to plug the finisher hole. Trades already shuffled the deck – why not poach a rival’s castoff? The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a scouting goldmine for uncapped gems. Defending champs get that “underdog glow-up” – fans are louder, and pressure is sweeter.


Threats (The Villain Monologue): Bigger-purse bullies like KKR (Rs 64.3 crore war chest – they’re basically shopping for a squad, not slots) could hoover up stars like Mitchell Starc 2.0. CSK’s rebuild rage, MI’s money machine, SRH’s sluggers – everyone’s gunning for the throne. Chinnaswamy’s rocket favours batsmen; one bad dew night, and poof – fairy tale over. Plus, Kohli’s beard: iconic, but does it intimidate bowlers or just distract them?


So, can RCB defend? In a league where the Mumbai Indians have three rings and CSK’s got Dhoni’s black magic, it’s 50-50 – half genius, half gamble. If they auction smart (no impulse buys on hype trains), harness that ’25 mojo, and avoid the “sequel slump”, Bengaluru could two-peat like a boss. Otherwise? Back to memes and “next year” chants. Either way, grab popcorn: This red circus is about to clown or crown. Thala for a reason? Nah, Ee Sala Cup Namde – again?


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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