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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.)

‘Let’s talk about Parkinson’s’

Dr Kshama Valsangkar’s book blends medical expertise with deeply personal experience, offering a practical guide for patients, carers, and even medical students.


A new and significant addition to popular medical literature has been made with a book, ‘Let’s talk about Parkinson’s’, written by Dr Kshama Valsangkar.


Parkinson’s is a complex disease, and it involves a gradual degeneration of the nervous system. In the early stages, the symptoms are so mild that the patient often does not even notice them. But slowly, the disease takes complete control and makes the patient’s daily life difficult.


Dr Kshama herself is familiar with the human nervous system, whose abnormal behaviour is mainly responsible for Parkinson’s. There is a touch of authority in this book because Dr Kshama's husband, Dr Satish, himself a renowned surgeon, is at present fighting advanced Parkinson’s, and Dr Kshama is caring for him. Dr Satish accepted this illness with great positivity. Dr Kshama has observed and witnessed the onset and progression of Parkinson’s, including its symptoms, implications, causes, and medical treatment.


The foreword of this book, Dr Kshama, titled ‘Why this book’, narrates the disease, how it differs from other diseases, and the necessity of its awareness in society.


While taking complete care of her husband, Dr Kshama studied this disease in depth. She also gathered information about the experiences of other patients. Dr Kshama has referred to extensive literature on the subject, as the bibliography shows. Thus, this book reflects the author’s medical knowledge and personal experience, as well as her detailed study and research of this disease.


Serving knowledge

Dr Kshama wrote the book so that the knowledge she gained could serve as a guide for other patients with Parkinson’s. More importantly, this book encourages positive thinking about the disease.


Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world today. Dr Kshama has noticed that the number of patients with Parkinson’s is increasing, and although this is a disease primarily of the elderly, it is also seen at a young age. Parkinson’s is often misunderstood, especially in the case of elderly people. The severity of the disease is seen in small villages due to a lack of knowledge, awareness, and proper medical support.


There are several medical volumes available on Parkinson’s, but the beauty of this book is that it is small and comes with a wealth of information about this crippling disease. This book is a total of 96 pages divided into 20 chapters. Each chapter’s heading is carefully thought out and enhances one’s curiosity. In each chapter, as indicated by its title, Dr Kshama has provided detailed information related to Parkinson’s. The initial symptoms of the disease, the gradual changes that occur, medications, diet, exercises, precautions to avoid injuries, patients’ hobbies, problems faced by family members, and many such aspects are explained thoroughly, making the content truly informative and helpful.


Spreading disease

When Dr Kshama started exploring the topic of Parkinson’s disease, she found that a lot of research has been done during the last ten years and was also surprised to note that the disease is spreading unabatedly all across the world, and the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease is increasing. She has also estimated the current global patient count and how much it may rise in the future. The author notes that Parkinson’s is seen not only in the elderly but also in younger individuals. She highlights that the changing lifestyles, lack of balanced diet and exercise, increasing stress, and exposure to pesticides and other harmful substances are some of the major causes of Parkinson’s disease. Further, she found that though the advanced medical treatments are available nowadays, there is a huge lack of awareness about Parkinson's. This book aims to raise awareness about this disease. For someone newly diagnosed, it could be very helpful to know all aspects of Parkinson’s and the proper care of the patient.


In the chapter ‘Rays of hopes’, Dr Kshama introduces the global research that aims to diagnose Parkinson’s even before symptoms appear so that the disease can be prevented or its progression slowed. She explains the new diagnostic methods, advancements in medications, and other forms of treatment present an encouraging and hopeful picture. This book serves as a reference book. It is at once informative for laymen and useful for medical students. The book is simple yet professional. The author's writing style is very lucid. It is a must-read book for all.


(The writer is a science communicator based in Pune.)

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