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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.)

Market Volatility and New Year’s Resolutions

The recent stock market slowdown may have made you nervous. But there is good news - it does not last long, just like your New Year’s resolutions. Every year, countless people set New Year’s resolutions, vowing to change habits and achieve certain goals. Yet, studies show that most resolutions fade very soon. In the world of investing, stock market volatility and corrections share a similar story - they make headlines, cause momentary jitters, but often do not last long.


Common As Your Birthday

Yes, the stock market has given disappointing returns since the September 2024 all-time highs. But, education here is important. Historically, stock market corrections are as common as your birthday - they come every year. The data point is that since its inception, the Sensex has corrected by 10 to 20 percent roughly every 12 to 18 months from its recent highs. Market corrections are common, necessary, and healthy, as they smooth out technical indicators and lay the foundation for new all-time highs to be achieved. Without these pullbacks, markets would risk becoming overextended and unsustainable.


Don’t Time The Market

One of the most important lessons for investors is not to attempt to time the market. Your time spent in the market is more important than timing the market. The truth is - no one knows how long markets will fall or by how much. Similarly, no one knows when the market will recover and to what levels. Hence, timing often leads to missed opportunities. According to veteran fund manager and investor Peter Lynch, “Far more money has been lost by investors trying to anticipate corrections, than lost in the corrections themselves.”


Don’t Wait To Invest

Do not wait to invest. Invest and then wait. The sooner you invest, the sooner your money begins to grow. The best time to invest is always now - as soon as you have funds available. Invest quickly and focus on staying invested. It is smarter to focus on the long term. There is a bigger risk in staying out of the market, meaning not investing your funds, than staying inside the market.


Focus On Lumpsum

The key to wealth creation is to start early, stay consistent, invest sufficiently, and stay invested in a mix of mutual funds and direct stocks. Apart from your ongoing Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), it is necessary to make lumpsum investments when you have extra idle funds. By having a smart financial advisor at your helm, he will guide you to invest lumpsum money using special schemes and strategies. The key to wealth creation is simple - do sufficient SIPs, increase SIPs every 12 months, and do lumpsum investments whenever possible.


Moral

The rule is simple: invest quickly, wait, and let the market do its work. Stock market corrections will come and go, just like New Year’s resolutions, but your long-term success depends on how much time you spend in the market, not on timing it.


(The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor.  He could be reached on 9833133605. Views personal.) 

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