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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

The Price of Presence

In a world where wealth often speaks louder than wisdom, the quiet ones are rarely heard. We live in times where confidence can be mistaken for competence, and money can masquerade as merit. I’ve often observed two kinds of people — those who silently observe and add value in subtle ways, and those who walk into the room believing their wealth gives them the right to dictate its energy. The truth is uncomfortable, but undeniable: power dynamics often overshadow potential. Opportunities are...

The Price of Presence

In a world where wealth often speaks louder than wisdom, the quiet ones are rarely heard. We live in times where confidence can be mistaken for competence, and money can masquerade as merit. I’ve often observed two kinds of people — those who silently observe and add value in subtle ways, and those who walk into the room believing their wealth gives them the right to dictate its energy.
The truth is uncomfortable, but undeniable: power dynamics often overshadow potential. Opportunities are lost not because someone lacked talent, but because they lacked the perceived stature to stand beside the powerful. Relationships, too, are often dictated by who can afford to take control — emotionally or financially. It’s unfair, yes. But it’s also reality. Yet, there’s a powerful equalizer that doesn’t require deep pockets — it requires presence. Your personal brandis the bridge between how the world sees you and how you deserve to be seen. In boardrooms, at business dinners, or even across social media platforms, perception often becomes your greatest currency. The quiet observer, when strategically positioned, can outshine even the loudest voice in the room — because credibility, once built, cannot be bought. Personal branding is not about pretending to be rich or powerful.It’s about communicating your value so clearly that people feel your influence even before you speak. It’s about creating an aura of assurance — that mix of confidence, clarity, and authenticity that makes people stop and pay attention. Think of it this way: If money buys luxury, presence earns loyalty. If wealth opens doors, branding makes people hold them open for you. In the business world, many talented founders and professionals lose visibility simply because they underestimate the power of perception. They believe results should speak for themselves — but results need a microphone, and that microphone is your brand. I’ve worked with business owners who had remarkable ideas but struggled to attract investors, partners, or clients. Not because their work lacked substance — but because their presence didn’t reflect their potential. Once they refined their personal brand — their communication, digital footprint, and executive presence — things shifted almost instantly. Suddenly, they were seen, heard, and remembered. That’s the true price of presence — it demands intentionality, but it rewards you exponentially. Because in today’s world, the question is no longer “What do you do?” but “Why should we listen to you?” And that answer lies in your brand — how you show up, how you carry yourself, and how you communicate your worth. Money may give temporary advantage, but your presence gives you permanent influence. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, undervalued, or overshadowed — it’s not a lack of capability, it’s a lack of clarity in how your value is positioned. And that’s something you can change starting today. After all, people don’t pay for what you do. They pay for who you are when you do it. Many successful business owners I’ve worked with have realised that building a strong personal brand isn’t vanity — it’s strategy. If you’re ready to stop blending in and start standing out, now’s the time to act. Book a free discovery call with me today and discover how a powerful personal brand can help you attract clients, build authority, and open doors that money alone never could. Because in business, your brand is the one investment that pays dividends long after the deal is done — it’s the smartest business strategy you can invest in. In order for you to book your free discovery call, you could type the following link in your browser and select an available time slot. The link is mentioned below: https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani (The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Same Faces, New Twists

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

MVA

Mahayuti’s grip on north Maharashtra is set for a major test in the upcoming Assembly polls as it seeks to recover from this year’s bruising Lok Sabha losses. This largely agrarian and tribal belt — a region that wields significant influence with its 47 assembly seats — has long been a stronghold for the BJP as well as the undivided Shiv Sena. But the recent Lok Sabha results saw the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance flip the narrative, claiming six out of the region’s eight seats, leaving the ruling Mahayuti coalition with a solitary foothold in Jalgaon.


Much of Mahayuti’s trouble lies in the growing disenchantment among tribal voters — a critical demographic across several Assembly constituencies. The government’s recent proposal to grant tribal status to the Dhangar community, which would potentially affect existing reservation shares, has only deepened the divide. Many tribal voters had tilted decisively toward MVA in the Lok Sabha elections, as was evident in the Nandurbar seat, which saw the BJP’s former two-time MP, Dr. Heena Gavit lose to the Congress Gowaal Padvi, who pulled off a major upset win.


Besides coping with tribal sentiment, the Mahayuti has to contend with growing dissent within its own ranks, notably in Nashik. A political tussle between allies – Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP – has erupted in Nashik where new twists threatening the stability of traditional strongholds.

Suhas Kande, the Shiv Sena MLA from Nandgaon, recently signalled his intent to move his political base to Yeola— the turf long dominated by the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)’s Chhagan Bhujbal. This shift is a direct counter to Bhujbal’s nephew, Sameer, who embarrassed his uncle by announced his independent bid for Kande’s Nandgaon seat.


Kande’s claim over Yeola has escalated the standoff between two well-known families, with the Yeola constituency now caught in the crossfire.


Kande’s assertion is predicated on the fact that Yeola has a sizeable number of Maratha voters, who are reportedly opposed to Bhujbal given that the veteran NCP leader, with his combative stance against Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, has alienated Maratha voters in Yeola – where Bhujbal has been a three-term MLA.


Kande’s challenge to Bhujbal underscores a deep-seated rivalry, dating back to 2019 when he defeated Chhagan Bhujbal’s son, Pankaj, for the Nandgaon seat. This latest move has stirred apprehension within the Shiv Sena camp, as leaders worry that Kande’s shift might weaken their presence in Nandgaon.

However, with nephew Sameer taking an independent path, Bhujbal appears confident of his influence over Yeola, predicting a margin increase over his previous win.


Meanwhile, the BJP is going along with tried and tested names in its list for north Maharashtra, where notable endorsements include incumbent MLAs like Girish Mahajan and Vijaykumar Gavit. A few fresh faces like Anup Agarwal in Dhule City, Amol Jawale in Raver, and Pratibha Pachpute in Shrigonda are expected to invigorate the party’s campaign here. While the list reflects continuity in regions where the party holds sway, some Nashik city BJP members are less than pleased, with dissenting noises made over the perceived anti-incumbency  of some legislators who have been renominated.

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