How to Be Memorable & Recognized When Building Your Business
The personal playbook for people who are the face of their business.
Weekly insights on thought leadership, tech, and travel. Practical ideas that make your work and life easier.
Years ago, I travelled to Alaska for an aviation event.
At one point in my trip, I found myself facing a mechanical bull.
As one does.
Still in my suit, I slowly cross my arms. IF I had the ability to arch an eyebrow, it would have been ARCHED.
An airline owner nudges me with a grin. “Are you going to ride it?”
Without missing a beat, I grin back.
“Nope!” I say cheerfully. “But I do appreciate you thinking of me.”
Right then, I watch a grown man enter the ring.
He hands his scotch to a friend, loosens his tie. Gingerly, he climbs onto the chunk of leather and metal. Settled in, he points at the operator like a rockstar.
The operator flips the switch, and he starts to buck. Hard.
I watch with amusement, recalling the conversation I had with this exact dude earlier in the day. Chatting all things airplane engines and Alaskan flying conditions.
And now, this same man is ejected from the mechanical bull and hurtles across the mat.
Honestly, it’s hilarious.
But I know there is no way I’m getting on that thing.
Rule #1 in sales: don’t be the most memorable person at the event for the wrong reasons.
I’m pretty sure ‘thou shalt not ride a mechanical bull at a male-dominated tradeshow’ is somewhere on the list.
Your choice
Here’s the thing about that bucking bronco guy.
It 100% works for him.
Alaskan owner who loves to hunt. Surrounded by his colleagues, on his turf.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
And I knew exactly what I was doing, too.
I didn’t ride the bull, but I did cheer everyone on. Handed out pats on the back and shared conspiratorial shrugs with those of us who decided not to do it.
Two completely different plays, and neither of us is wrong.
Choose your adventure. (But you gotta choose.)
Recognition
Memorable gets you remembered. Recognizable gets you mentioned.
We all think about LinkedIn as the find-a-job app.
Then the gurus started talking about getting leads from it.
Last week I got a different hot take.
I caught up with a guy who manages a multi-million dollar portfolio. Self-professed “crappy at posting”, but he also thinks it’s important.
Forever curious, I asked: “How come? You ARE busy. Lots of experience. Great network…”
He agreed. But also:
“I just want them to recognize my name. Referrals or the CEOs I connect with. The rest is icing on the cake.”
Being known before the conversation starts.
Or when your name pops up and they check out your profile. They see someone who knows their stuff and has a point of view.
That’s your carry-on for getting better-qualified leads. Being memorable (for the right reasons) and being recognizable.
It’s all based on what you put out there.
Your Jet Fuel
All of this is your organic marketing playbook.
Especially for people who are the face of their companies.
The business has levers. But so do you, as an individual.
You at events and meetings. In person, on a call, on a screen. On a mechanical bull or NOT.
You on LinkedIn. Posts keeping you active in the feed, articles getting you found when people are researching (and when LLMs are pulling information). Plus, the networking and direct messaging.
You in the inbox. Your newsletter and personal emails. Your name on it, not the company’s. (Humans want to hear from humans.)
The guy on the bull had his version. I have mine.
You choose how you show up in each.
What’s your mechanical bull?
✈️ Carry On
with Pamela Wilton
Stay in touch, stay visible, stay helpful.
Increase your luck surface area.
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