Most people are too polished to be remembered.

​​🎧 Listen to the podcast version of this email here​.​​

In a world full of noise and sameness, standing out matters.

And before somebody interprets that as “just be louder,” that’s not really what I mean.

I know a lot of smart people, especially more introverted people, who instantly recoil when they hear words like personal branding or standing out because they associate it with being theatrical, gimmicky or becoming some kind of dancing LinkedIn moron.

That’s not the point.

Standing out is often much quieter than that.

Most recognisable people simply have a thing.

Something people associate with them almost instantly.

There’s a famous Jack Nicholson quote that goes something like:

Funny line. But also true.

The glasses became part of the identity.

And once you start noticing this stuff, you realise it’s everywhere.

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There’s a sales trainer online who calls himself “UK’s Most Hated Sales Trainer.” In a sea of sales trainers, that instantly sticks in your head.

There’s a CEO on LinkedIn called Chris Reed who has a massive mohawk.

Again, memorable. Especially in a world where most CEOs still look like they were assembled in the same navy-blue-shirt-and-khaki-pants factory.

Years ago in China, I met somebody whose whole business focused on recycling waste materials from solar panel manufacturing.

I cannot remember the company name anymore, but in my brain he became “the solar panel recycling guy.”

That’s the thing.

Humans remember associations.

And honestly, I think a lot of experienced professionals accidentally polish themselves into becoming forgettable.

Especially if you’ve spent years in corporate environments.

Corporate has a strange way of sanding the edges off people over time. The humour gets toned down. The weird opinions disappear. Everybody slowly starts dressing the same, sounding the same and presenting themselves the same way.

Safe. Neutral. Professional. There's the blue shirt and khaki trousers again.

Inside a large organisation, that might actually work in your favour.

But when you step out on your own and try to build a business around your expertise, it becomes a problem because safe and polished often translates into completely interchangeable.

And interchangeable people are hard to remember.

Especially online.

Because the reality is this: you probably don’t want to become a content creator. You don’t dream of dancing on TikTok or spending your life chasing algorithms.

You simply want the right people to find you, remember you and think of you when an opportunity appears.

That’s why this matters.

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Now, this does not mean you should invent some fake gimmick.

In fact, I think the strongest “things” are usually already there. Most people just haven’t consciously leaned into them yet.

Maybe it’s a phrase you always say.
Maybe it’s the specific way you explain things.
Maybe it's the way you approach a challenge.
Maybe it’s the kind of clients you work with.
Maybe it's a story you tell better than anyone else.

Could be any of those.

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One exercise to distinguish yourself is finishing this sentence:

“I’m the only... who...”

I’m the only coach who… I’m the only consultant who… I’m the only facilitator who…

The moment you force yourself to become more specific, suddenly things get a lot more memorable.

For example:

Interesting.

Or:

Again, memorable.

A silly example from my own world:

One of my favourite clothing brands is Drykorn, a German label. Years ago, their T-shirts had a small tag stitched into the collar that said:

I always thought that line was brilliant.

So much so that I adopted it myself. If you've watched any of my videos, you'll have heard me say:

That little phrase slowly became associated with me.

Same with how I often end messages:

Somebody once explained to me that “have a great day” sounds passive. “Make it a great day” puts the responsibility back on you.

I liked that idea.

So I kept it.

You don't need to hire a branding agency for this, by the way. Lean into what already makes you a bit different & memorable.

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So what do you do with this then?

Ask yourself:

Because in a noisy world, memory matters.

And once you think you’ve found it, try dialling it up slightly.

Maybe it becomes part of your LinkedIn headline.
Maybe it changes the way you introduce yourself.
Maybe it influences your profile photo, your website or the stories you tell.
Maybe it becomes the thing people start associating you with without you even realising.

You do not need to become a different person, just slightly easier to remember.

Make it a great day.

P.s. If in doubt, ask this: What would disappear if I became too polished? Sometimes the thing you’re trying to tone down is exactly the thing people remember you for. 😎

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What's cooking

The Solo Sauce Podcast Why Nobody Understand What You Do​ I sat down with Andy Reid (Genius Box) to talk about how to articulate what you do in a way people actually understand. Watch the conversation HERE.

Listen to the rest The Solo Sauce is getting traction​ Make sure you follow 'The Solo Sauce' on your favourite podcast player for more stories, insights, and lessons from the kitchen table. Listen on Apple or Spotify.