Planning, Accountability, and the Power of Personal Branding

Hi there,

How was your week? I took some time to reflect on my business and the opportunities it gives me as well as my goals for the next 2-3 months. This includes:

• Start a new network for business owners - if you are interested, let me know :)
• Build the Elevate Career Network
• Creating videos for and building the new YouTube Channel

This also lead me to the topic of today - Planning, Accountability, and Personal Branding.

I have a small challenge for you at the end of the email today :)

We all have professional goals, whether it’s growing our network, establishing our expertise, or strengthening our brand. But setting goals isn’t enough. The key to real progress? Planning and accountability.

Whether you’re a business owner looking to expand your presence or a professional aiming to build meaningful connections, a structured approach makes all the difference. Let’s break it down.

Personal Branding Without a Plan is Just a Wish

Your personal brand isn’t what you say about yourself—it’s what others remember about you. And shaping that perception requires consistent action.

Ask yourself:

• Have you planned how you want to be perceived in your industry?
• Do you have a system for sharing your expertise (e.g., LinkedIn posts, speaking engagements, collaborations)?
• Are you holding yourself accountable for growing your brand, or just hoping it happens organically?

Without a plan, personal branding can feel overwhelming. However, small, strategic actions taken consistently lead to real impact.

Turning Outreach into Opportunity

Let’s say you want to connect with an industry leader but don’t know where to start. Instead of leaving it to chance, plan your approach:

Step 1: Engage with their content, and comment on a few LinkedIn posts to show genuine interest.

Step 2: Send a personalized message: “I really enjoyed your recent post on [topic]! I’d love to connect and hear your thoughts on [related topic].”

Step 3: Follow up in a few weeks with a question or article they might find interesting.

Having a structured outreach plan removes hesitation and turns casual interactions into valuable professional relationships.

Your 7-Day Accountability Challenge

For the next 7 days, commit to:

1?? Updating one section of your LinkedIn profile to better reflect your brand.

2?? Reaching out to one person you admire or want to reconnect with.

3?? Setting a recurring reminder to review your networking progress each month.

Small, planned actions lead to big results over time.

Are you in? Let me know by commenting or sending me a dm, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Kindly

Diana Lund Nordstr?m

Branding, LinkedIn & Content Coach

Whenever you’re ready, here are some ways you can learn more:

1. Join my NetWalks in Copenhagen - Sign up for my email list here

2. Subscribe to my new YouTube channel: Let's Talk About Business with Diana - The first episodeis out now