What makes YOU stand out?

With the Premier League season back in full swing, my conjugal visits to watch Chelsea at Stamford Bridge are once more required ??

Which means getting familiar with some fresh players. But our seats (East Upper stand, pretty much on the halfway line, in case you're interested) are just far away enough to make reading names on shirts tricky ??

So I have to find other ways to recognise who's who and put names to numbers.

(Yes, I ought to know just from where they are on the field, but the whole "central defensive midfielder", "left wing-back" malarkey continues to elude me. Give me time.)

So I find one thing for each player that quickly helps me learn the team.

Marc Cucurella, for example, has an impressive mop of long bouncing curls, which makes him easily stand out. Conor Gallagher (now sadly with Atlético Madrid) always did a weird thing with his socks, cutting large holes in the backs which I could spot from a mile off. Axel Disasi has a stylish goatee, which gives him a nicely pharoah-like profile, and Enzo Fernando has so many tattoos his arms appear navy blue (go on, Google him, there's also a lion on his back).

Sitting in my seat last Thursday, trying to differentiate between two unfamiliar players by the colour of their boots, I thought of you lot.

And got curious on your behalf. So here's my question.

What's your ONE thing?

What makes you stand out in your work?

Of course, I'm not talking here about your hairstyle, or what you wear (although if you want to start making a name for yourself by wearing neon green suits, that could certainly be a vibe).

I'm talking about the skill, attribute or knowledge base that you want people to recognise you by. The shortcut to identifying you professionally.

What you really want to be known for. And do more of.

Being clear on this (and yes, I'll allow you two or three things if you're struggling to decide on one) will help you in so many ways in your career.

• You can design a path that plays to your strengths and interests
• You can advocate for yourself and the work you want with hard evidence and deep confidence
• You can communicate powerfully, whether verbally or on a CV or LinkedIn, what you stand for, how you add value and why you're the real deal
• You can build a clear reputation and ensure people remember you
• You can make the difference and impact you really care about

So, take five minutes today to start the process.

Sit down and see how easily you can complete this sentence:

I want to be known as ...

Check out these examples:

“I want to be known as a dynamic presenter who captivates audiences and delivers impactful messages on mental health and burnout that resonate long after the talk and drive real change in the legal profession.”

“I want to be known as an experienced specialist in sustainable engineering, developing eco-friendly solutions in the Middle East that reduce environmental impact and promote a greener future.”

“I want to be known as a content marketing expert who creates valuable, educational content that establishes B-corp organisations as authoritative voices in the retail industry."

Mind you, that statement of yours will be a total waste of time if it just sits as a scribble on the back of your latest gas bill.

It's there for you to act on. To give you a specific, focused vision of how you want to be perceived in your professional life.

And from there to set the goals, take the actions and communicate the messages needed to bring your statement to life.

What will you do this week to help people recognise you? You may not have gold football boots, but you certainly have something to catch the eye.

Stay curious,

Rachel

PS. Your vision needs sharing! Look out for the imminent launch of my "Shine on LinkedIn" course which will help you finally polish your professional messaging and make you stand out on the field!

Enjoy this unusual newsletter?

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