What comes to mind when you hear the term “personal brand”? For many, it’s polished logos, perfect headshots, or a slick social media feed. For others, it might bring to mind peacocking—trying a little too hard to stand out. You’ve seen it before: someone who dominates the conversation with exaggerated stories, constantly name-drops, or interrupts to steer the focus back to themselves. It’s the person who seems more interested in impressing you than understanding you—leaving you feeling like an audience instead of an equal. But that’s not personal branding. That’s self-promotion—and let’s be honest, no one really likes it. When you understand and communicate your authentic personal brand, you’ll not only stand out—you’ll build trust, create meaningful connections, and attract the right opportunities.

We’ve all had that strange feeling that we’ve been somewhere or done something before—it’s called déjà vu. Déjà vu is one of those borrowed phrases, like faux pas, carpe diem, and vice versa. They’re the kind of expressions that add a little extra flair, capturing something in a way our usual words often can’t. I had a funny teacher who would intentionally say "versa vice," which cracked me up because it literally means "the other way around." But what if déjà vu was turned the other way around? That’s what comedian George Carlin wondered when he coined the term "vujà dé," showing his knack for seeing the ordinary in a completely new way. #CliftonStrengths

When we think about personal growth, we often draw upon different frameworks and perspectives to better understand ourselves and others. As a Gallup®-Certified Strengths Coach, I always find myself applying CliftonStrengths® to every personal development book I read. I recently read Above the Line by Stephen Klemich and Mara Klemich, PhD, and it struck me how their Four Principles model could serve as a practical tool to help us align and aim our strengths in real time.

As a Gallup®-Certified Strengths Coach and one of the owners of Worthington Realty in Fort Myers, FL, a fun thought hit me: What if we aligned people’s homes with their natural strengths? You know—imagine designing a home that not only fits your lifestyle but also reflects your natural talents. Then I thought, What if Frank Lloyd Wright—the mastermind of human-centered design—teamed up with Donald Clifton, the father of positive psychology? Together, they’d design a home that doesn’t just look good—it feels good, because it reflects who you are at your core.

Imagine growing up as the youngest of five kids—and the only boy. My life was shaped by incredible female leaders: my mom, my sisters, my aunts, my grandmothers, my teachers, and later, my wife and our daughters. This upbringing taught me resilience, compassion, and determination, and attending Women Excelle 2024 was a powerful reminder of just how much women are accomplishing and the challenges they’ve overcome. Each story was a testament to progress, resilience, and a commitment to inspire and grow.

Recovery means more than just fixing what’s broken. It involves using what’s within us to create something even more meaningful. Each of us has a role to play, and now is the time to step up—while our community’s needs are most pressing. The work of rebuilding is happening now, and your strengths are needed more than ever.

When you’ve been working hard but still feel stuck, it’s easy to assume that doubling down on effort is the answer. But have you ever felt that, despite your hard work, you’re not moving forward? That’s when many people turn to a Gallup®-Certified Strengths Coach and are surprised by what they discover. Often, the problem isn’t that they’re not talented enough—it’s that they’ve been relying on learned skills and constantly trying to overcome weaknesses instead of focusing on their natural strengths.