Excavate-Tell-Affirm™ is a time-proven inside-out approach to career and life success.
In the provocative 1999 film “Fight Club,” Tyler Durden drops a bombshell of professional wisdom that continues to resonate decades later: “You are not your job.” Portrayed by Brad Pitt, Durden—a soap maker with a philosophical edge—challenges us to look beyond the narrow confines of our professional identities and discover something far more profound.
Imagine a world where your work isn’t just a series of tasks, but a vibrant expression of your deepest purpose. Where every professional moment pulses with energy, not because of time spent, but because of meaning discovered. The time-proven Excavate-Tell-Affirm™ process from Revealing Genius can help you make this a reality.
The Energy Equation: Purpose First
In the United States, we’ve become masters of identifying with our jobs. Consider the numbers: The average full-time worker spends approximately 25% of their week—nearly a quarter of their life—at work. And some of us spend much more than that. It’s no wonder we’ve become so intertwined with our job titles, our corporate roles and our professional personas.
But what if we could transform that time from mere hours logged to hours lived with intention?
The key lies not in managing time, but in managing energy. And energy comes from purpose. Think of how good that would be not only for you personally but for the world!
This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~Howard Thurman, educator, author, philosopher
Uncovering Your Unique Professional Pulse
Purpose isn’t a lofty concept reserved for motivational speakers. It’s the internal compass that transforms work from an obligation into a calling. When you align your professional activities with your deeper mission, something magical happens: Energy flows. Motivation becomes organic. Challenges become opportunities for growth.
This isn’t about working harder. It’s about working more authentically.
Executive personal branding is a powerful tool for professionals seeking to transcend traditional career boundaries. It’s not about creating a polished facade but making your unique professional essence crystal clear. With Excavate-Tell-Affirm, you’re led through this process step by step, first “excavating” your brand, then learning to tell others about it and finally, affirming it until you feel it with conviction.
Consider the most impactful leaders across industries. What distinguishes them isn’t just their current role, but their consistent, compelling professional narrative. Their brand travels with them, independent of job titles or organizational boundaries. They can tell everyone about it–their team members, hiring managers, board members. And they believe in it so much they can feel it in their bones.
Your Brand: More Than a Job Description
Your personal brand is the distinctive combination of skills, experiences and perspectives that make you uniquely valuable. It’s the answer to the question: “What unique value do I bring to any context?”
You can see what Tyler Durden meant as it applies to your brand. It certainly isn’t defined by your current job. Your current role might be an excellent platform for expressing your brand, but it is not the brand itself. You could transition industries, shift roles or start your own venture and your core professional identity—your extraordinary why—will stay the same.
Scenarios Where Your Personal Brand Becomes Your Superpower
Again, when you use the Excavate-Tell-Affirm personal branding process, you’ll understand your brand, know how to articulate it and believe in it with conviction. This can transform professional challenges into opportunities for remarkable growth.
1. The Elevator Pitch Reimagined
When someone asks, “What do you do?”, you’ll no longer stumble through a job title. Instead, you’ll share a compelling narrative about your professional purpose. You’re not just describing a role; you’re revealing a mission. (That’s why Revealing Genius calls your elevator pitch your “transformation statement.”)
2. Navigating Professional Transitions
Whether you’re pursuing a new opportunity or facing an unexpected layoff, your personal brand will be your anchor. It provides confidence, direction and a compelling story that attracts new opportunities.
3. Achieving Extraordinary Dreams
Want to deliver a TEDTalk? Secure a coveted board seat? Be awarded the MacArthur Genius grant? A well-defined personal brand isn’t just a description—it’s a launching pad for extraordinary achievements.
Your brand communicates not just what you’ve done, but what you’re capable of becoming.
A Call to Claim Your Professional Humanity
Another quote from Tyler Durden in Fight Club now echoes with renewed relevance: “If you don’t claim your humanity, you will become a statistic. You have been warned.”
If you take this advice, you will want to take radical ownership of your narrative. You won’t let circumstances define you. You won’t let job titles limit you. With the Excavate-Tell-Affirm process, you have an opportunity to soar. Take it.
Your Next Step: Reveal Your Genius
Are you prepared to own the fact that you are more than your job?
Learn more by accessing our free 10-minute webinar, attending our next 7-day Brand Leadership Summit Dec. 12-20, and enrolling in our online course. We’re honored to work with boards and leadership teams as well as individual leaders.
Your purpose is waiting. Your energy is ready to be unleashed. Get ready to soar.