“Be Like My Dad and Get Rich” — The Quiet Power of Branding

The other day, my 9-year-old son CJ wrote something that stopped me in my tracks.

We had taken him and his little brother to the Next Level Speakers Conference. They've been to events with us before, but let’s be real, usually it’s snacks and screen time while mom and dad take notes.

But this time was different.

This time, they sat in.

They paid attention.

And both of them… started taking notes.

Later that evening, over dinner, CJ pulled out his tablet and started reading his notes out loud.

And then came the line:

👉🏽 “Be like my dad and get rich.”

Whew.

Not Rich Yet… But He Sees Me That Way

Now let’s be clear, we’re still building.

Still growing.

Still on the journey.

But that’s not what he sees.

He sees the early mornings.

He sees the meetings.

He hears the way I talk to my team.

He watches the way I speak life into others, the way I create, the way I carry myself.

And somewhere in all of that… he wrote those words down.

“Be like my dad and get rich.”

Not just financially, but rich in effort.

Rich in purpose.

Rich in presence.

Rich in how we show up, especially when no one is clapping yet.

Your Brand Is Speaking, Even When You’re Not

That moment reminded me of something I tell clients all the time:

Your brand is always communicating.

Even when you think no one is watching.

Your website, your logo, your colors? That’s just the start.

What really speaks is how consistent you are with who you say you are.

If you say you’re premium, but your branding is pieced together?

If you say you're confident, but your social presence feels unsure?

If you claim you’re ready to lead, but you keep showing up halfway?

People notice the disconnect.

And not just your clients.

Your audience.

Your peers.

Your family.

Even your kids.

Someone Is Always Taking Notes

CJ reminded me that branding isn’t just a business thing.

It’s a life thing.

It’s how we carry ourselves.

How we treat people.

How we show up when no one’s cheering yet.

How we hold the vision when it’s still forming.

You don’t build a brand for the applause.

You build a brand because someone out there needs to see what integrity, consistency, and alignment actually look like.

Final Word: The Brand Is Bigger Than the Business

So here’s what I want you to take from this:

• Your brand is a reflection of your values.

• Your consistency matters more than your clout.

• People may not comment, like, or buy right away…

  
  

But they’re watching.

They’re listening.

They’re taking notes.

And if you stay consistent long enough?

If you keep showing up with purpose and truth?

You just might inspire the next generation…

Even if that “audience” is sitting across from you at the dinner table.

Build a brand that’s worth modeling.

Not just for your clients.

But for your kids.

Because trust me, they see it all.