Podcast about Personal Branding, Personal Development and Publishing. Hosted by the #1 Personal Pranding Authority in Africa, Bernard Kelvin Clive
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Some time back, a young gentleman sent me a proposal. He wanted to help authors and speakers gain visibility on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and the rest. A solid pitch, honestly. He’d thought about content calendars, posting frequency, hashtag strategy, cross-platform promotion, the works. I read it and I was wowed. Then I sat with it a little longer, and something else came up for me. Visibility is important. Every startup, every personal brand, every business needs it. You cannot build a following, sell a book, fill a workshop, or land a consulting client if nobody knows you exist.
The Brand Game Changer “The world is fast changing, and until you learn to adapt and adjust to stand out from the masses, you will fade into oblivion.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive A few months ago, my team was racing against the clock to prepare for an event. The kind of preparation where everything that can wait, waits, and everything that can’t lands on your table at the same time. One of the things on that table was a flyer. We needed it fast, and we needed it good. So we did what we’ve always done. We engaged an external designer, sent over the brief, and gave them roughly twenty-four hours to
Why Brand Names Matter More Than You Think Let me tell you something my kids taught me — completely by accident — that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about in terms of branding and business. We have neighbours who keep rare, exotic chickens. A beautiful bird, a cross-breed you don’t see often around here. One day, one of those chickens somehow found its way over the fence and into our compound. We tried to coax it back. We tried guiding it toward the gate. The thing simply refused to move. It just walked around, pecking at the ground, completely unbothered, acting like it had been living
The Power of Repeat Business Today, I want to talk about clients, customers, and the real value of repeat business. Let me begin with an experience. A while ago, I handled a digital publishing project for a client — a book writing and publishing assignment. We discussed the scope, agreed on the pricing, aligned on timelines, and within just a few days, the task was completed. The process was clean, structured, and efficient. No unnecessary back and forth. No tension. Just clarity and execution. After delivery, he said something that stayed with me: “Wow, I like people like you.” Now, that’s th
— Brand Loyalty Diversion It is often said that customers cling to a particular brand or product for years because of loyalty. And yes, brand loyalty exists. However, I think that loyalty is not permanent. Desires change. Tastes evolve. Opinions shift. Consumers grow. And when the brand no longer aligns with the consumer’s current needs and expectations, loyalty begins to diffuse — or what I call brand loyalty diversion. There must always be a consistent match between what your brand offers and what your customers currently need. The moment that the connection weakens, even slightly, switching
Today, I want us to reflect on three critical things I believe micro, small, and medium business owners, startups, and growing brands must intentionally embrace if they truly want to multiply impact, productivity, and profit. Not just grow gradually, but position themselves to scale strategically in a fast-changing era. Let me begin with a simple story from my own work. Recently, I’ve been developing several digital products. Over time, I’ve built systems and templates that make my workflow smoother. Because I’ve repeated similar processes again and again, I already know what goes in, what com
When Your Greatest Strength Becomes Your Blind Spot Today, I want to introduce a concept I call The Rhino’s Horn Effect, drawn from my book Gifted but Gated. It’s a powerful idea—simple on the surface, but deeply confronting once you begin to reflect on it. At its core, the Rhino’s Horn Effect explains how something that once helped you survive, fight, win, and rise can, at another stage of your journey, quietly become a barrier, a blockade, or even a hindrance—if it is not properly managed. Think about it this way. The rhino is known for one dominant feature: its horn. That horn represents st
“If the character is wrong, changing the font size won’t fix it” — Herman Zapf Today, we are looking at ‘CHARACTER. The character of great brands. This is something most people overlook in marketing or business strategies. But character is the hidden force behind every brand that lasts. When I began writing children’s books, I noticed something immediately. Children don’t just like stories. They fall in love with the characters. A book could have the most exciting story, but if the characters are flat, it won’t connect. The moment a character comes alive, everything changes. Children remember
The Silent Brand Series Today, when you turn everywhere, people are screaming, shouting, yelling, and selling. If you are not careful, you will feel that you are missing out as an entrepreneur. You see, noise is often mistaken for progress. Everyone is talking, posting, shouting, and promoting, hoping to be seen, heard, and hired. Well, not all visibility translates into value. Some of the most successful professionals and brands today are not the loudest in the room; they are the most strategically silent. Recently, I had a conversation with a colleague in the personal development space. Year
How Quiet Brands Dominate in a Noisy World “Being a silent brand doesn’t mean rejecting marketing, technology, or AI—it’s about seeing opportunity where others aren’t looking, in the quiet corners and overlooked communities untouched by the noise.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive Today, I’m continuing the series I began some time ago about the concept of the “silent brand,” a theme I explore in my book The UnGoogleable Brands. I want to introduce what I call the Silent Brands Manifesto. If you resonate with these ideas, you might just be part of a new movement in branding—one that believes the greatest
During one of my trips, I walked into a mall and noticed a beautifully arranged automobile showroom. Shiny Range Rovers were lined up, polished, and inviting. Out of curiosity, I thought, “Surely, they’ll let me test-drive one.” As I got closer, I realized something interesting: next to the cars was a neatly arranged table with small pastries and chocolates. At first, it didn’t make sense. What do pastries have to do with luxury cars? But curiosity got the better of my kids and me, so we went over for a closer look. The salesperson welcomed us warmly. “Please, have a taste,” they said, but bef
Not long ago, I was on a long drive. My phone battery was running dangerously low, and I had forgotten my car charger. The previous night, I hadn’t charged the phone fully either, so I was running out of power fast. Along the way, I spotted a shop that looked promising, a bright, well-arranged phone accessories store. From outside, you could see neat displays of chargers, cables, headphones, and other gadgets. I pulled over, walked in, and asked for a charger. The shopkeeper confidently presented a range of options. He assured me that all were “good quality,” and encouraged me to test one. As
Today, I would like us to discuss brand legacy, but not in an abstract sense. I’m talking about how a personal brand can live long after your career peaks. And who better to illustrate this than Celine Dion? You know her, 27 albums, over 250 million records sold, one of the highest-paid performers in history, and a voice that hits notes most people can only dream of. If you love music, you know the energy, the passion, the way she commands a stage. But here’s the thing: for the past four or five years, Celine has been mostly absent from public performance. Why? In 2022, she was diagnosed with
Why Drafting, Prototyping, and Preparation Matter in Your Work Where are your sketches? Great things don’t come cheap! Today, I’d like to take you back to a few personal stories that have shaped my perspective on the world of creativity, business, and execution. These stories carry a simple but powerful lesson: before you put out the product or service you’ve been dreaming of, you must go through a process of concept prototyping and preparation. This goes beyond art. It’s about building anything worth building: a business, a book, a brand, or even a career. Back to KNUST – My First Lessons in
If Giants Advertise, Why Aren’t You? Today, we are looking at marketing and the need for advertisement amidst all the digital stuff, social media, the bars, and all of that. I was having a conversation with a colleague and this subject or marketing and ads came up, so I decided to share some insights to help all of us. Is there a need. Do I need to place ads as a small business owner or whatever business I’m running? Is it necessary? Can’t I use any other smart means and forget about paid ads? I’m going to share some data with you that will amaze you. Then we’ll look at a few things that you n
Birthing Creativity Unusual Ways. “Kids don’t wait for permission to be creative—they just get bored enough to try something new.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive. Today, I’d like to discuss something I call “From Bored to Boardroom.” Don’t we all get bored at times? Well, it’s about how creativity is born—often not in the moments of pressure or hype, but in the quiet, sometimes repetitive spaces of life. The playgrounds. The routines. The places we often overlook. Let me begin with a simple story, something I’ve been observing with my kids lately. Not just my kids, but others too. especially when I ta
Ways to Preserve Your Brand for the Next Generation “Documentation is the oxygen your business needs to breathe beyond your lifetime.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive We often speak of legacy like it’s a retirement plan—something to think about in our twilight years, after the work is done. But legacy isn’t built at the end; it’s shaped in every intentional decision we make along the way. In my journey as a writer, brand coach, and father, I’ve learned this truth repeatedly: what we fail to prepare for today can’t be preserved tomorrow. Whether it’s a business, a belief, or a brand, what truly lasts is
In An Evolving, Tech-Driven World “Stay curious. What worked five years ago may no longer work today—keep refreshing your skills.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive. We are in a world where things keep shifting—fast. Every day, something changes. A new technology. A new app. A new tool. AI technologies are everywhere. Businesses that existed five years ago have either changed completely or disappeared. New industries are emerging by the minute. So, the question is: how do you stay relevant? How do you keep your brand, your product, and your service from becoming obsolete? Let’s talk about some key things
“You don’t grow by showing up everywhere—you grow by going deep somewhere.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive There’s an undeniable attraction to mastery. The world is drawn to excellence—whether it’s in art, music, business, or branding. People are drawn to the finished product, the seamless delivery, and the effortless appearance of work well done. But what’s often unseen, overlooked, and unappreciated is the silent discipline, years of failure and learning, and the persistence behind every moment of brilliance. This is what I call Mastering Your Art. As an author of over 70 published books—and one who
Welcome to another episode of Your Personal Branding Podcast. Bernard Kelvin Clive here. Today, I have a special guest with me — Loren Nelson. Loren, welcome to the show! Loren:Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. BKC:Let’s dive right in. We often talk about personal branding, digital marketing, and all things in between. From your perspective, what is personal branding really all about? Loren:For me, personal branding is tied to self-worth. It’s about knowing who you are — being self-aware enough to show up in the world as your authentic self. That’s where true authenticit
Building a Brand with Honesty, Heart, and Hard Work “Passion alone is not enough. Your brand must meet a need, solve a problem, or serve someone.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive Let me tell you something many won’t admit: the brand you’re trying to build won’t come fully formed on day one. It won’t shine like those global names you’re admiring on Instagram. It won’t command five-figure deals or fill conference halls the moment you hit “post.” The process often starts with uncertainty, a quiet idea, or a frustrated question like, “How do I even begin?” That’s where I was over a decade ago—just a simple
Gifted but Gated: Doing the Work That Matters “Don’t just package yourself to look good; position yourself to do good.”— Bernard Kelvin Clive We’re continuing our series on Gifted but Gated—a deep dive into doing the work that truly matters and building a personal brand that cuts across borders, breaks barriers, and outlives businesses. Today, I want us to explore something personal, something practical. Discovering the Gift Years ago, while studying at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, I pursued a program at the College of Art, Rural Art. Among the many disciplines we st
Career Levers – Gifted but Gated To we will explore how to break through a career ceiling using your personal brand. Many people find themselves feeling stuck in certain careers or fields. Previously, we discussed the factors that can cause individuals to stagnate or face limitations in their professional growth. Today, we focus on how building a strong personal brand can help you overcome these challenges and break through career ceilings, regardless of your field. Developing your brand involves several key actions: enhancing your professional presence, positioning yourself for discovery and
“The next generation is watching—let your brand be the permission they need to rise.” — Bernard Kelvin Clive So today we are looking at some personal branding mistakes that people often overlook in building their personal brand, particularly through the lens of cultural and religious settings—especially in Africa—and how brands can break through to succeed and impact the lives of those who matter to them most. The need to build a personal brand—rising above the noise, social limitations, and cultural myths or biases—is critical to standing out. You know, long before now, some religious and cul
“A business without customers is just a hobby with expenses.” – Bernard Kelvin Clive Today, we continue our series on customer care, customer experience, and handling negative feedback. This is especially vital for small business owners and brands who want to build and sustain a cordial relationship with clients. Businesses thrive on clients—without them, there is no business. That’s why every single customer should be treated like gold. There are many instances where businesses fall short, and these shortcomings must be addressed. In the previous article, I shared some personal experiences wi
