Tag: business consultant

The most successful entrepreneurs today don’t just build great companies; they make themselves into brands. They understand a simple truth: people buy from people they trust. Products change. Services evolve. But a strong personal brand endures.

This is not about ego. It’s a sharp entrepreneur strategy. It’s about building influence and trust through genuine self-presentation. As business consultant Deepak Mandy tells leaders, “Your personal brand is your business card, your reputation, and your competitive advantage rolled into one.”

Why Personal Branding Matters Now

The market is loud. Customers want more than products – they want stories and values. A personal brand succeeds where traditional advertising fails.

Think about it. Two companies offer the same thing at the same price. Who wins? Usually, the one with the founder who has a stronger reputation. Their expertise tips the scales. Their story makes customers feel understood.

Deepak Mandy puts it bluntly: “In a crowded market, your personal brand is your unfair advantage. It’s what makes customers choose you before they even see your product.”

The data agrees. Content shared by employees gets eight times more engagement than content from a corporate account. When the CEO speaks, people lean in to listen. That is leadership branding at work.

How Entrepreneurial Success and Branding Connect

How Entrepreneurial Success and Branding Connect

Consider the names you know. Richard Branson. Elon Musk. Sara Blakely. Their personal brands didn’t follow their success – they built it.

Trust is a magnet. Investors back people, not just ideas. Partners align with leaders they respect.

Credibility is key. It unlocks speaking invites, media spots, and strategic alliances.

Networks expand. Strong brands attract other strong brands. Success breeds success.

The ultimate sign? When an entrepreneur becomes synonymous with their industry. They don’t just run a company; they lead a movement. This is the essence of personal brand growth.

Building Authority: The Leader’s Microphone

Authority isn’t handed out. It’s earned by consistently showing up and sharing value.

Teach freely – The more you give away your knowledge, the more you are seen as the expert.

Take a stand – Leaders have opinions. They guide conversations – they don’t watch from the sidelines.

Show your work – Prove your track record. Share your wins and be honest about your lessons.

Stay visible – You can’t influence people from the shadows.

The goal isn’t fame. It’s being the first name that pops into someone’s head when they need what you offer. That’s where smart business strategies intersect with personal influence.

Your Story: The Heart of Your Brand

Facts tell, but stories sell – Your journey, the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the lessons are your most potent tool.

Be real – People connect with genuine struggles, not polished perfection.

Embrace conflict – Every good story has tension and the challenge that was overcome.

Show growth – Brands that learn and adapt feel human and trustworthy.

This is storytelling in business at its best. Stories stick where statistics are forgotten. They make you memorable.

Social Media: Your Brand’s Megaphone

Social Media Your Brand’s Megaphone

Social media isn’t a billboard for entrepreneurs. It’s a direct line to the world. But the platform is just the tool. The strategy is a real connection.

LinkedIn for authority – Long-form posts and professional networking build credibility.

Twitter for conversation – Quick insights and real-time engagement reward an authentic voice.

Instagram for story – Behind-the-scenes moments and visual storytelling humanise you.

The mistake is treating it like an ad. The winners treat it like a conversation. They engage. They respond. They show up consistently, not just when they have something to sell.

Deepak Mandy advises, “Social media amplifies who you are. If you are authentic and valuable, it makes you more so. If you are not, it exposes that too.”

Pitfalls to Avoid

Failures often come from simple mistakes.

Trying to please everyone – Broad appeal usually means no real appeal.

Focusing on style over substance – A slick logo can’t hide a lack of expertise.

Being inconsistent – Your voice on LinkedIn should match your voice on stage and in writing.

Ignoring your audience – This isn’t about you. It’s about the value you provide to others.

Waiting for perfection – The best brands are built in public, not prepared forever in private.

Being fake – Artificial brands shatter under pressure. Authenticity is a smart strategy.

The Future is Personal

Tomorrow’s winners won’t compete on price or features alone. They’ll compete on trust.

AI will make human connection more precious. As robots handle tasks, the human touch becomes the differentiator.

Video and voice will lead – Text takes a back seat to more personal formats.

Micro-communities will thrive – Niche groups will outperform mass audiences.

Authenticity will be the filter – In a world of deepfakes, being real is a mighty advantage.

Deepak Mandy sees it clearly: “AI can write your content, but it can’t write your story. It can optimise your reach, but it can’t generate your respect. The human element isn’t just part of the equation – it is the equation.”

Your First Steps

1.  Define your distinct value – What do you offer that others don’t?

2.  Identify your audience – Who needs to hear what you have to say?

3.  Pick your platforms – Choose 2-3 channels and commit to them.

4.  Find your voice – How will you sound different from the crowd?

5.  Create constantly – Regular, valuable content builds recognition.

6.  Engage for real – Respond, comment, and connect. Relationships are everything.

7.  Measure what counts – Track opportunities and impact, not just likes.

The world doesn’t need another generic business. It requires leaders who stand for something. Your personal brand isn’t separate from your business plan. It is the plan.

In a digital economy where reputation is easily scrutinised, trust functions as a key medium of exchange. Entrepreneurs who excel at generating trust create enterprises that outlive them, their impact cemented by each verified, authentic interaction.

They build a legacy, one genuine connection at a time. That business card you started with? It’s now an invitation to something much bigger.

Deepak Mandy is a business coach who has been building businesses Down Under all his life. From commendable expertise in the IT sector to a tight grasp on logistics, he has also been a mentor for budding entrepreneurs, giving genuine and effective business advice. As a business coach, Deepak Mandy understands the challenges that young, as well as seasoned businessmen, face while raising funds for their companies. It is true that the proper execution of an idea is what makes it work. Bringing good solutions to the masses has been Deepak Mandy’s forte ever since he entered the Australian markets and raising capital is one of the foundations of any good execution. This guide seeks to explore these challenges and how to overcome them.

Challenges in Raising Capital

Entrepreneurs come up with brilliant ideas and even have the right knack for executing them into practice. However, a slow or lack of cash injection at the right time is a major reason for many crushed dreams. Deepak Mandy suggests:

  • Investors are Dicey: It happens often that a verbal commitment given by the investors during a pitch is not followed up with a proper investment decision by the investors.
  • Lack of Urgency: Entrepreneurs often fail in creating a sense of urgency to the investor which results in a delayed reaction. The number of investors is less compared to the number of companies seeking funds – a major reason behind this issue.
  • A Declining Economy: You can’t do much about it, can you? Well, coming up with a market disruptive solution is the only business advice that would work here. Moving on.

Companies Eligible to Raise Funds in Australia

Public companies (a company with more than 50 shareholders that are not direct employees of said company) are eligible to raise money from the general public (IPO). The company has to declare securities before entering the public pool to raise money.

Private companies (technically the opposite of a public company i.e not more than 50 shareholders that are not employees) can also enter for raising capital:

  • From a private party such as employees, shareholders, or a subsidiary company.
  • If there is no disclosure document required, the private company can raise funds from the general public.

Restrictions on Advertising or “Cold Calling”

When a disclosure document is required to raise funds, cold calling or advertising to the general masses has restrictions and boundations. In the most general terms, it is not allowed to cold call people from the general public and tells them about the securities. There is an exception in this case though. Deepak Mandy suggests that you check this link out. Holders of the Australian Financial Services Licence can raise funds from the public. Do check the link for more information though.

Advertising securities, as aforementioned, is not allowed. However, if the disclosure document is lodged, the scenario changes a bit. You can start advertising for public funding in Australia after the disclosure document is lodged as long as there is a statement in the advertisement or cold call stating that:

  • Offers will be taken only with an attachment of the disclosure document
  • There is an application form in the disclosure document and anyone who wishes to infuse money should fill it out first.

Don’t have a disclosure document? The Right Time to Raise Funds is this

With years of experience raising as well as investing funds, business coach, Deepak Mandy has compiled some pointers for you in this regard. If your company does not have a disclosure document, the right time to raise funds depends on:

  • In case there is a personal offer. This also includes (a) offers made to less than 12 people in the course of a year and (b) the offer will not raise the total amount (in a year) above $2 million.
  • Offers are made to the person who is not eligible for a disclosure document.
  • There are also various conditions that are included in this category. For a detailed understanding of when you can raise capital without a disclosure document, check out the official link.

The right time to raise capital in case of the non-existence of a disclosure document also depends on where your business is currently and whether you have an execution plan in place. In simple terms, the allocation of the proposed incoming funds needs to be decided by the entrepreneur. Although this is not some mandatory step, it is absolutely essential for the entrepreneur to have a thorough understanding of where the money would be used and how much the returns will be.

How to Overcome Raising Capital Challenges

As a business advisor and coach, Deepak Mandy suggests that entrepreneurs take the following roadmap to overcome the challenges of raising funds in Australia:

  • Scalable business strategy: A scalable business strategy is one of the major factors that investors look into before injecting money into a business. Investors look for good future prospects before making a decision so a scalable business model is a must.
  • Market feasibility: Entrepreneurs and young businesses should not fall in love with their ideas and lose a sense of the real world. The feasibility and the problem-solving power of a business is the one thing that will keep the company floated in periods of crisis.
  • Having a realistic time frame: Unrealistic deadlines are also a reason for the failure of many young businesses. Business advice in this case requires entrepreneurs to keep a realistic sense of time frames.
  • Networking: Networking with high net individuals as well as good companies of the different industries is another key factor that will help you to raise capital.
  • Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is another great way to raise capital if you believe that your idea is capable of motivating the general public to help you grow.

Conclusion

It is crucial to understand the place and time where your company stands before you start planning the next step. If you decide to raise money at the wrong time, it may end up hurting you more than helping you. We hope that this ‘Deepak Mandy’s guide to helping overcome capital raising challenges’ was mind-opening for you.