I’m on the verge of Life 3 - I can smell it! I just don’t know where it is or what it looks like. I’m certainly ready and anxious for it, though. Signs: I’ve worked at enough “respectable” companies in different industries to finally recognize that there’s no “magic” or coveted opportunities they have to offer me. In other words, waiting for a shiny company to hand me something that recognizes my unique potential is a false reality. As Ed has said many times during our conversations, “they don’t know what to do with me”. That statement is representative of Life 2. I’m also bored at work and want to do so much more. I put myself out there, request more work and offer proposals, but the work I’m craving never materializes. In summary, I’m done waiting.

Okay here’s what ChatGPT had to say. Learning curve! This is such a smart observation — and your Oprah/Martha comparison is actually spot on. What you’re noticing isn’t vanity-based at all; it’s psychology and trust-building at work. Here’s what’s going on beneath the surface: ⸻ 🧠 1. People connect with people, not ideas. Even when your goal is to share knowledge, your audience needs an emotional anchor — you. Your photo instantly signals: • “This insight comes from a real person I can relate to.” • “This isn’t abstract theory; it’s lived experience.” That’s the “parasocial connection” effect — the same reason Oprah could sell empathy, wisdom, or empowerment more effectively with her face on the cover. ⸻ 👀 2. The LinkedIn algorithm amplifies content with faces. The platform optimizes for dwell time and engagement. Posts with human faces — especially the account owner’s — naturally draw the eye and stop the scroll. It’s visual shorthand for authenticity and story, two things the algorithm and humans both reward. ⸻ ❤️ 3. Seeing you creates consistency and trust. When people repeatedly see your face next to valuable insights, they start to associate you with credibility, clarity, and warmth. It’s not about self-focus; it’s about brand familiarity. Oprah and Martha weren’t saying “look at me”; they were saying “you can trust me — I’m here again, just like last time.” ⸻ 🔄 So what can you do if you don’t want to make it “about you”? Here are a few practical ways to balance your intent with audience psychology: 1. Pair ideas with presence – Use small or secondary photos of yourself (speaking, collaborating, etc.) while keeping the focus on the topic. 2. Use symbolic visuals – e.g., an empty stage, a notebook, a conference badge — something that hints at your role without centering your face every time. 3. Create a “visual signature” – Same tone, color palette, or framing each time — this builds brand recognition even without your photo. 4. Leverage carousel or video – Start with your face briefly, then move to the idea. This hits the emotional + intellectual sweet spot.

Right - I did a carousel, and in the past have also done very colorful quotes. Here are the links. But they are definitely my lowest performing posts https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kelseysobomehin_success-in-uncharted-territory-activity-7391505874957012992-JFxI?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAAUJmTMBcWURG2wzO0KC1DATi3g71rf_qeg&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kelseysobomehin_ai-leadership-datastrategy-activity-7389334458933440512-E5Ze?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAUJmTMBcWURG2wzO0KC1DATi3g71rf_qeg

My “new but hard” move is establishing my own voice/brand/expertise in the AI space. I’ve always enjoyed the comforts of large companies with prestigious brands. Now, making steps towards being my own business is completely foreign and comes with many thoughts about “failing” in front of everyone. But I keep telling myself I have to try. So I’m taking it one day at a time.

I love this. It resonates with the game I've picked up from other athletes like Kobe, SGA, and Steph. Each of them simply continued to practice and get better on a daily basis, and it's what set them apart. Their specific worth ethics were impactful and drove great results. What's my sequence? 1) Finances for sure - there's a lot of consistency with the basics and planting seeds. 2) I've recently become more focused on generating content. The reach isn't were I want it yet, but I'm working to learn from each post and have found a strategy to follow that will improve reach over time. 3) Networking. I truly believe me consistently showing up and putting myself in front of people will reap a huge reward at some point. After all, the best products never sell unlesw you market.

I’m reading this very late but kept the message intentionally flagged so I wouldn’t forget. I think Tobi is setting up all his employees for future success, setting them ahead of the rest of us. This quote stood out: “In a company growing 20-40% year over year, you must improve by at least that every year just to re-qualify.” The bar is being moved quickly and unfortunately, a lot of people don’t see it. I’ve heard from colleagues that Jen’s and younger in the workplace are way more debt than millennials and older and leveraging AI. The challenge for me is figuring out how to use it in my day-to-day workflow. I don’t have any of the easy low hanging used cases like coding, creative, writing, content, generation, etc, so it’s pushing me to be creative… I of course, constantly use AI as an advisor, but not as a tool to execute task and save me time