Owning Your Story: From Internal Reputation to Career Brand
The Momentum Files #56
Reputation Alone Won’t Get You Hired — Here's What Will
When you’ve spent years excelling in one organization, your reputation often precedes you.
Colleagues know your work ethic, leaders trust your judgment, and your impact is felt — sometimes even without you having to say a word.
But what happens when you leave that ecosystem?
When you’re in career transition, the silent endorsements vanish. Suddenly, you find yourself needing to tell your story — not to people who already know you, but to strangers who are deciding if you’re the right fit.
This shift can feel disorienting, even frustrating.
Yet it’s also a powerful opportunity to craft a personal brand narrative that positions you for your next chapter, on your terms.
As an executive coach who’s guided countless professionals through this journey, I want to share what it really means to move from relying on internal reputation to owning your story — and how you can do it with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.
The Difference Between Internal Reputation and External Brand
Inside a company, your reputation is built day by day through meetings, results, hallway conversations, and shared experiences. It’s a living, breathing thing that grows from personal relationships and demonstrated value.
When you leave that environment, your reputation doesn’t disappear — it still exists.
But without your trusted colleagues and advocates to carry the message on your behalf, you become the sole messenger of your brand.
People outside your previous company lack the context — they haven’t seen you in action.
One professional recently captured this exact experience.
✨ Client Story: From Laid Off to Lightbulb Moment
Not long ago, a professional reached out after being laid off from a role she had held for more than 15 years. The company had gone through a reduction in force, and while she wasn’t entirely surprised, the emotional impact was deeper than expected.Her career — and reputation — had been built inside that organization. And now, suddenly, she was on the outside looking in.
She described the idea of job searching as daunting and unfamiliar. While she had started browsing job boards and making updates to her materials, it all felt reactive and uninspired.
“It doesn’t feel strategic,” she shared. “And I’m not sure I’m doing any of it right.”She also admitted she wanted more than just another job — she wanted to feel excited and aligned about what came next.
But that idea felt both motivating and overwhelming. She told me:
“I want to feel inspired again. I want this next step to be intentional. But I don’t know how to do this — or even where to start.”As we talked, one moment stood out. I reflected something I often see in experienced professionals in transition:
“You’ve spent years inside a company where your reputation spoke for itself. You didn’t need to explain your value — it was known and seen. But now, in this new chapter, you’re the one who has to tell the story — clearly, confidently, and in your own words.”She paused. And then nodded.
“That’s it. I don’t know what my story is — and I’m not sure how to tell it.”
It was a moment of clarity — one that helped her name what was keeping her stuck.
That conversation marked a shift.
From uncertainty to possibility. From default to intentionality. From feeling adrift to knowing that with the right tools and support, she could take control of her story and career again.
That’s why your career brand — the story you tell about who you are, what you do, and why it matters — becomes your most important asset.
It’s how you get noticed, build trust, and ultimately get hired.
Bonus insight:
If your internal reputation didn’t fully reflect your strengths or wasn’t serving you, this is your opportunity to be intentional and craft the narrative you want moving forward. You get to clarify how you want to be seen, known, and remembered in your next chapter.
That’s the real difference: inside your company, your reputation was demonstrated.
Outside, it must be communicated.
Why Your Internal Reputation Doesn’t Travel
It’s tempting to assume that great work speaks for itself everywhere, but context matters:
People inside your last company saw your successes firsthand. They understood the nuances and challenges you overcame.
Outside, people only have what you share — your resume, LinkedIn, interviews, and how you communicate your value.
A job title or company name doesn’t tell the full story. Two people with the same title can have wildly different impacts.
Recognizing this is the first step to taking control of your narrative.
Leaving a company where you were known can feel like losing a part of your identity — and it’s okay to grieve that before you begin to rebuild.
Getting Clear: Define What Makes You Unique
The foundation of owning your story is clarity. What patterns and strengths run through your career? What do colleagues, clients, or leaders consistently praise you for?
Don’t just list tasks or responsibilities. Think about:
🔹 The results you consistently deliver
🔹 The leadership qualities that set you apart
🔹 The problems you solve better than others
When you can clearly articulate these, your story becomes compelling and credible.
Here are a few questions to help get started:
What do people consistently come to you for?
What challenges have you solved across multiple roles?
What’s the common thread in your proudest moments?
🧭 Career Clarity Checklist:
✅ Know your top 3 strengths
✅ Identify 2-3 transferable accomplishments
✅ Connect your past roles to what you want next
💡 Coach Tip - Ask yourself this question:
"If someone were to recommend you today, what would they say you're the go-to person for — and is that the reputation you want to carry forward?"
The Power of Storytelling: Crafting a Narrative That Connects
Everyone has a story. But a good career story is:
Authentic: True to who you are, not a manufactured persona
Focused: Highlights a clear through-line connecting your past, present, and future
Impact-oriented: Shows how your work made a difference
For example, instead of “I managed a team,” say:
"I led a cross-functional team through a critical product launch that increased revenue by 20% in six months."
That kind of storytelling paints a vivid picture and sticks with your audience.
Sticky messaging is good.
I recently worked with a senior operations leader who felt invisible outside of his current company. While he wasn’t actively job searching, he recognized that his brand needed clarity, both internally and externally.
Through our coaching work, he developed a more confident and compelling narrative, aligned his messaging across LinkedIn, and began using it intentionally in 1:1s with his manager and when positioning himself for new, high-impact projects.
The result? He’s now seen more clearly as a cross-functional leader — and is shaping future opportunities with purpose and visibility.
Visibility: Show Up as the Professional You Already Are
Your story only works if people hear it. This is where visibility matters.
🔹 Be active on LinkedIn: Share insights, comment thoughtfully, and connect intentionally.
🔹 Network strategically: Reach beyond your immediate circle to engage with industry leaders and potential employers.
🔹 Create opportunities to speak: Whether it’s a webinar, panel, or blog, share your expertise and build recognition.
🔹 Make sure your LinkedIn profile supports your story too: update your headline, About section, and Experience section to reflect who you are today and where you’re headed.
Visibility helps your brand travel further and starts turning strangers into advocates.
Mindset: It’s Not About Proving Yourself. It’s About Reintroducing Yourself
A shift in mindset can ease the discomfort of self-promotion.
Most professionals struggle unnecessarily in transition because they treat career branding as a test: “I need to prove I’m good enough.”
That framing creates pressure, defensiveness, and the dreaded feeling of “bragging.”
But here’s the reframe: you don’t need to prove anything. You already are accomplished. What you’re doing now is reintroducing yourself to an audience that doesn’t know you yet.
Think of it like walking into a room full of new colleagues at your first company all over again. They aren’t doubting you, they’re simply unfamiliar with you.
Your job isn’t to defend your worth; it’s to bring them into the story of what you’ve already achieved and what you’re excited to do next.
A few practical ways to shift into this reintroduction mindset:
Anchor to evidence. Instead of “selling” yourself, share examples of the results you’ve already delivered — outcomes that others can connect with.
Shift from me to value. Frame your experiences in terms of how they’ve made teams more effective, leaders more confident, or businesses more successful.
Practice the ‘new audience’ lens. Imagine every recruiter, hiring manager, or networking contact as someone who’s never met you. What three things do you want them to walk away knowing?
💡 Coach Perspective: Many leaders I work with breathe easier the moment they flip this switch. The stress of “bragging” melts into the purpose of helping others understand what you can offer.
And here’s the bonus: a reintroduction isn’t just for others - it’s for you too!
In telling your story out loud, you start hearing it differently yourself. You begin to internalize your own narrative of strength, clarity, and readiness for what’s next.
Think of it less as proving and more as extending an invitation:
Here’s who I am. Here’s what I’ve done. Here’s how I can help you now.
That’s not self-promotion. That’s leadership.
If you struggle with feeling like you’re bragging or experiencing self-doubt, check out my blog post “Feeling Like a Fraud?” for helpful strategies to embrace your achievements and communicate your value confidently.
Think of it as reintroducing an old friend — but this time, you get to tell the story your way.
Your Brand Still Exists — Now, You Just Have to Tell the Story
If you’re feeling unsure about how to start, that’s normal. Every leader has been there.
With focused effort, clarity, and practice, you can create a personal brand narrative that opens doors and sets you apart.
If you’d like support in uncovering your unique story and confidently sharing it, coaching can make a huge difference. Together, we’ll build a brand that’s authentic, strategic, and unmistakably you.
Have you experienced this transition from relying on reputation to owning your story? I’d love to hear how you navigated it — hit reply and share your experience.
What Professionals in Transition Need to Remember
🔑 Key Takeaways
What to Remember as You Navigate Career Transition
Your internal reputation doesn’t automatically follow you into new spaces.
Your career brand is how you communicate your value to people who haven’t worked with you yet.
Visibility, clarity, and storytelling are essential to reestablishing momentum.
Owning your story is about helping others understand the impact you’re ready to deliver next.
Building a personal brand is a learnable skill, and support can make all the difference.
🧭 Lessons from Coaching Clients Like You
What real transitions have taught me — and how they can guide yours
Great work inside your last company isn’t enough if you don’t know how to talk about it.
Clarity and storytelling are essential when starting a new chapter.
Your personal brand is a strategic asset, not just a buzzword.
Visibility takes effort — but it opens doors silence never will.
Reinvention starts with reflection and evolves through intentional action.
Ready to Move Forward — Even When the Path Isn’t Clear?
You don’t need certainty to take your next step. When you separate fact from fear, reset your expectations, and keep showing up, you stay in motion and in control.
This is your opportunity to step forward, own your story, and show the world what you’re capable of next.
If you want support navigating the unknown with confidence, clarity, and strategy, here’s how we can work together:
📘 Download Brilliant Networking Formula - A FREE step-by-step guide to building connections that open doors, even when hiring timelines are unclear.
📥 Get the FREE Post-Layoff Success Guide - Mindset shifts and tactics to regain clarity and confidence after a job loss.
🤝 Join Career Club - Connect with other driven professionals navigating career growth and transition.
📅 Schedule a Free Get Acquainted Call - Let’s clarify your next steps and map out a plan together. No pressure, just connection.
Coming This Fall: The Early Career Job-Seekers Workshop!
Early career doesn’t mean “figure it out alone.”
Let’s be real: No one teaches you how to job search effectively after graduation. Or how to talk about yourself when you’re still figuring it all out.
That’s why I created LaunchPad - my newest workshop - debuting this fall.
It’s for job seekers in their 20s who want a plan, a path, and some people in their corner.
Get help with:
• Building a job search strategy
• Navigating resumes and LinkedIn
• Finding your story and voice
• Growing a network that works for you
👉 Be the first to hear when registration opens.
REPLY to join the waitlist.
Let’s launch your career - with intention.