Tesla has shed more than $600 billion in market value since Elon Musk redirected his focus toward DOGE missions and public antics with Uncle Sam. It’s a staggering figure and a sharp reminder of how quickly reputations can shift.
I’m still a huge admirer of what Musk has built. But not many people can destroy that much shareholder value that fast.
Warren Buffett once said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” The statement rings especially true in today’s hyper-visible world.
Fear of Criticism vs. Fear of Irrelevance
Many of the ambitious individuals I work with express a fear of being seen online. They avoid posting on LinkedIn, engaging in interviews, or talking to the media – not because they lack something to say, but because they fear negative reactions.
Their logic: “If no one knows me, no one can hate me.”
But here’s the flip side:
- No one can admire you either.
- No one can be influenced by your thinking or inspired by your journey.
- No new opportunities will land in your inbox if the world doesn’t know you exist.
You Don’t Need to Be Controversial to Be Seen
Building a personal brand does carry risk. Not everyone will like you, and that’s okay. You don’t have to chase controversy or go full clickbait to have impact.
At the pub in Cambridge where I had one of my first jobs, there was a sign behind the bar: “No politics, no religion.” That’s still a decent rule of thumb.
You can create value simply by helping people. Share your view on your industry. Offer insight. Support others. The right people will lean in. The wrong ones will scroll past. And the other 8 billion? They won’t even notice.
Start With One Thought
Here’s a simple place to begin: What’s one idea, insight, or lesson you’ve learned that might help someone in your network today?
You don’t need to post every day. Just share something that matters. That’s how visibility begins, and trust follows.