Level Up Your Brand Narrative and Prepare for Year End Reviews
- Tosca DiMatteo
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
Your career journey isn’t just a list of roles or a set of skills, it’s a living story. How you craft and share that story shapes how others perceive you, opens doors to new opportunities, and sets the stage for your next chapter. In episode 73 of The Unlock Lab, I explore what it truly means to take ownership of your brand, evolve your narrative, and prepare for year-end review season with confidence.
Why Your Personal Brand Is Always Evolving
Everyone’s path is different, filled with starts, stops, pivots, and unexpected joys. One thing I emphasize in this episode is: you are limiting yourself if you stick to one story and call it done. Your personal brand isn’t a one-time exercise; it’s an ongoing reflection of your growth, passions, and vision for the future. If you’re not managing your narrative, someone else will. Now is a perfect time to get proactive, especially before year-end reviews because the last thing you want is to be surprised in those conversations. You can start to plant seeds for the story you want on record.
One Door Closed, Another Opened
I applied for a speaking opportunity and was declined, however my application sparked interest in writing an article for Talent Development Magazine. The opportunity itself was a testament to being open to unexpected outcomes. After turning down an initial offer because the contract felt scary, I later changed my mind reopened the conversation. The result? Sharing my brand-building philosophies in print. This story is a reminder that our professional journey rarely goes in a straight line, and changing your mind can absolutely be the right move.
Six Keys to Leveling Up Your Professional Story
1. Heal What Needs Healing
Before sharing your story externally, address what’s sticky or unresolved within. Forgive what needs forgiving. Process past workplace wounds. Only then can you really celebrate your journey and walk into new conversations with confidence.
2. Trust There’s a Beautiful Arc in Your Story
Many worry that a zigzag path is a liability. In reality, every experience creates depth and connection when you search for the underlying themes, skills developed, passions sparked amd problems solved. If you have been beating yourself up about your career journey - JUST STOP IT. Know that there is an arc to your story, waiting to be seen and revealed. Seek support to dig deeper if you have a hard time finding the story that makes your beam with pride.
3. Own Your Year-End Review Narrative
Write your own version of your review before your manager does. List your achievements, note your impact and that includes bringing forward volunteer efforts or unique initiatives. Plant these seeds through conversation before the formal process kicks off. If you’re an entrepreneur, review yourself and update your resume regularly, it’s the foundation for the next narrative leap.
4. Let Your Story Point Toward Your Future
You don’t need to know every detail of your next chapter; you do need a sense of direction. Shift your story from “where I’ve been” to “where I’m going.” Pull out details and themes that align with your next move or aspiration. You might have multiple threads so highlight the one that lights you up in this moment and that will get others excited too.
5. Don’t Do This Work Alone
Deep brand narratives require reflection and mirroring. Find coaches, trusted friends, masterminds, or professional groups to help you see your journey more clearly. It’s far easier to react to what other people share about you than to start with a blank page. Do this until you feel yourself shine bright like a diamond!
6. Make It a Creative, Light Process
You don’t have to build your narrative in front of a computer. Use colors, images, whiteboards - whatever you need to do to reconnect with creativity so that you can see things differently. If you’re feeling heavy or stuck, pause. Wait until things feel lighter. And please remember this; There’s no one right way or perfect outcome, just a process of getting closer to your authentic, ever-evolving self.
Leveling Up Is Lifelong
Take it from someone with a marketing background, the process of brand-building is never “done.” Differentiating yourself, articulating expertise, updating your message and visuals, it’s continual, and always easier with insight from others. Give yourself grace and know that growing this skillset is part of your professional legacy.
My biggest council? Don’t put this off until someone else shapes your story for you. Commit to your own review this week, revisit brand themes, and see how you can evolve your narrative in alignment with your vision. If you need support or want to talk about your brand in a new way, reach out here and schedule an exploratory call.
If you haven’t read my article in Talent Development Magazine yet, you can read it here. It’s packed with journal prompts and actionable steps designed to help you own and elevate your unique story well beyond what I have shared here.
Your brand is as dynamic and imaginative as you allow it to be. Let this season of change be the moment you choose to see yourself and share yourself in new, powerful ways.
