I was reading an article and came across some key points about Identity that I found helpful. The author calls it "internal infrastructure" but I see it as self-awareness. It covers both internal and external self-awareness. 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬: - How someone uses their voice when the room goes quiet. - How they respond when expectations are unclear or shifting. - How they experience authority—both internal and external. - How they recover after mistakes, conflict, or hard feedback. These identity expressions form the internal infrastructure that determines whether career capability grows or stalls over time. To strengthen your own identity-first career infrastructure, begin by examining how you respond to pressure, authority, and growth demands—not just how you perform. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: - Where do I consistently become reactive, guarded, or overly responsible at work? - What situations drain me more than they should, even when I’m capable? - How do I tend to interpret authority, expectations, and risk in my role? - What version of myself shows up when the stakes are high—and is that version aligned with the leader or professional I’m becoming? - Where am I still relying on external validation to feel secure in my contribution? These go beyond performance. These are infrastructure questions.

You’ll see this phrase on my LinkedIn this week: “Identity isn’t something I create — it’s something I return to.” Here’s what I’ll add just for you. I’ve learned that identity shows up most clearly under pressure — when we’re forced to choose, speak honestly, or act with courage rather than comfort. Last year, while leading a year-long Bible reading group, I watched commitment reveal itself quickly.Courage took longer. It always does. Right now, this is where my own identity feels anchored — exercising courage, not just understanding it. So I’m curious: When pressure shows up, what do you tend to return to — habit, role, or identity? - Which one takes the most courage for you right now? Drop a thought below. Even naming it counts.

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I used to host two live events a week back when LinkedIn had audio rooms. I’d record the video with the audio, then repurpose the content across platforms. When LinkedIn removed audio, the consistency stopped. Lives became… sporadic. Recently, I started going live again — without a scheduled event, without hype, without weeks of planning. Why? Because I’ve realized something about myself: I have more clarity inside me than I give myself credit for. I can sketch a simple outline, go live in 10 minutes, and let it flow. No stress. No perfection. Just clarity in motion. In hindsight, this wasn’t random. My subconscious was fighting for clarity. And live communication is one of the fastest ways I sharpen how I: ➔ think ➔ influence ➔ communicate ➔ clarify my messaging, copy, content, and offers It also forces me to think on my feet — a skill I’ve let dull recently. Bonus? Every live gives me a transcript I can turn into written posts, plug into my 21-page prompt, and compound into years of content in my voice that actually resonates. I’m going to run this experiment for a couple of months and see what converts. No pressure. Just progress. Question for you: What’s something you already do well that you could leverage more intentionally for your ICP? That answer might be closer than you think.

Being the last day of going for “no” month. Here’s a true story of one the biggest going for “nos” in history. The Power of Going for NO (Nehemiah Style) Most entrepreneurs don’t fear failure. They fear NO… because no feels personal. Nehemiah walked into the king’s presence afraid…and asked anyway. He was a Jewish exile, the king’s cupbearer (close access, high trust, high risk). And he showed up sad, something that could get you punished or killed on the spot. The king notices. Nehemiah admits fear. Then he goes for NO… …and asks to go to Judah, where his ancestors are buried so he can rebuild it… …and Nehemiah doesn’t stop at one ask. After asking for permission to go rebuild Jerusalem. Then he asks again: ➔ “Send letters” so governors won’t block me. ➔ “Send a letter to Asaph” to give me timber/lumber from the king’s forest. ➔ Give me what I need to build the gates, walls, and a place to live. ➔ And effectively…protection and authority to carry it out. Talk about courage and faith! That’s not one request. That’s a chain of requests. And here’s the wild part: Because he was willing to risk NO, he received resources. Because he was willing to face fear, he received authority. Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem, rebuilds the wall in 52 days, restores order, and becomes governor, a deliverer and leader for his people. Entrepreneur takeaway: Stop making timid asks that keep you “safe.” Start making aligned asks that require faith. Question: What’s the “second, third, or fourth ask” you’ve been avoiding.. the one that would actually give you the resources, access, or leverage you need?