When Preparation Meets Opportunity

The Power of Consistent Personal Branding: Real-World Results

When it comes to personal branding, the results can sometimes feel intangible…until they’re not. Often, it’s a long game, where effort compounds gradually. But every once in a while, the impact of that consistent presence, strategic positioning, and clear messaging aligns perfectly, and the results are undeniable.

Recently, I had one of those experiences with a 20+rooftop group. It’s a success story that highlights how effective branding can cut through the typical hurdles of new business relationships. Here’s a breakdown of how a simple LinkedIn interaction opened the door to a potentially game-changing opportunity.

The Sequence of Events: A Simple Profile View and a Big Opportunity

It all started with a seemingly small action…a profile view and a follow One day, I noticed that the Vice President of a larger dealer group had viewed my Linkedin profile and followed me. This was nothing out of the ordinary, I get lot’s of profile views/follows, but this one was from the dream client…on steroids

The view alone told me he was at least curious. To keep the conversation moving, I viewed his profile in return and spent some time browsing through their website, getting a feel for the Group’s scale, values, and unique positioning. Then I sent him this DM.

The message was simple but intentional. I knew it should appeal to his interest in moving inventory without the typical risk of market saturation. Within minutes, I had a response…he was interested, and we scheduled a call for the very next day.

Digital Footprint Doing the Heavy Lifting

When we got on the call, I realized just how much my personal brand had done the initial heavy lifting. The VP had taken a close look at not just my LinkedIn profile but also my personal brand website and the various company sites I own. By the time we exchanged pleasantries, he was well-versed in my experience, services, and credibility within the automotive sector.

This pre-call familiarity saved us both time and added an instant level of trust and confidence to the conversation. With traditional business development approaches, you might expect a long "get-to-know-you" phase, where you establish credentials and assure the other party that you’re legitimate. Instead, our conversation quickly zeroed in on the details of working together, without the usual "show me what you've done" questions. 

My branding had already answered those.

From Simple Deal to Strategic Direction

For context, This Group has historically relied on auctions for their wholesale remarketing and acquisitions. This approach minimized their perceived risks associated with direct buying and selling…like under-the-table incentives and other issues that can be part of the landscape (commonly called “unders” in our industry).

But this time, he was open to exploring a new approach. Right after our call, he sent me a spreadsheet of 30+ aged vehicles for immediate review, and within hours, we were in business.

This direct engagement has led to two main streams of opportunity:

1. Wholesale Partnership: We’re now working directly on their wholesale needs, and I’m positioned as a trusted buyer who can remove cars that don’t fit  from his competitive landscape.

2. Consulting for U.S. Expansion: The VP saw value in my years of experience with U.S. markets, logistics, and dealership operations. We’re now discussing a longer-term consulting contract to help set up an export process and facilitate introductions as they expand their reach into the United States.

This all happened virtually immediately. One proactive message and an already-established digital footprint allowed us to skip months of groundwork. Phrases like “strategic direction” and “meet with the Group President” came up within our first interactions, positioning me directly with the decision-makers in a large, expanding dealership group.

The Real Impact of a Personal Brand

This experience is a real-world example of what consistent personal branding can achieve. Opportunities like this don’t happen by accident…they’re the result of effort, presence, and a clear digital footprint. 

Here’s what I believe made this possible:

1. Consistency: Regular posts, engaging stories, and steady updates kept my name and expertise in front of industry leaders, even those who weren’t directly engaging with my content.

2. Clarity of Message: My brand message…focusing on freedom, transparency, and industry expertise…is clear across platforms. Anyone who views my website, blogs, articles or social media can quickly grasp who I am, what I do, and how I operate.

3. Social Proof and Credibility: Having a well-curated personal brand with visible testimonials, case studies, and a clear track record of success speaks volumes. By the time we spoke, I didn’t need to "prove" myself…that credibility was already established.

4. Boldness and Direct Approach: The simple, straightforward outreach demonstrated confidence and a clear value proposition. This is especially important in B2B relationships where decision-makers are often flooded with vague proposals.

A Message to Other Entrepreneurs: Build the Brand First

If you’re a Business Owner, General Manager, Consultant, Salesperson or someone looking to create opportunities in your industry, take this as a reminder: consistent branding pays off. Establishing a digital footprint might feel like a slow process, but it positions you for high-impact opportunities when the timing is right.

And then it just happens…seemingly out of nowhere

In today’s world, the introduction phase happens before you’re even aware of it. Decision-makers are already researching you, looking at your profile, and forming opinions based on your online presence. When the right moment comes…when a VP of a 20+ rooftop auto group likes a post and views your profile, for example…you want the rest of your story to speak for itself.

Five years ago, a chance to work directly with the executives of an expanding auto group would have been a dream, and I’d have done anything to make it happen. Today, thanks to consistent brand-building, I’m stepping into their executive offices as a trusted advisor right out of the gate. 

And that’s a product of preparation meeting opportunity.

In Closing

Opportunities like these are more accessible than ever, but they depend on a strong foundation. Build the brand, share your insights, and leave a digital footprint that speaks before you do. You never know who’s looking, and when a seemingly small action…a “view” on LinkedIn…can become the doorway to a game-changing opportunity.

Stay the course, invest in the brand, and remember that the groundwork you lay today might just lead to the high-level meetings of tomorrow.

That’s all for now

See you next Tuesday😎

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 About Bob Manor

Bob Manor is the founder of South Ontario Auto Remarketing, Can-Am Dealer Services, and is Co-Founder of Auto Auction Review. Bob is also  the creator of the Freedom Formula. With over 30 years of experience in the car dealership world, Bob specializes in wholesale, dealer services, and personal branding. His mission is to help dealership professionals take control of their careers, build resilient personal brands, and achieve lasting freedom in business and life.