There are many qualified leaders out there who never lead. And, let’s be honest, there are many people leading who shouldn’t be. Getting a leadership position often takes initiative more than it takes skill. That creates a huge problem. Either, you have leadership skills and no one knows it or you have a leadership position but have never been given the proper training. The turning point for me came in my late thirties as my career started to require me to be more in the spotlight and to step into new skills.

Those skills lie somewhere at the intersection of leadership and personal branding. I needed to take more initiative. I had to be more outspoken and more communicative with key stakeholders. I needed to develop more industry relationships. I had to be a problem solver for my clients and a reputation builder for my company. To truly succeed, I couldn’t hide. I had to be front and center in my career and in my life.

Not everyone wants to be front and center. I was willing to take the risk of putting myself out there. I was ready to be seen, and maybe judged, but definitely not ignored or overlooked. It was time to step up and stand out.

The truth is that leadership doesn’t come easy. You won’t figure it out all at once, and will always be learning. You will often feel stuck in your progress and unnoticed in your achievements. Each day is a chance for you to learn something new, to push forward, and figure it out.

When I started drafting this book, I was not sure if it should be classified as a personal branding book or a leadership book. There are already so many books about personal branding and even more about leadership. Despite all the books that exist on both subjects, I still have a lengthy list of things I wish someone would have told me when I was younger. At first, I did not know if my ideas were worth sharing or if my book would add any value.

I was motivated to keep going as I reminded myself that my voice is unique to me and that I am sharing ideas that would have helped the younger me. That younger me was ambitious to elevate my skills and to grow in my career, always seeking a challenge. But the path forward wasn’t always obvious.

Leadership seemed like some far-off thing that I aspired to achieve. It was a goal way out on the horizon. Knowing what I know now, there are three critical skills I would have invested in much earlier in my life to help me get ahead. Those three skills are communication, relationship building, and problem-solving. These are the skills that I’ve seen build reputation the fastest. Developing your reputation is at the heart of personal branding, but it’s not enough to make you a leader. It only qualifies you.

If you’re reading this book, it means you’re the type who wants to figure it out. When you hit a wall or get stuck, you put in the work. You force yourself to get unstuck. You see the value in stepping up and taking initiative, even when feeling reluctant or lacking motivation. You are on a journey to step up, stand out, and lead, and I’m here to help.

This book focuses on two character-defining behaviors:

Stepping up to the front of the line – Being first, taking initiative, and overcoming reluctant behavior.

Standing out as the center of attention – Finding your voice as a leader, and building your reputation with intention.

I believe stepping up and standing out are the secret ingredients to emerging as a recognized leader in your organization and industry. I call this Front and Center Leadership.

This may not be a “popular” opinion. Stepping up to the front of the line sounds selfish, but being a leader requires you to volunteer yourself to lead. Standing out as the center of attention sounds arrogant, but being a leader requires you to be seen, to have a point of view, and to share it.

It is popular to tell people to be patient and polite, but isn’t it your turn yet? You get to decide when to step up. You are highly deserving, but you are waiting for a turn which may never come. You were told that seeking attention is a terrible thing, but too many great leaders like you are going unnoticed or being overlooked.

You can keep waiting, but it’s never going to happen on its own. Waiting sucks, and it’s getting in your way. It’s popular to tell people to fit in and be humble, but stepping up and standing out is a differentiator. It separates you from the crowd. It pushes you forward, past fear and doubt. It is the spark that creates opportunities, both in business and in life.

And, by the way, you don’t have to step on other people to get ahead. But you do need to step out of the crowd and be front and center for your next leadership opportunity to begin.