I'm Dead.

For the last little while, I’ve been doing 1:1 personal branding sessions (I hate the term "coaching") with people to help them formalize their personal brands. Why? Because I’m not only a recognized expert on the subject, but I genuinely enjoy it.

In today’s world, personal brands are more important than ever. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, running your own business, or just trying to stand out in a sea of LinkedIn profiles, your personal brand isn’t just what people say about you when you’re not in the room—it’s your legacy, your “why,” and how people feel about you long after the fact. Crafting a personal brand isn’t just about LinkedIn banners or snappy bios; it’s about intentionally designing how you want to show up in the world.

One of the exercises I use during these sessions is to ask people to write their own obituary. Yep, it’s as weird as it sounds. Picture this: it’s 20 years from now, and you’re looking back on what you’ve actually accomplished versus what you hope to accomplish.

It’s a little uncomfortable, but that’s the point. It makes you reflect on the impact you want to leave and whether your current path is leading there.

I’ve never shared my own obituary before, but since I’m asking others to dig deep, here’s mine:

Saul Colt, described by some as a creative genius, by most a wonderful lover and by others as “the guy who probably made that stunt happen,” passed away peacefully at his beachside estate in Hawaii, surrounded by retired supermodels and his car and art collections.

Before going offline for good five years ago and only communicating with the mainland by dropping bottles in the ocean, he spent decades forcing brands to rethink what it means to market creatively, shattering the shackles of boring "best practices," and proving that brave, bold ideas always win. His irreverent yet strategic approach to branding earned him accolades across six countries and mentions in five New York Times bestselling books—not to mention the hearts of clients who were just crazy enough to try something new.

Before his self-imposed exile in his very own "Robins Nest", Saul assembled an Avengers-style creative team featuring alumni of Mad Magazine and The Simpsons, building a legacy of work that inspired marketers to stop playing it safe and start taking big swings. He leaves behind an industry that’s braver, bolder, and way more fun because of his influence.

He’ll be missed, but at least he finally stopped posting to Linkedin.

The reason this exercise works so well is that it forces you to confront what really matters to you. It’s not about the titles or the bullet points on your résumé—it’s about how you made people feel, the change you created, and the impact you left behind. A strong personal brand isn’t just about being memorable today; it’s about being unforgettable tomorrow. If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s hard to know where to start.

If this resonates with you or makes you curious, let’s talk. I can help you figure out what your personal brand truly is—and how to amplify it. Head over to theideaintegration.com/store to book a session.

Life’s too short to leave your legacy up to chance. Let’s create something worth remembering.