Why ‘Impact’ Should Be Your Starting Point

Imagine spending hours perfecting a client pitch, tweaking marketing materials, or trying to stand out in meetings, only to feel like your message is still lost amongst internal and external competition.

Even the most skilled professionals struggle to break through without a clear purpose driving their actions. 

If you’re a client-facing leader, your bottom line depends on the influence you build, and that influence hinges on making a purposeful impact. Yet many leaders don’t have a defined strategy that ties every interaction back to their end goals.

Without clarity on your intended impact, time, effort, and even resources can feel wasted. 

You’re left questioning, “Why isn’t my work resonating with clients? Why do I keep facing the same obstacles, despite the work I put in?” The truth is, many leaders pour themselves into their roles without taking the time to pinpoint the influence they want to have. 

This lack of alignment can dilute your brand, make you less memorable, and ultimately hinder your ability to create meaningful connections with clients.

This lack of a focused impact leaves a gaping hole in your strategy, one that no amount of marketing, tweaking, or extra hours can fully resolve.

And in a world where your competitors are equally dedicated and driven, having a strategic impact isn’t just beneficial—it’s crucial.

What’s the Solution?

So, how do you transform your approach and ensure every action moves you closer to a lasting impact? Let’s break down a three-step process to implement the “Impact” phase of our IMAGE IMPACT® Branding Framework:

1. Define Your End Goal: Start by asking yourself, “What kind of impact do I want to have?” Be specific—do you want to be known as a thought leader, attract high-value clients, or simply increase your visibility? Clarify whether your goal is personal growth, team influence, or client acquisition. Knowing your goal will guide every interaction, from a simple email to a keynote presentation.

2. Reverse Engineer Your Steps: With your goal in mind, work backward to identify the steps needed to achieve it. For example, if your aim is to attract high-value clients, what actions will help you build credibility with that audience? Perhaps it’s engaging on LinkedIn, publishing insightful content, or refining your pitch. Reverse engineering gives structure to your vision and helps prioritize high-impact activities.

3. Measure and Adjust: Define metrics to track your progress. For a client-facing leader, this could be the number of successful client engagements, referral requests, or increased networking connections. Regularly reviewing these metrics allows you to adjust your strategy, making it easier to reach your ultimate goal and continually increase your influence.

At the end of the day, embracing the Impact phase isn’t about adding to your workload; it’s about working with greater focus. 

Every interaction, every pitch, and every client meeting becomes more powerful when backed by a strategic intent. 

As you integrate this process, you’ll find that your work begins to resonate, making you not only memorable but essential to those you serve.

I'm Karyl Morris.

I work with highly motivated client-facing leaders and organizations that understand the importantance a rock solid personal brand has on client attraction, confidence, credibility, and, yes...bottom line.

Our proprietary 360° Image Impact Branding framework ensures that you have consistency digitally and in person by combining the use of image, personal brand, thought leadership and video content strategiesWhen your ideal buyer (or employer) is vetting for opportunities, they're impressed when they find YOU.

Let's talk about how we can move you further...faster.