“I will not allow society to shape my life; I will get society to conform to my life.”
A few years ago, I came into Lagos for work. Now, Lagos is no stranger to me. I once lived here. By nature of the work I do, I visit this vibrant, chaotic, and endlessly energetic city often. I also use Uber a lot; it’s convenient, predictable, and usually uneventful.
But on this particular day, I had no idea I was about to have an experience that would teach me lasting lessons about life, leadership, and personal branding.
The conference had just ended, and I reached for my phone, opened the Uber app, and booked a ride. Within seconds, a gentleman called to say he would be there in five minutes. True to his word, exactly five minutes later, he arrived.
In Lagos traffic, that level of punctuality is a small miracle. It told me this driver understood his environment, managed his time, and valued his client’s experience.
As is my habit, I struck up a conversation. A good driver-passenger chat can turn a regular trip into an exchange of perspectives, and within the first five minutes, I knew I had met someone exceptional.
We were crawling through the inevitable Lagos traffic when he spotted a street hawker carrying footballs. He turned to me and said, “Sir, I promised my son I would get him a ball today. Do you mind if I ask how much it costs?”
His tone was warm, his request polite, and there was something deeply human in the way he said it. Perhaps I felt it more because my own son was then just over six months old, the joy of my life, the light in my world.
But it struck me: this man wasn’t just ferrying me to my destination; he was weaving his responsibilities as a father into his everyday life with pride and authenticity.
Our conversation flowed effortlessly from personal matters to politics, business, and global affairs. He had facts, figures, and, more importantly, a well-formed personal opinion on topical issues. He was informed, articulate, and confident without being arrogant.
One thing stood out above all else: his life philosophy. He acknowledged the frustrations of living in a challenging city and country, but he had consciously chosen not to let society shape his approach to life.
Instead, he was actively shaping his own narrative; living with empathy, authenticity, and a deliberate sense of purpose.
That ride taught me something powerful: Personal branding is not about a logo, a title, or an online profile; it’s about the daily choices that shape how people experience you.
Personal Branding Lessons from a Lagos Uber Ride
- Punctuality is Part of Your Brand
Arriving exactly when you say you will builds trust. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or serving clients, consistency in keeping your word is a branding superpower. This driver understood that punctuality was not just good service; it was a differentiator.- Humanity Builds Emotional Equity
Taking a moment to share his plan to buy a ball for his son, for me, was more than small talk, it was storytelling. It revealed his values. People connect with people, not just products or services. In business, weaving humanity into your interactions makes you memorable.- Be Informed, Be Interesting
His grasp of politics, business, and current events was impressive. In any profession, being well-informed positions you as a thought leader. Your ability to contribute meaningfully to conversations influences how people perceive your competence and relevance.- Choose Your Narrative
This driver refused to let societal challenges dictate his mindset. In personal branding, you can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control the story you tell about yourself. Your narrative should be intentional, inspiring, and empowering.- Blend Professionalism with Authenticity
He managed to keep the conversation engaging without crossing personal boundaries. In career and business, the ability to balance professionalism with warmth is a rare but vital skill.Every interaction; whether in a boardroom, on a Zoom call, at a networking event, or in traffic, adds a brushstroke to the painting that is your personal brand. People may forget your exact words, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Like that Uber driver, you have daily opportunities to define your brand through your actions, values, and interactions.
You don’t need a marketing campaign to do it; you just need consistency, empathy, and a clear sense of who you are and what you stand for.
The greatest branding moments often happen in unexpected places. Sometimes, they happen in the back seat of an Uber, somewhere in Lagos traffic.
So, I’ll leave you with this question:
In the everyday moments of your life and work, what story is your brand telling?
