• Blog
  • Trainings
  • Books
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • Blog
  • Trainings
  • Books
  • Subscribe
BOOK NOW
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
  • Articles, Career, Entrepreneurship, Selling

“Visibility is more important than Ability”

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

I have been reading a book, titled “The brand called You”, it is a highly recommended book for anybody who wants to go into business. It is authored by Peter Montoya and Tim Vandehey. Interestingly I have not read any other of their books before, but I have read a book by Al Ries who forwarded their book.

The thought above is an excerpt from the book, interestingly though it was one of my first discoveries in business. This runs contrary to the non political belief system of an employee, afterall isn’t visibility politics? Reading through the book the statement struck me again, and thoughts flashed to mind, truely, visibility is more important than ability.

In business, the skills required for coming first are not the conventional skills used in most schools. There is a statement I came across a few years back that still rings interesting whenever I recall it. The statement is, “The skills you’ll need to be successful in life, are the same skills that made you popular in secondary school!” While your can rationalize this statement to the shreds, the key concept is whatever gave you visibility then is capable of making you visible now, and will ultimately be responsible for your success.

People will do business with you for 3 reasons.

1. They know you

2. They like you

3. They trust you

How will they know you, like you or trust you if you cannot be seen? Your visibility is more important than your ability. Irrespective of your training, education, experience or skill, if you are not being seen in the right way by the right people, you will consistently loose jobs to less competent people. Does that sound unfair? Learn it, and live with it.

I remember my first few months in business, I had high hopes that I would be able to get great opportunities once I convinced business leaders of our capabilities. The time rolled by, and nothing happened. Eventually jobs started coming in, today I look back at all the opportunities we have had, and being visible to someone who could recommend us, is common to all of them

When getting into business, the most important first thing for you is to be considered by your prospective customer. If you are selling shoes, the first step is that when your customer thinks about buying shoes from someone, your name comes to mind as one of the names to consider. You will not find yourself in this set because you are so good at what you do, no! You will get listed among the numbers because you are visible – online, in the mails, in the news, on TV, every avenue! Your visibility needs to be as important as your ability to deliver. It takes visibility to get it, it takes ability to keep it, the superiority of visibility however lies in the fact that you cannot keep what you don’t have!
What investments have you made in making yourself and your business visible? This doesn’t apply strictly to entrepreneurs it applies to people who want to move up the career ladder as well. Are you visible? Are you writing articles in the dailies? Are you on radio? Are you on TV? Are you online? What are you doing, what is your business? You need to be visible to those who need your product. Visibility is a self fulfilling prophecy, when a product gets to be seen on TV for long, after a while people begin to think it’s a good product.
One of the cheapest means of being visible is your personal site. Do you have one? Go to google and search for your full name, how many times did your feature? I’ve been online for 8+ months now and my name features 15,200 times. For some people it’s being vocal here that guaranteed you the little mention you had. Quit saying you are better than all those people, you are not! The factors to consider are not your intelligence, smart or skills, visibility is also a factor and it’s critical.

A little caution however is that if you are incompetent, visibility will be your undoing. So, ensure ability is guaranteed before pursuing visibility.

“He that gets gear before he gets wit, is but a short time the master of it” – John Plowman

Adeolu Akinyemi

Adeolu Akinyemi

14 thoughts on ““Visibility is more important than Ability””

  1. Chris
    January 21, 2007 at 2:31 pm

    I agree with u. You must possess the ability before seeking visibilty. But what happens if a person doesnt seem to recognize his own abilities?

    Reply
  2. Emmanuel
    January 22, 2007 at 1:03 pm

    You hit it on the head. In business, it is all about location and not really about what you have to sell. People need to know that you exist first before that can show interest in what you have to offer.

    While you work on getting the desire visibility, I would suggest that you keep working on yourself. If you need to attend some seminars, please do. You will be glad you did.

    Reply
  3. olaito
    January 22, 2007 at 2:33 pm

    Deolu, you are catching so fast, welcome to the club. There are two other books by the same author and someone.

    Welcome to the club.

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Emmanuel Oluwatosin: Inspiring Excellence, Realising Ambitions » Blog Archive » Building the Brand that You need

  5. kome
    January 22, 2007 at 3:52 pm

    deolu.i agree with you.i just started a business and am so excited about it….But how do i start getting visibility?

    I know it sounds simple,but i need all the help i can get to move fast in my business….as its also a strictly nigerian….idea but need to take it further..

    pls talk to me…thanks for sharing this infor..its not small at all!!!
    cheers.

    Reply
  6. Akinyemi Abiola
    January 23, 2007 at 9:03 am

    “It is not who we are under that matters, it’s what we do”
    Called from Batman

    Reply
  7. 'NIYI AJAYI
    January 23, 2007 at 11:45 am

    I jusr reda a serialised interview in a daily with leo burnett,advertising legend.He said in affirmatively “If you dont get noticed,yopu don’t get anything done,I beleive today visibility,sheer visibility,.is more important than it’s been,……………..”.

    Reply
  8. Ama Hutchfull
    January 24, 2007 at 4:10 pm

    I found this article very informative & I agree with the following statement:

    “Your visibility needs to be as important as your ability to deliver. It takes visibility to get it, it takes ability to keep it, the superiority of visibility however lies in the fact that you cannot keep what you donโ€™t have!”

    Your ability is very important . It’s not the only thing that separates you from the crowd but also takes you further. The greater the ability you have, the better the chances you stand to not only progress but also succeed.

    Reply
  9. Gbubemi
    January 29, 2007 at 6:37 pm

    I’ve missed dropping my lines, work was getting over my ears, lol. Tx for the comment on my blog, I really needed that jab! A quote I heard once “It’s not who you know that matters, it’s who knows you”. Visibility is so important (Remember gala? that’s their sales strategy “In your face”). I think we all need to remember that when we’ve achieved visibility, we carry a weight of expectations that must be fulfilled, so we msut back up with ability.

    Reply
  10. oluade
    January 31, 2007 at 2:08 pm

    deolu,
    Ireally do agree with your views on ability and visibility.
    think we need to do more adverts so as to get your series, esp on entreprenuer development and motivational issues, across to our youths.

    might sponsor newspaper ad on your sites

    Reply
  11. Adeolu Akinyemi
    February 14, 2007 at 3:14 pm

    @ Oluade,

    Sponsor newspaper ads oh, how do we do that? I’m keen to hear from you oh.

    @ Kome,

    First thing you do is get a blog… also get involved in professional body, volunteer in something somewhere, and you can also come over for a little chat… 15mins on the house.

    Reply
  12. Felix
    May 24, 2007 at 6:58 pm

    I have read this topic 4 times, and each time, i get something new from it.
    thanks mate!!!

    Reply
  13. OMOZELE
    May 13, 2009 at 11:39 am

    i love this piece. i am so happy i read it. it blessed me alot. i can remember the ist money i made from public speaking. it was as a result of someone seeing me always motivating my family members and the guy recommended me because he has saw a little of what i could do. thanks so much for this piece.

    Reply
  14. Felix
    September 19, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    and 6years later i read it again… and this piece is still as important as the first time i read it… (the message is timeless)

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave a Reply(Facebook comments)

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Meet Deolu

Many hold their audience spell bound with motivational speeches but few care to hold the audience by the hand and help them walk their way to financial freedom like he does. Many have failed at everything they have tried to do but everything he does turns to gold. Read more…

Facebook-f
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram

Weekly Tutorial

Recent Posts

Nigeria is 60 years Independent!

Read More ยป
the rich man and his lazy son

The Rich Man and His Lazy Son

Read More ยป

Does Godโ€™s Kingdom Have Principles for Financial Increase?

Read More ยป

Follow Us

51 years ago

Read More