How I Got Users For a Product That Had Not Launched.

When I pivoted into product design earlier in this year, I had an idea to build an app for tennis players in Lagos and I didn’t have to struggle to find test users because all I had to do what make a video about it on my instagram and in less than one month.

I already got over 100 people sign up because I had built a personal brand that people could trust. I didn’t need to build the products before getting people to sign up. That’s how powerful your personal brand can be. Its the ultimate prelaunch strategy.

If you’re waiting to have the perfect product, the corner office, or the business degree before you start building your brand, you’ve already lost the plot.

Forget everything you’ve heard about branding being about logos, slogans, or even what you sell. That may be for companies. For you, the most valuable brand is you. Your actual self. It’s not about the job title you hope to get, or the service you plan to launch. It’s about the person you are today; what you believe, your commitments, and the change you want to see in the world.

Think of your personal brand not as an accessory to your career, but as the engine that powers it. It’s the groundwork, the commitment you make to being distinct, relevant, and consistent, long before the opportunities come. If your purpose is clear and your values are visible, you start to attract resources and opportunities.

A powerful personal brand is your ultimate pre-launch strategy. It’s the magnet that pulls in the people, the funding, and the opportunities needed to turn that big dream into reality.

Most people get this backward. They pour all their energy into perfecting the “what” — the app, the business, the degree, the resume. They think, “Once I have the thing, the people will come.”

Wrong.

You don’t need a product to have a platform. You just need a strong sense of who you are, what you stand for, and why you show up every day. This is your Authentic Self, and it is currency.

In a noisy world, nobody cares about a generic product or a faceless service. They care about people. They care about associating with an individual who has clarity of purpose and integrity of action. When you define yourself by your values, you build trust instantly.

This upfront commitment to your “WHO” acts as a Trust Accelerator. Why wait years to build credibility around a business plan? Build it today around your identity. People invest in, partner with, and hire those they trust. Trust is the ultimate friction reducer in any transaction, whether it’s a job interview or securing seed funding. If your potential partner already believes in your integrity, they’ll believe in your idea.

Your authentic, clearly articulated self acts as a Talent Magnet. Every execution requires a team, and the strongest teams are built on shared values and aligned purpose. When you openly live and share your brand’s core beliefs, you naturally draw in like-minded collaborators and partners, maximizing synergy and accelerating your development timeline.

Consider a successful figure like Tim Ferriss in his early days. Before the books and the huge podcast, he established a clear personal brand focused on “deconstruction” and “lifestyle design” through experimentation. His brand wasn’t initially tied to selling a specific product or having a defined career, but to a radical way of living and solving problems—efficiency, non-conformity, and intense learning.

When his first book, The 4-Hour Workweek, launched, his audience and the media already had a strong perception of what he represented. His brand identity pre-sold the book’s core idea. People didn’t just “buy” a product; they invested in the vision of a life designed with Tim’s specific, distinctive principles. The brand came first, making the launch of the product nearly effortless.

The key is moving from Analysis to Execution on three specific dimensions:

• Define Your Purpose: Start with the hard questions. Why do you do what you do? What problem are you here to solve? Your brand begins at the intersection of your strengths and what others genuinely value. Don’t worry about being perfect; focus on being authentic.

• Establish Clarity: Figure out what you want to be known for and state it unapologetically. You cannot be all things to all people. Distinctiveness isn’t just about being different; it’s about courageously committing to your beliefs.

• Ensure Radical Consistency: This is where trust is earned. If you stand for something, your actions, communication, and online presence must reinforce it. Every post and interaction is a mini-impression that either builds or erodes your brand.

Build your WHO first. Define your core. Live your truth.

The partners, the capital, the customers are already on their way, drawn by the unique magnetism of your authentic personal brand.

It is time to Pre-Sell Your Vision.