Setting the Scene
It’s 2001. The dot-com bubble has just burst. Companies are scrambling to figure out what’s next. Most people are still just trying to understand email, dial-up internet, and why everyone keeps asking if they’ve “got mail.”
Meanwhile, I’m sitting in my office staring at a blinking cursor on a blank screen. Not because I don’t know what to write, but because I know this is going to be different.
This isn’t Matrixforce. This isn’t about managed services or system audits. This is about something bigger—your story.
I want you to imagine you’re Owen Wilson in Behind Enemy Lines. You didn’t ask to be in this mess. You didn’t sign up for a business that’s changing faster than you can keep up. But here you are, shot down in unfamiliar territory, trying to survive while everyone’s watching from the sidelines.
That’s what change feels like—in business, in life, and in technology.
👉 And the only way to win is to stop trying to be the hero and start building your own story.
Problem We All Face
Here’s the truth:
- You’ve worked hard to get where you are, but people don’t always know who you are.
- Business feels like chaos—competitors everywhere, and technology shifting under your feet.
- Life throws curveballs: layoffs, relocations, relationships strained by long hours and stress.
Most of us live like soldiers stuck behind enemy lines—reacting, scrambling, hoping someone will rescue us.
But rescue isn’t coming.
The only way forward is to take charge of your brand, your choices, and the tools you use.
Why Your Brand Matters (Even If You Don’t Think You Have One)
I used to think “personal brand” was for celebrities. Athletes. Maybe politicians. Certainly not for a kid from Oklahoma working in IT.
But then I realized something: people will put you in a box if you don’t define yourself first.
If you’re the “computer guy,” you’ll never get invited to the strategy table. If you’re the “finance gal,” they’ll call you when the numbers don’t add up—but not when opportunity knocks.
Your personal brand isn’t about ego—it’s about clarity.
Clarity about who you are, what you do, and why it matters.
Without that, you’re just drifting. With it, you have a compass.
A Guide Who’s Been There
I’m not writing this from an ivory tower. I’ve been through the fire.
- I’ve been broke with bills stacked higher than my desk.
- I’ve been in the boardroom where no one took me seriously because I was the “IT kid.”
- I’ve faced competitors who wanted me gone and clients who didn’t believe change was possible.
But here’s the thing: I kept moving.
And along the way, I learned something powerful—the same tools that help you survive “behind enemy lines” in business are the same ones that help you thrive in life.
That’s why I’m writing this blog.
Not to give you a “10-step plan to success.” Not to drown you in jargon or buzzwords.
But to be your guide.
Your Plan
If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or uncertain, here’s a simple plan to start shifting:
- Define your brand.
Write down three words that describe who you want to be known as. Don’t overthink it. Just three. - Tell your story.
Stop talking about what you do. Start talking about the problems you solve. People buy stories, not services. - Use technology as a tool, not a crutch.
Email, websites, even that new thing called “Google”—they’re not magic. They’re leverage. Use them to amplify your brand, not hide behind them. - Take one action this week.
Update your email signature, register your own domain, or post your first article online. Action beats intention every time.
Failure to Act Has Consequences
Here’s what happens if you don’t take this seriously:
- People won’t remember you.
- Businesses will pass you by.
- Technology will run over you instead of working for you.
In Behind Enemy Lines, Owen Wilson’s character couldn’t just sit in the wreckage of his jet and hope for extraction. If he did, he’d be dead before the credits rolled.
He had to move. Had to make choices. Had to fight.
So do you.
Success Looks Different Than You Think
When you lean into your personal brand, life changes.
- You stop feeling like an outsider in your own business.
- You start attracting the right opportunities instead of chasing the wrong ones.
- You use technology as a weapon for competitive advantage instead of a mystery you don’t understand.
People notice. Doors open. Conversations change.
You’re not just surviving anymore—you’re thriving.
Breaking Up the Intensity
Before we go any further, let’s take a breather. Watch this trailer for Behind Enemy Lines. Notice the chaos, the uncertainty, the impossible odds—and then notice how the story shifts once he decides to take action.
This isn’t just entertainment. It’s a metaphor for your life and business.
A Call to Action
I’m not going to sugarcoat this:
- Building your brand will take courage.
- Embracing technology will take humility.
- Changing your story will take discipline.
But the alternative is staying stuck, living behind enemy lines, always waiting for rescue that isn’t coming.
So here’s what I want you to do:
👉 Go to KevinFream.com and write down your three words. Share them with me. Let’s start this conversation together.
Because clarity isn’t a luxury—it’s survival.
Closing the Loop
Twenty years from now, I believe we’ll look back at this moment—2001, the ashes of the dot-com bust—and realize it was the start of something new.
Not just new technology. Not just new business models.
But a new kind of leader.
Leaders who know their story. Leaders who own their brand. Leaders who use technology for advantage instead of fear.
And maybe, just maybe, you’re one of them.
Welcome to the Journey
If you’ve made it this far, thank you.
Thank you for your time. Thank you for your courage to look at yourself and your future differently.
This is the beginning.
Welcome to the journey.
—Kevin Fream