Craft Your Authentic Identity with the 3P Growth Model
- Brainz Magazine
- Mar 27
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 28
Claudia De Luca is a renowned expert in marketing, entrepreneurship, and career development. She is an experienced Lecturer, the founder of ContentSpecialist, an online business focused on educational services, and the author of her upcoming autobiography, as well as the highly anticipated ebook on Self-confidence released in January 2025.
In today’s fast-paced and digitally-driven world, developing an impactful persona requires more than just refining personal and professional attributes. Enter the PPP Growth Model, a contemporary framework that emphasizes Personal, Professional, and Presence development as the three pillars of a holistic and influential identity. This model acknowledges that in the age of digital interaction and hyper-connectivity, your presence both online and offline is equally crucial as your character and competence.
Redefining personal development
Traditionally, self-development focused on building one’s personal (values, mindset, resilience) and professional (skills, qualifications, experience) capacities. However, these two elements alone are no longer enough to stand out or lead effectively. Presence: your visibility, voice, and influence in digital and physical spaces have become the third critical dimension.
Without a strong, intentional presence, even the most skilled professionals risk being overlooked. Presence is what translates your personal values and professional expertise into influence. It is your digital footprint, your public narrative, and how consistently and authentically you show up.
The three Ps defined
1. Personal development
Personal development is the foundation of the PPP Growth Model. It refers to the inner work we do to understand ourselves, grow through challenges, and build the emotional tools necessary for resilience and leadership. This includes developing emotional intelligence, self-awareness, empathy, confidence, adaptability, and a growth mindset.
It’s about knowing who you are, what drives you, and how you respond to the world. Personal development impacts how you make decisions, how you relate to others, and how you manage stress or failure.
Example: Someone working on personal development might practice mindfulness, engage in coaching or therapy, reflect on feedback from peers, or read personal growth literature to become a more conscious communicator and decision-maker.
Why it matters: Without strong personal foundations, professional achievements can feel unaligned or unsustainable. This ‘P’ builds your internal compass.
2. Professional development
Professional development is where knowledge, skills, and competence are built. This includes formal education (degrees, certifications), hands-on experience, mentorship, and ongoing learning that keeps you relevant in your industry. It also involves building expertise, understanding market trends, and refining your problem-solving and leadership abilities.
Example: A marketing professional might enrol in a digital marketing course, attend industry conferences, or take on a stretch project at work to grow their skillset and credibility.
Why it matters: Professional development defines your capability. It’s what qualifies you to lead, innovate, or contribute meaningfully in your field. But without the other two Ps, it may not be enough to create visibility or influence.
3. Presence development
Presence development is the bridge between internal growth and external influence. It’s how you show up in the world, both online and in real life. This includes your digital presence (LinkedIn, social media, portfolio websites), public persona (thought leadership, speaking engagements), and interpersonal visibility (networking, mentoring, teaching). It’s about being seen, heard, and remembered in a way that’s authentic and aligned with your personal and professional values.
Example: A subject matter expert who regularly shares insights on LinkedIn, speaks at conferences, and mentors younger professionals is building their presence. They’re not just knowledgeable; they’re visible and influential.
Why it matters: In today’s hyper-connected world, being excellent at what you do isn’t enough. People need to know about it. Presence amplifies your impact. It builds trust, opens doors, and reinforces your reputation.
Key steps to develop each ‘P’
Personal development: Examples in action
Practice daily self-reflection or journaling
Example: Set aside 10 minutes each morning or evening to write about your thoughts, emotional triggers, goals, or what you learned that day. Tools like The Five-Minute Journal or simple Google Docs can help develop a habit of conscious reflection.
Seek feedback and mentorship
Example: Schedule monthly catch-ups with a mentor or trusted colleague to discuss your strengths, blind spots, and growth areas. You might use 360-degree feedback tools or conduct informal “check-ins” after key projects.
Invest in mindset and emotional intelligence coaching
Example: Work with a certified coach who specialises in emotional intelligence or leadership mindset, or enrol in programs like Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence courses or the Mindvalley personal growth platform to build deeper self-awareness.
Professional development: Examples in Action
Set career and learning goals annually
Example: At the start of each year, map out 2–3 major learning outcomes (e.g., improve data analysis skills, grow public speaking ability, complete a certification) and break them into quarterly goals. Tools like Trello or Notion can help track progress.
Enrol in upskilling programs or certifications
Example: A digital marketer might complete a Google Ads certification or attend a Meta Blueprint training. An educator might pursue a micro-credential in curriculum design or learning technologies.
Join industry groups or associations
Example: A communications professional might join IABC (International Association of Business Communicators), while someone in tech may attend local Meetups or join communities on platforms like Slack or Discord. These memberships open up networking and learning opportunities.
Presence development: Examples in action
Optimize your digital profiles (LinkedIn, website, personal brand)
Example: Ensure your LinkedIn headline clearly reflects your expertise and impact (e.g., “Helping small businesses grow through strategic content marketing”). Include a professional photo, featured projects, and testimonials. You might also launch a simple personal website using platforms like Wix or Squarespace to showcase your work.
Share insights, experiences, and value-adding content regularly
Example: Post weekly on LinkedIn about your experiences, industry trends, or lessons learned from a recent project. Create carousels, write short articles, or record 1-minute videos with tips. Consistency builds credibility.
Speak at events and panels or contribute to industry publications
Example: Apply to speak at local business events, university panels, or professional meetups. Submit articles to platforms like Medium, SmartCompany, or relevant trade journals. Even podcasts or Instagram Lives count; they build your presence and position you as a thought leader.
Pros of the PPP growth model
Holistic impact: Developing your personal, professional, and presence profiles simultaneously allows you to become a more balanced and authentic leader. Instead of presenting only credentials or polished personas, you showcase your true self, your values, your journey, and your unique voice. This builds trust with your audience, clients, students, or peers.
Example: A consultant who is not only highly qualified (professional) but also shares personal growth stories (personal) and maintains a strong social media presence (presence) will attract more genuine connections and loyal followers than someone who only lists their qualifications on a CV.
Increased opportunities: A well-developed presence, aligned with your personal and professional story, opens the door to collaborations, media features, guest speaking invitations, and leadership roles. You become more visible to the right people at the right time.
Example: A marketing professional who regularly shares insights on LinkedIn and presents at local business events might be approached for a guest lecture or podcast interview, which in turn increases their credibility and expands their network.
Resilience to change: The PPP model encourages you to continuously evolve across all areas, not just your career but also your mindset and visibility. This makes you more adaptable, self-aware, and open to opportunities, even in unpredictable environments.
Example: During economic downturns or industry shifts, someone who has built a strong presence and developed multiple skills (e.g., public speaking, content creation, coaching) can pivot faster and remain relevant.
Cons to consider
Time intensive: Building all three Ps, especially presence, requires intentional time and energy. It’s not enough to just “be good” at your job; you also need to reflect on your values, document your journey, and actively engage online and offline.
Example: A sole trader may find it challenging to juggle client work, personal development courses, and regular content creation without structured time management.
Digital fatigue risk: Maintaining an online presence by posting, engaging, updating profiles, and joining webinars can lead to overwhelm and burnout if not managed with clear boundaries.
Example: A university lecturer sharing weekly posts, live videos, and online workshops might begin to feel pressure to always “show up,” potentially compromising their mental well-being and authenticity.
Public vulnerability: Being visible means being open to feedback, critique, and comparison. There’s a pressure to perform or maintain a certain image, which can feel emotionally taxing at times.
Example: A business leader sharing personal challenges on social media may receive both praise and unsolicited judgment, which can be disheartening if they haven’t developed a strong internal foundation.
How to recognize where you're behind in the 3Ps
To effectively apply the PPP Growth Model, self-awareness is key. Begin by assessing where you may be falling short. Are you highly skilled and emotionally intelligent but struggle to be seen or heard in your industry? That’s a gap in Presence. Do you have a strong online persona but feel disconnected from your core values or lack emotional resilience? That’s a signal to focus on Personal growth. Or perhaps you’re visible and self-aware but missing the technical knowledge or credibility to back it up a sign to invest in your Professional development. Simple diagnostic questions like “Am I being recognized for what I know?”, “Do I feel aligned and confident in how I show up?”, or “Am I growing in ways that matter to my future goals?” can help you identify which ‘P’ needs more attention right now.
Personal branding: The reflection of the 3Ps
At its core, personal branding is the living, breathing expression of the PPP Growth Model. It's how your personal values, professional strengths, and presence strategy come together to form a consistent, compelling identity. A powerful personal brand doesn’t just showcase what you do; it reflects who you are, what you stand for, and how you add value in every space you enter. By intentionally developing your Personal, Professional, and Presence profiles, you create a brand that is authentic, influential, and aligned. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, creative, or academic, your personal brand becomes your most valuable asset one that communicates trust, builds credibility, and leaves a lasting impression across both digital and physical platforms.
Conclusion: The future of growth is personal, professional, and present
In a world that values connection, credibility, and visibility, the PPP Growth Model offers a modern roadmap for building an impactful and future-ready persona. By developing in tandem your Personal (values and mindset), Professional (skills and expertise), and Presence (visibility and influence), you position yourself not just as capable but as memorable, trusted, and aligned.
Recognizing where you might be underdeveloped across the three Ps is the first step to creating a well-rounded identity. Whether you're struggling with online visibility, seeking deeper self-awareness, or needing to sharpen your expertise, the model provides a framework to reflect, act, and grow intentionally.
At the heart of it all is your personal brand the external reflection of your internal growth. When nurtured properly, it becomes a magnet for opportunities, relationships, and impact. It tells your story in a way that no résumé can, and it gives people a reason to believe in what you do before they even meet you.
While the PPP model requires commitment, it rewards you with alignment, authenticity, and adaptability qualities that define true leadership today. Because in the end, it’s not just about who you are or what you know it’s about how consistently and confidently you show up in the world.
If you're ready to take the next step in developing your Personal, Professional, and Presence profiles or you're seeking tailored guidance to build a strong, aligned personal brand, you don’t have to do it alone. Dr Claudia De Luca offers specialised coaching and resources to help individuals and professionals unlock their full potential through the PPP Growth Model and beyond. To learn more, explore services, or book a session, visit here.
Read more from Claudia De Luca
Claudia De Luca, Lecturer and Content Specialist
Dr. Claudia De Luca is a passionate University Lecturer, specializing in Brand Management and Career Development, as well as an accomplished writer and author of ebooks and articles within her field. Hailing from Italy, where she earned her initial qualifications, Dr. De Luca moved to Australia to further her education, completing an MBA, a Master of Education, and an International Doctorate in Career Development. Having faced numerous challenges and disadvantages growing up, she has devoted her life to overcoming obstacles through education and hard work. This journey has fueled her mission to inspire others—whether through her leadership in director and manager roles or as a mentor to students and seminar participants.
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