No One Cares About Your Personal Brand!
We live in a society where status has become everything, and image has leveraging value.
We are constantly bombarded with “branding”, especially “personal branding”.
“You, Inc.! A Brand Called You! Brand Yourself! Inc. Yourself!”
It’s no surprise, then, that too many of us are concerned about how we “look” to other people, more than who we REALLY ARE.
Big difference. How you appear to others, versus how you truly are. The difference is supposed to be in “meaning”. Not in “being”.
When you are authentic, you appear to others the way you truly are. When you aren’t authentic, your true face shows up in ways that are often shocking and unpleasant to others.
Those of us who are entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners often express ourselves and “brand” ourselves through our business.
It becomes very tempting to focus more on the branding part - the image part - than the value or contribution part.
The truth is, nobody cares about who You are.
Nobody cares about “Your Personal Brand”.
Nobody cares - UNTIL you give your “who” and “brand” some substance to back it up.
Only then, will your personal brand STAND for something, about something.
We only need to look at what is happening in our economy right now to see the danger of a lot of hot air being pumped out at amazing speeds - in the form of paper-money that isn’t backed by anything other than bureaucrat consensus.
Inflation - including personal brand inflation - is superficial and short lived and often triggers some ugly demise that can create widespread harm (i.e. to entire industries or professions).
If you want your value to last, find out what makes up your “GOLD STANDARD”.
Then give it everything you’ve got to Cultivate it and Make Good with it.
More reading
Personal Brands (again) by Frank Martin
My Value-Add by Steve Woodruff
From my favorite comedian:
I absolutely agree. And the vid is funny. I know too many people like the one he describes:-(
As usual Jane, succinct and well said! Hard work and commitment seem to be missing elements in the rush to be “branded”.
I so, so agree with what you are saying. Image died last century. People want to know that they a getting something real, supporting something real, sharing something real and having real relationships – even with their vendors. Authenticity is king in marketing today, and is the reason many products are taking off and others are stuck in the 20th century.
PS: Your comedian is a riot – wisdom teeth and all!
@ Sarah:
Thank you! You said it “real”. Real comes from giving something “real” and not lots of “hype”.
Hype does sell, that’s the truth, but it doesn’t last very long. This is why those who sell by hype has to find the latest greatest hype to sell. Unfortunately this creates a vicious cycle where we become desensitized or fatigued by all the hype that we’re bombarded with.
P.S. I love that you decided to stay home with your daughter, and are finding ways to create opportunities while doing what you feel is the right thing.