Personal Brands DON’T come “off-the-shelf”
There is still a lot of mystery that surrounds the concept of personal branding. I think the main reason behind this is that there’s no “one-way” that a personal brand looks…because it is unique to everyone.
So many times my connections have used the phrase “personal branding” in a list of marketing tactics. But let me say this now…
PERSONAL BRANDING IS NOT A MARKETING TACTIC.
It’s more than that.
It’s your PURPOSE.
Your VALUES.
Your VOICE.
Things that are CORE to You, as a human being.
A marketing tactic is something that people DO.
Post on LinkedIn.
Guest on podcasts.
Run a Facebook Group.
These things are NOT on the same level. But people LOVE to sell it that way.
The Danger
Because “personal branding” has a huge impact in how the world see you, it has become a desirable “product”. But as mentioned above, the process of personal branding in NOT a product, and therefore should not be being sold as such.
But it continues to be.
And why? Because we LOVE to consume things that are EASY.
Hence, personal branding as a concept is being bastardized into offers that will:
Get you more social media followers
Create a brand voice that isn’t boring
Increase your engagement
NONE of which have anything to do with personal branding. ESPECIALLY if the service provider is selling you a carbon-copy template that allows you to do these things.
Is it easy? Maybe. But it’s NOT a personal brand if it’s not PERSONAL.
The Impact
The impact of people being “sold” a personal brand that is NOT at all aligned with their ACTUAL personal brand isn’t just a scam. Many times it ends up in people feeling gas-lighted to the point that they truly think that someone else knows them better than they know themselves.
Which will NEVER be true.
But when “personal brands” are no longer based off of values, purpose and authentic voices; then they really aren’t a personal brand.
It’s just something someone sold you.
Like a pair of faulty headphones.
Or a worn-out pair of shoes.
A jacket that’s too big.
It doesn’t work. Has holes. And doesn’t fit.
At the end of the day…
Are you really just looking for something else to HAVE? Another pair of shoes going dusty in the closet?
A personal brand isn’t just something that you '“buy” to check it off your list of things to have.
It’s a process of truly learning about yourself, and finding ways to make the impact you want to make, in ways that work for you.
So the next time someone tries to sell you a personal brand “off-the-shelf”, remember; the only place you can truly find your personal brand is WITHIN YOU.
I’m all about giving you the space for your personal brand to naturally manifest. If you’re interested in learning more about what a TRUE personal branding experience looks like, let’s chat.
