People build personal brands around their own unique values, interests, expertise, skills and passions. Yet, most marketers often feel that there are 2 entities defining them… personally and professionally.
This has been one of my greatest challenges as a business owner and network marketer. I’ve grown professionally in corporate working environments where there were the ‘professional me’ (exposed) and the ‘real me’ (private). My ‘private me’ rarely made it to work. My ‘professional me’ helped me get my job done and advance my career. I felt awkward at work parties and felt a profound lack of connection with my colleagues.
When I became an online business owner, I instinctively used the same approach. While I was starting to build my personal brand via my blog and social media, I still reluctantly bared all. My first profile photos were those of a professional, bland woman… with hardly any passion in her eyes or personal style in her clothes! Needless to say to those who know me, it was a totally inaccurate image of myself. So, there was the boring, professional, ‘expert’ me… versus the passionate, slightly-geeky, impatient, optimistic, creative, nurturing, cheeky, anxious, stubborn, proud, generous, and ‘genuine me’ behind the curtains… and behind the brand.
While the founding elements of my business and brand were real to me, they were no where to be SEEN. While I acted with integrity and personal ethics in everything I did, without lying or faking, I still revealed so little of myself that the result was… well, little.
So what’s changed? How did I become ‘at one’ with my overt authentic personal brand? I had to beat (and continue to fight off!) the FEAR and other counter-productive thoughts about personal branding and authentic marketing. Some of these thoughts are:
- No one is interested in who you really are.
- Your ‘fake you’ offers more value than your ‘genuine, flawed you’.
- Your ‘professional you’ will sell more than your ‘real you’.
- Exposing your authentic self makes you vulnerable and weak.
- You don’t have anything unique or valuable to offer.
- You cannot lead from the front… there are too many people in front of you.
Ouch. Did that hurt? If you think or feel like this (as I did and still do at times) you’re not only hurting your feelings, you’re hurting your business and your brand.
In an online marketing world where people want to build relationships, gain trust and truly engage and connect with people, those self-limiting thoughts and fears create HUGE obstacles for personal brand and small business branding.
Here are some tips to show your real self through your personal brand, and bring harmony to you, yourself and your brand:
- Accept that who you are is good for your business and brand.
- Understand that what makes you unique makes you memorable and valuable.
- Use your authentic self to build trust and relationship, and genuinely engage your audience.
- Rather than faking it, flaunt your ‘best self’ and include your aspirations and vision in the definition of your personal brand.
- Grow as an entrepreneur. Gain the knowledge and skills you need to become awesome at what you do and to become a leader.
- Accept that you are HUMAN. Don’t hide your weaknesses like the plague… rather, find creative ways to use them to your advantage and constantly learn from your mistakes.
- Share inspiring or significant moments in your life (personal or professional). Open up! What inspires you will inspire others. What moves you will move others. What changes you will change others. What empowers you will empower others.
- Conquer the fear! Forget about being judged, being laughed at, or looking stupid. If some visitors don’t like who you are, they don’t belong in your market anyway! Use personal development to get empowered and appreciate yourself and your unique value!
What challenges have you experienced in defining your personal brand and promoting it?
Justine
