If you are a newcomer to personal branding, you may notice that there is no shortage of opinions on how to do it.
There are as many opinions as there are people talking about it. Some advice is consistent; other guidance may seem to contradict other thoughts on the subject. You are left uncertain how to proceed.
Never lose sight of two words to guide your personal branding strategy: Be yourself.
One of the greatest myths about personal branding is that you must take on a persona or play a role that fits a certain mold.
A sure-fire way to get turned off to the personal branding process is to feel like you are acting in ways inconsistent with the person you are. If you are feeling inauthentic in what you are saying or doing, it’s a vibe that others will likely notice. Being inauthentic can have the unintended effect of creating negative perceptions about your brand.
I don’t know of any brands that set out to damage their image, but not being yourself puts you at risk for doing just that.
Resolving to be yourself does not mean you never need to change or adapt.
You may need to develop or strengthen skills. There are bad habits holding you back that should be eliminated. We are a work-in-progress until we draw our last breath.
Be yourself, but commit to becoming the best version of yourself that you can.
A famous quote from the poet Oscar Wilde is “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” Personal branding success is not about conforming to a best practices list. It’s about authentic You creating value for others.
Enjoy being the brand that is you. Give us the best version of it possible.