Personal Branding Is Like A Garden

A very common objection I often hear regarding personal branding is: I don’t like thinking of me as a brand, it makes me feel like I’m a merchandise or something, that I’m selling myself.

I have no problem to understand that you have this objection if it you perceive personal branding like that. If you see personal branding as a product on a shelf at the supermarket I can definitely agree with you that it’s not so exciting. But the truth is that in todays connected world everyone has already a personal brand, and it’s up to you how you want it to look like. Because if you don’t do anything you will probably end up like a merchandise on a shelf.

Thistles Or Roses

Personal branding is like a garden: Which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. (Excerpt from As A Man Thinekth by James Allen). Personal branding is about clarifying why your garden are different and unique, what you are growing in your garden will show who you are and what you stand for.

A Philosophical Part

I recently heard that 70-80% of the working population are in the wrong professional field, they are not working with stuff that is related to their passion in life. Put that in you pipe and smoke on it, 70-80%? It’s insane! I think personal branding is all about; evoking your mission in life and building your legacy. A lot of people don’t bother about question like this, but I do! If you want to just live your life and don’t answer questions regarding the whole reason why you are here, it’s your call. I will not drag you over the finish line here, it’s impossible because a huge part of this is also personal maturity. Some people never reaching that kind of maturity when they start reflecting over things that is outside of their intellect.

If It’s Meant To Be

If you now what you stand for you will do more of the things that matters for you, you will work with stuff that gives you a strong drive to produce productive work more effortlessly. This is when time flies and suddenly you have done things for six hours but it felt like thirty minutes, it’s the same thing with relationships. You have probably have had the same experience with people, met someone for coffee and you sat for two hours but it felt as twenty minutes. Of course we also know how it is to have a coffee with someone when ten minutes felt like two hours. I think we lose the perception of time if it’s meant to be.

Social Media Becomes The Store Shelf

If you don’t put yourself into this equation by doing what you can to differentiate yourself you will end up like a merchandise in social media. A successful personal brand is not about pick me, pick me! It’s about you picking yourself first and I have said it before; it’s a journey and it’s the footwork in the process that makes all the difference and your personal brand will never be more enchanting than you are right now.

It’s Your Turn

What is your choice; cultivating thistles or roses in your garden?

Related posts:

1. Your Personal Branding Strategy
2. Infographic: Personal Branding Step By Step Guide
3. When Branding Runs Smack Into Reality At Hyper Island