Of all the people
who don’t know
about Authentic
Personal Branding,
I eliminated the
50% who know
NOTHING about
personal branding.
Why take them out?
They’re not likely to EVER find out about it because they’re focused on external solutions.
Authentic Personal Branding is primarily an INTERNAL process that drives EXTERNAL performance and results.
As I’ve discussed in a previous post, the perspectives of people in this group are either:
POSITIVE (rose colored glasses outlook) or NEGATIVE (complainer/victim outlook).
And ALL of them search outside themselves for the things, items, places, positions or people
(usually those who are “in charge,” their bosses, the companies where they work or the government) that will “fix” their problems for them.
The solutions this group finds most appealing are “one size fits all”
One solution that fixes all of their problems - or if not all, then many.
But whether the solutions promise to “make them” - happier - more attractive - more popular
or “get them” - a promotion - a better job - a new business - a financial windfall…
There’s something missing from these sorts of fixes.
These solutions distance folks from their need to address how their internal perceptions
and performance impact their external reality. And that’s a problem, because…
While all of the goals listed above ARE totally achievable, a person’s INTERNAL perceptions
and performance need to change if they want to get significantly different EXTERNAL results.
I’ve eliminated this group as they’re focused on externals.
And I’m not going to try to sell gasoline to people who don’t own cars.
I’m focusing my attention on the 49.5% of people who have an awareness of Authentic
Personal Branding and an interest in developing their own personal brand, because…
Despite their interest in personal branding, their desire to brand themselves effectively remains unsatisfied
Why?
Many personal branding experts, rather than having serious content, serve up nothing but metaphors and loose examples.
Examples are fine for demonstrations during the branding process. They are also helpful when
illustrating how some aspect of branding:
- has a specific positive effect or
- achieves an intended outcome.
But when an individual who wants their own personal brand is supposed to “get it” by listening to numerous branding metaphors and examples, all they “get” is frustrated.
All They “Get” is Frustrated!
Hearing an inspiring success story that you’d like to emulate gives you MOTIVATION.
But it doesn’t give you the KNOWLEDGE, PROCESS or MECHANICS you need to
ACHIEVE your desired result.
Many of those who claim to be “Personal Branding Experts” are nowhere near being included in either the half of 1% who have an accurate understanding of personal branding OR the .001% of that half of 1% who have an Authentic Personal Brand. Consequently, they are unable to deliver the tangible process that enables others to develop and document authentic personal or business brands.
So Beware!
Here’s a kind warning.
There’s often truth in the famous quote, “Those who can — do. Those who can’t — teach.”
originally coined by Henry Louis Mencken, “an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, and acerbic critic of American life and culture.”
Mencken believed that every community produces only a few people who are “distinguished by their will and personal achievement.” In other words, there are only a few legitimate experts in any group or professional body. And these individuals have not only earned their reputations, but have done so by generating a body of accomplishments that offer valid proof of their expertise.
A real expert in the process of branding would not have to express a single example or metaphor.
They would not have to “teach.”
They would simply “do.”
And they could take an individual (even one from the group who knows absolutely nothing about personal branding) through a defined process that would enable them to develop and document their personal brand. What’s more, they could equip this same individual with the knowledge necessary to both support their own brand and communicate the Authentic Personal Branding rational to others.
At Miboso, we “do” branding, and we let our clients’ results speak for us.
We build Authentic Brands for people and businesses, and we have been doing this since 1998.
Relevant links:
Read more H L Mencken quotes
Find out more about H L Menken
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