PUSH IT REAL GOOD: An Elevated View On Personal Branding During COVID-19

Bonus points if you rapped the headline “Salt-n-Pepa” style when you read it.

Last fall, I was invited to speak to a group of real estate agents. I asked the lead agent what she wanted me to talk about and she said “something on personal branding and social media since that’s what everyone’s talking about these days.”

Something on personal branding I thought to myself…

Such a vague, anxiety-producing request for me as there’s just so much to talk about with this ever-evolving topic! Although you wouldn’t know it by the rampant influx of branding experts and gurus that have flooded the scene over the last several years, the actual science of personal branding is rather complex and made up of many layers. Why?

Because branding yourself/career/business is not just about marketing, getting paid, selling or building followers.

The process is  deeply rooted in people…and people are weird lol. Branding goes beneath the surface to all of the intricacies of our personalities; the stuff that makes us who we are which is not always the perfection we display on social media.

As I drove to the speaking engagement, I racked my brain about what words could I share that would have meaning and at the same time, provide substantial insight that would make our time together valuable.

I could have given a standard “Personal Branding 101” seminar, but that’s been overdone and quite frankly, anyone can google and find out pretty much everything they need to know about the basics of building a personal brand.

So I decided to discuss a really important element of personal branding that often gets overlooked…

The importance of pushing yourself and expanding your expectations to the limit.

And during this age of corona virus, this sentiment becomes even more important.

It is really easy to fall into a rut. Why? Because ruts are comfortable. And comfortable is easy, predictable, familiar…safe.

And there is nothing wrong with being safe and comfy EXCEPT when it comes to your own personal growth. Playing it safe has never led to innovation and innovation establishes the path needed to achieve game-changing, next level success.

Which is why building an accurate, real, engaging personal brand is so important.

You owe it to yourself and your dreams to be really uncomfortable sometimes.

Perfection can be a prison. It keeps our potential stagnant. And competitively speaking, it’s easy to get passed by when perfection, rather than growth, is your primary objective.

An effective personal branding strategy includes thoughtful positioning, messaging and partnerships that will push us beyond the basic limits that we’ve unconsciously set for ourselves.

Here are four simple ways to do this:

1.) Find comfort in other things besides people’s opinions

We often play it safe and get into a professional funk because we’re afraid; afraid of making mistakes, afraid of failing and what other people might think about us when we screw up. It’s important to keep tabs on your reputation and how you are perceived. As you build your career and/or brand, that stuff matters.

But there is a difference between reputation management and letting opinions influence your goals.

When it comes to people’s opinions, they won’t ever pay your bills and more importantly, they aren’t what will ever propel your ambitions forward. Mistakes is where the greatness happens. Take a chance. For yourself, not them. Push it.

Find reassurance not in likes, but in something much greater.

2.) Surround yourself with people who challenge the hell out of you

I only have one goal to achieve with every project or event I’m entrusted with – make everyone successful.

I’m not being paid to provide comfort.

My job is to challenge, poke and question everything that will lead my clients or partners towards their desired outcomes. I don’t have a problem being that annoying voice in your head if it means we’re winning together.

Whether it’s a personal or professional setting, surround yourself with people that demand more from you. It’s really easy to have “yes” people tell you what you want to hear but that’s not going to move the needle.

Likes do not necessarily translate to progress.

Ooooh I’m going to say that one again y’all – Likes do not necessarily translate to progress.

They don’t always mean your personal brand and your business are on track…which is why you need those people that will keep it real with you and challenge you daily. Push it.

3.) Expect more

You’ve got to want more in order to get more. What success looks and feels like changes daily. And it’s levels to this.

You aren’t there yet…ever honestly. 

Push it.

4.) Diversify your perspective

“Diversity is the art of thinking independently together.” Malcom Forbes

I recently saw this quote the other day and fell in love with it. It really resonates with this idea of expansion, of thinking wayyyy outside the box.

At the end of the day, we’re all just out here trying to make it. Regardless of our industry or professional experience, we can learn something from one another. Gain a new perspective by subscribing to a new podcast that gets you thinking BIG and reflects something you’re authentically passionate about. Find someone in your field who is killing it online (and in real life) and who inspires your creativity and makes you just want so much more.

Push it. No one else is going to do it for you. 

Have you ever written a personal branding statement? Would love to hear your thoughts!