When is your personal branding FAKE!

Ok….I am not here to say whether you should be wearing red pants as your thing, or a Rolex watch. Or wearing a three-piece suit is better than chinos with RM Williams boots. Albeit This is what personal branding is about. Understanding what your image conveys to the market and especially to people who do not know you. How you dress, what you drive, how you communicate and what you post on social media all tells a story.

If you see someone driving a Toyota Prado or Land Rover, you associate them with having a sense of adventure…being an outdoorsy person. Someone that drives a Porsche or Ferrari you would associate with prestige and wealth. Someone who loves high performance and is image conscious.

If you see someone wearing active wear, you associate them with a love for fitness, health and being active. If someone is wearing the three-piece suit, you associate them with working in a professional services industry (law, financial, C Suite), someone who is image conscious and likes order and structure.

Ok…these are my perceptions, but I suspect you will feel similar or the same.

This blog is not about analysing what you are wearing or driving. To do that I would suggest speaking with Jason Lehman from Ideaform. This is a reflection piece on the genuineness of your image. Are you trying to create a perception to the market that may not be an accurate reflection of who you really are. I did this for many years. I dressed like a broker on Wall Street because I thought it reflected success, wealth and would attract my ideal clients. I dressed a way that was not a true reflection of who I am or what I value, because I thought this image was best for business growth. What it was….was tiring and at times stressful, maintaining a false image. I was not living my true self.

This also translates to the content you post. Social media is a snapshot (a very small snapshot) of a person’s day, opinions, or lifestyle. Yet so many will believe this image is an honest reflection of a person and their true lifestyle/beliefs. How many people do you see with a snapshot of them next to a prestige vehicle that adds a quote around, “Hustle & Reward”….yet do they own it, or did they quickly take a photo next to someone else’s car? I ask…what does your social media say about you? Is it genuine? Does it truly reflect your personality, beliefs, and values.

Ultimately:

• People do business with people they like?
• People build long term relationships with people they connect with and trust.
• People respect those whom are honest and true to self.

Fakery creates fakery.

So when we think about creating an image or a personal brand, think about who you are, what you value and yes….what industry you are in. I am not saying to wear tracksuit pants as a lawyer or engineer (unless you are very bold). I am saying if your target market is country clients. If you live in the hills and love outdoors life and adventure…then what is a true and honest representation of yourself? This genuineness will attract your true ideal client who will connect with you and build a genuine and long-term relationship. Remember:

• Own who you are!
• Be honest and genuine about your values and passions!
• Success is not defined by an image on social media or the price of your suit!
• Do not care about what others think!