3 Telltale Signs Your Personal Brand is Not Really You

Despite the fact we live in the age of the individual, nothing truly meaningful can be achieved alone. Whether we are seeking followers, fans, customers, investors or support from colleagues or managers, life is effectively a team sport. 

Deciding which team you want to be on and who belongs in your tribe, is part of the game. Just as you would wear your team colours, personal branding is about declaring your true colours and attracting the team best suited to you. It is not about discrimination, it is about celebrating true and meaningful connection. 

If you want to attract the people, places and opportunities that are truly right for you then-

• be true to yourself 
• be brave enough to put yourself out there for who you truly are

The wiser I become, the clearer I am about who I want in my life and why. I feel more connected to myself and therefor know precisely the types of people I want to connect with and those I don’t, respectfully. The aim of the game is to surround yourself with individuals who add true value and bring out the best in you. 

In fact, your life is a great barometer as to whether you are being true to yourself and putting yourself out there honestly. Here are three telltale signs your personal brand is not representing who you really are-

1. You keep attracting the wrong types of people, places and opportunities

A client of mine spent the better part of her career influenced by what everyone else thought she would be good at. It wasn’t until the age of 50 that she decided to do precisely what she wanted. She was forced to confront the fact she had allowed her personal brand to be shaped from outside in rather than inside out. Once she was clear about who she was and what she wanted to represent, she discovered she no longer belonged where she had always been. Not a convenient outcome but definitely a successful one! 

2. Life requires an incredible amount of effort

There is nothing more exhausting than pretending to be someone or something you are not. In fact there is only so long you can keep up the charade. We have all heard stories of people who have dramatically changed their lives or careers, often giving up security and comfort, in search of greater meaning. One story that comes to mind is Katherine Sabbath, the high school teacher turned outrageously colourful cake creative. In a recent media article Katherine was quoted saying “There are lots of people who won’t like you when you are being yourself, but they’re not people you want to connect with.” She also added “if you do what you love you will never have to work another day in your life.”

3. You feel frustrated and misunderstood

I recently spoke at a women’s networking event and someone raised the topic of tall poppy syndrome to which I replied “if you are surrounded by people who are trying to pull you down because of tall poppy syndrome, go and plant yourself in a field of tall poppies.” Life is too short to dim your light or shrink your size to make others around you feel comfortable. You risk forever feeling frustrated and misunderstood if you know in you heart you could be more, do more and say more if you let go of trying to please all the wrong people. 

In order to belong anywhere, you first need to belong to yourself and it all starts when you are pure and simply you.