The True Road to Personal Branding Success: Life Lessons from my Uncle True

You’ve all heard it. They say your name is like your public brand, like a tagline. It's all about showing the world who you are and what you stand for. But what if your birth name already nailed it? What if, by some twist of fate, your name was the perfect reflection of who you are? That was the deal with my uncle, Erick True Van Sickle. Yes, True was his middle name given at birth.

Erick True Van Sickle was born on April 5, 1953, died a few days short of his 70th birthday, and was memorialized just last week. I drove the 366 roundtrip miles from Rhode Island to Kennebunk, Maine to be there, along with hundreds of family, classmates and clients. It couldn’t have been more evident that so many felt he embodied “True”.

Let me tell you, his middle name, "True," wasn't just for show. No, it was like his personal mission statement. People were surprised to find out about it, including myself, but looking back, it made total sense. Erick was all about being real. Authenticity, integrity, staying true to yourself—those weren't just buzzwords for him. They were the guiding principles of his life.

Here is how "True" was the blueprint for his life:

True was all about keeping his relationships real. No fake stuff, just genuine connections built on trust.

When it came to business, True was like the gold standard for integrity. He owned his own auto restoration business called Leyland British, Inc. It was top-notch, and he never cut corners. Car enthusiasts would drive hundreds of miles to get their cars restored by him because they knew his reputation.

Talk about dedication. True poured his heart and soul into his British sportscar garage for over 40 years. The era of Financial Independence, Retire Early movement, or FIRE was foreign to him. He didn't do it for the money; cars were his passion. Now that's commitment and purpose.

True was devoted to lifelong learning. He was always hungry for knowledge and never stopped growing, both personally and professionally.

Community was everything to True. He was all about giving back and making a positive impact right in his own backyard.

Erick had a knack for storytelling that was downright legendary. People couldn't get enough of his tales and infectious enthusiasm.

Laughter was like True's trick superpower. His sense of humor was contagious, and he had a way of brightening up any day.

Nature was True's happy place. Whether he was tearing it up on his dirt bike or the open road, he was at home in the great outdoors.

True was the epitome of generosity. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, no questions asked.

Challenges? Bring 'em on! True faced adversity head-on, even with his own battle with cancer for over the last decade, never backing down from a fight.

True was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. His optimism was infectious, and he inspired everyone around him to see the bright side of life.

True's legacy? Let's just say he left behind a trail of love, kindness, and authenticity wherever he went.

You may not have known True, but we can all take a page from his unofficial playbook on personal branding. Let's be true to ourselves and to others, leaving behind a legacy that's as real as it gets.