You’ve probably thought about it, or if you haven’t, you might be wondering: should you start working on your personal brand? Like you’re the latest must-have item, right up there with phones, cars, and watches. But hang on a sec—does this whole “personal brand” thing even exist, or are we all just collectively having a midlife crisis? More importantly, why do we suddenly feel the need to market ourselves like we’re stuck in a never-ending job interview? Let’s dive into the madness, with a side of irony—because, yes, I’m fully aware that by writing this, I’m adding to my own personal brand. Someone pass the tea…
The Personal Brand Epidemic: Do We Really Need One?
It’s a bit like a new pandemic (too soon…?). The idea that everyone, from university students to CEOs, needs their own personal brand. Being good at what we do, or—heaven forbid—just being a decent human being, is no longer enough. Now we have to “stand out,” packaging ourselves like a box of cereal on the supermarket shelf. “Pick me! I’m gluten-free, vegan-friendly, politically neutral, and a thought leader!”
Why is this happening? Well, the culprit is sitting in our pockets. Social media. Our lives have turned into one long episode of Keeping Up with the Joneses, only now we’re competing with influencers, thought leaders, and that person from school who somehow became a “lifestyle coach” overnight. Everyone’s curating their existence and creating perfectly filtered versions of themselves.
It’s all about getting noticed, securing opportunities, and, ultimately, winning the game of life with a gold star for “most unique.” But here’s the rub: the more we obsess over creating this perfectly polished personal brand, the more we risk losing sight of the one thing it’s meant to highlight—our actual selves. It’s ironic, really. In trying so hard to stand out, we might just become another predictable player in the personal branding circus.
So, What Exactly Is a Personal Brand?
If we’re going to talk about this personal branding thing, we should probably define it, right? Otherwise, we’re just chasing our tails. A personal brand, at its core, is your reputation. It’s the story people tell about you when you’re not in the room. It’s shaped by your actions, values, and that little thing called personality.
But these days, a personal brand isn’t just about who you are. No, that would be far too simple. Now it’s about everything you project online. It’s your LinkedIn headline (cue eye roll), your carefully constructed bio, and even how you manage to sound both professional and fun in your email signoffs. “Best regards” doesn’t cut it anymore, apparently.
Here’s the thing though: Are you branding the real you, or are you just churning out the version of yourself you think people want to see? It’s a fine line between being clever and putting on a bit of a show—one step away from becoming the human equivalent of a TED Talk, whether people asked for it or not.
Can You Fake It? Spoiler: Absolutely… But It’s Bloody Exhausting
Let’s not beat around the bush. Can you fake a personal brand? Of course you can! People fake all sorts of things all the time—enjoying small talk, liking the taste of kale, interest in a work conference. And in the short term, it might even work. “Fake it till you make it,” they say, as if that’s not a recipe for a midlife crisis by the time you hit 40.
But here’s the thing: keeping up a façade is exhausting. Sure, you might curate a shiny version of yourself online—like that influencer who raves about gratitude journaling and making homemade celery juice every morning—but eventually, the cracks will start to show. Authenticity, although a bit of a buzzword these days, actually matters. People are drawn to what’s real—even if what’s real is sometimes a bit messy and imperfect. Afterall, nobody believes your life is that perfect.
The Inevitable Irony of Writing About Personal Branding…
As I sit here writing this, I haven’t failed to notice that this article is, in itself, part of my own personal brand. It’s all getting a bit Inception, isn’t it? In questioning personal branding, I’m effectively contributing to the endless content machine that tells you what to think about personal branding. Oh, the irony.
But perhaps that’s the crux of it. We’re all part of this personal branding game, whether we like it or not. The trick, I think, is not to take it too seriously. Yes, the world’s watching. Yes, it’s good to be mindful of how you present yourself. But does that mean you need to turn into some hyper-curated version of yourself, with a tagline and a social media strategy? Not really. Unless, of course, you want to. Then, by all means, go for it—just don’t be surprised when you’re too tired to keep up the act.
Ultimately, personal branding should be less about creating an identity and more about letting your actual identity shine through. Maybe that’s the secret: being unapologetically yourself. Or, failing that, at least making sure you’re having a bit of fun with it. After all, if your personal brand doesn’t involve a bit of humour, what’s the point?