Unless, of course, you WANNA sound like everybody else.
But no one does. No one I’ve met, at least. What you want is to reach people, the right people, to grow your business, establish your thought leadership, and move your mission forward.
I approach this with three things:
- LOGIC
- FELLOWSHIP
- EXCITEMENT
The best part is that those three words don’t matter. If I wanted to make up some bullshit system and say I teach the “3 C’s” of Personal Branding, I could also say:
- COMPETENCE
- COMMUNITY
- CHARISMA
But really, all that matters is that I speak to you in a LANGUAGE you understand and appreciate.
The HEADLINE. The ELEVATOR PITCH. The TAGLINE. Each has its place, but in 2025, it really doesn’t matter. In fact, I advocate changing these with some frequency. And how do you know when you’re doing it right? When your audience doesn’t notice. So fluent are you in your brand language, that they get it. And each new phrase underscores your message.
I have plenty of experience as a stage actor, and I love stepping into character. Memorizing the lines, getting off-book, frees us to really inhabit the role.
In business, however, you are NOT ACTING. So why memorize your lines? Even so, do you think that you are such a gifted actor that you can repeat the same lines to everyone and not come across as practiced and stilted? I’m not!
Now look, my approach is not for everybody; Selling the Truth with humor and humanity, inhabiting your singular persona and standing out without self-aggrandizing, conveying expertise without over-puffing your chest, elevating your presence without coming across like an asshole… that takes a certain kind of leader.
But if you do want to evolve into your next accomplishment, remember the “3 F’s” of Personal Branding:
- FACTS
- FRIENDSHIP
- FREEDOM
Or don’t. That stuff doesn’t matter.
Let’s focus on what does.
Feel free to book a Personal Brand Chat – and let’s discover your Brand Language.
If you enjoyed this article, I think you’ll love my new book, Selling the Truth: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life and Business.
