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Author: Hersh Rephun

Categories
Books Growth Leadership

Confidence, Truth, and the Real Opposite of Love

When we talk about confidence in branding or in life, we often confuse it with bravado — loud declarations, polished messaging, or the illusion of certainty.

But confidence isn’t performance. Confidence is the byproduct of truth. And truth, at its core, is an act of self-love.

I dig into this in a chapter (in Selling the Truth) called, “A Lie is a Wish Your Heart Makes”:

“A lie is a wish your heart makes. It’s a wish that something were true, so you say it, but it isn’t. The lie may seem harmless or even helpful, but it grows.”

That’s the risk. A seemingly harmless lie to ourselves becomes the foundation for disconnection — from our voice, our values, and our audience. And without alignment, confidence crumbles.

When we’re grounded in what’s real, we stop performing. We start connecting.

That’s confidence. That’s brand. That’s love.

And I’m on a mission of Positronics.

In Isaac Asimov’s Robot series, positronic brains gave robots the ability to reason, evolve, and live by core ethical laws. These brains weren’t just about logic — they were about wiring in care, restraint, and purpose.

The secret to positronics, I contend, is self-love.Without it, our “logic” turns into defense mechanisms.

Because if we want a peaceful world, we have to stop abusing ourselves. “Hate” isn’t the opposite of love — that’s a myth. Hate is just fear externalized. Fear is a response to cruelty. Cruelty is a cycle of abuse. Abuse is rooted in fear. And on it goes.

So how do we break the cycle?

We stop lying to ourselves. We stop performing. We stop self-sabotaging in the name of success.

We sell the truth. To ourselves, first.

Then we go out and change the world with it.

YES! to purpose-driven bravery,

Hersh

👉 Selling the Truth: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is available now at SellingTheTruthBook.com

To learn more about my work and this stuff, visit YESBRANDBuilders.com

Categories
Branding Entrepreneurship Strategy

“A Brand Is(n’t Ready to Be) Born”

Fear of success can be a dealbreaker.

Let me set the scene: it’s your second or third call with a Personal Brand Strategist. You have no objections to the specifics of the program, the fee, the promise… in fact, it feels like you’re having the same call that you had last time, when any reservations were addressed.

What is it, then? Everything that comes out of your mouth is positive. This consultant comes highly recommended. You love their work. You even tell them that they’re your guy, or gal, “when the time comes.” But it’s as if each affirmation is tinged with regret.

If you see yourself in this moment—circling the runway, engine running, but never quite taking off—it’s time for some real talk.

Ask yourself (taking a breath before you answer each question):

  • What is actually getting in the way of me pulling the trigger and saying yes?
  • What do I think I gain by hesitating to go forward?
  • Why does mulling it over feel safer than taking action?

Finally,

  • What is the risk I’m taking by engaging with a pro in the creation of my personal Brand?

Fear of success is trickier than fear of failure. It shows up wearing the mask of logic: “I just need more time.” “I’m not 100% sure yet.” But if you dig deeper, you may find that what you’re really unsure of… is how much your life will change when you stop playing small.

It can even be excitement – or what should be excitement – about a positive outcome that presents with a side of apprehension. And which emotion wins the battle makes all the difference.

A brand isn’t something you wait around for—it’s something you decide to build. Not because you’re ready. But because you’re committed.

Only you can decide whether or not to birth this thing. But considering that the thing is you, it’s not hard to see what happens if you don’t.

I build brands that open doors – our clients achieve greater impact, influence, and growth through messaging, brand voice, and brand strategy. If you’re ready to unleash your INCOMPARABLE self in the service of your mission, book your complimentary Personal Brand Audit now. — YES! to owning your spotlight, no epidural required.

Categories
Advice Books Branding

Your Personal Brand is Your IP.

Your Personal Brand is Your IP.

That’s the bottom line. And the only relevant question is, “What’s it worth to you?”

As a Service Provider, I’m supposed to solve a problem, right? People only care about solving their problem, so don’t bore them with what you do, or why, or how. JUST SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!!

For purposes of this article, the problem I solve is this:

You’re about to throw away the most valuable asset you have: yourself, and everything you stand for. And my job is to catch you in the act, talk you down, and show you how to wear your flowers like armor.

The International Trade Administration states that “Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions; literary and artistic works; and symbols, images, names and logos used in commerce.” They add that,

“Businesses are often unaware that their business assets include IP rights. Your intellectual property is a valuable intangible asset that should be protected to enhance your competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

I resonate with that piece, because most often your Personal Brand is a valuable intangible asset that enhances your competitive advantage. It’s not so much about putting a price tag on it. The value of your Personal Brand increases the more you develop it.

In fact, the stronger your Personal Brand, the easier it is to:

  • Increase Confidence
  • Gain Scalable Influence
  • Achieve Purpose-Driven Success
  • Build Your Legacy
  • Protect Your Reputation

and a whole host of other things, depending on your goals.

What it really boils down to is actualization of your potential.

Many of my clients seek to distinguish themselves from the “company brand.” The amazing thing, and the reason I do what I do, is that your Personal Brand is sooooo much bigger than the company brand. And that’s true regardless of how many billions of dollars in revenue a given company generates. As the CEO of a company, or the Founder of a business, the “company” is merely a piece of you, or an element in your ecosystem.

So, while it’s perfectly reasonable to lay out specific goals and project returns, the truest value of your Personal Brand depends on the commitment you make to nurturing it.

If you liked this article, subscribe to my Selling the Truth Today newsletter, and book your complimentary Personal Brand Audit now.

Categories
Books Branding Entrepreneurship

You Have an Embarrassment of Riches

Don’t Be Embarrassed… Define your Personal Brand.

You invested heavily in your education. You earned an advanced degree. In fact, you pursued another advanced degree mid-career.

You also have a number of certifications, which allow you to niche down within your chosen field.

It’s not like no one has noticed: you were featured in 30 under 30, 40 under 40, and the new 50 over 50 issue of that must-read mag making all that noise these days.

Not bad.

Add to that the fact that you are in something of a give-back phase. To the point that it truly serves your charitable endeavors to include Philanthropist among your key descriptors.

This makes your LinkedIn headline a bit chunky, but hey, what are vertical bars for, if not to enumerate the myriad superlatives that set you apart??

You could thin it out, but we all know that no one really reads the Experience section, other than to see if you’re still doing what you were doing last time they looked. And isn’t that what the headline is for?

To be safe, you choose between the ultra-detailed About (aka “The Long Story”) or the mysterious About (“Believer in what goes in

How about the moniker? It helps, right? Or does it?

Now hold on – this newsletter edition is NOT about LinkedIn best practices! Does my headline say “LinkedIn Expert”? No, it does not. And if it said, “MBA | MFA | Certified NSCA Coach | Wellness Enthusiast | Lightworker | LinkedIn Expert | Fractional CMO | “The Educated Fit & Fractional LinkedIn Guy” — what would you make of that?

Sometimes less is more. And sometimes, more is flat-out confusing!

The solution is not in making the hard choices about what to include.

And it’s not in streamlining your story to the point that you read it and no longer even see yourself in it.

The solution is in the BIG PICTURE.

Try this exercise: Think of the cumulative effect of all the things we discussed: education, personal passions, professional achievements, accolades, and honors. The knowledge you’ve gained and how you now wish to use it. Write down the words that come to mind. From those words you will start to frame your mission. And you will likely come away with something shorter and more original than what you had before.

There is always room for a story well told. And when you think in terms of meaning, it will come to you in fewer words.

I build brands that open doors – our clients achieve greater impact, influence, and growth through messaging, brand voice, and brand strategy. Book your Personal Brand Audit now to see what’s possible on the way to incomparable.