• 4 min read

🔥 Why am I so cringe? And other lies we tell ourselves.

As marketers and founders, we excel in crafting compelling narratives for our companies. We know how to position our brands to resonate with audiences, drive conversions, and foster brand loyalty.

Yet when it comes to branding ourselves, many of us hit an unexpected roadblock: Suddenly, we are no longer crafting a message for a product or service, but for ourselves. Enter all the limiting beliefs.

Why We Freeze

My clients cite a mix of imposter syndrome, the fear of seeming overly self-promotional, and a desire to remain humble as the biggest blockers. No one wants to end up sounding like the Luke Matthews of the internet and for good reason.

My theory is the same traits that make these leaders great at championing others are the same that make them less comfortable when the spotlight turns on them.

Here are a few psychological barriers that might sound familiar:

  • Imposter syndrome: You're not good enough and if you speak up, everyone will discover your 'true' self: a fraud. It's particularly prevalent among high achievers who are unable to internalize and accept their success.
  • Fear of cringey-self-promotion: If you promote yourself publicly you're a narcissist right? RIGHT? No one wants to come off as pick me on the internet.
  • Desire to remain humble: Great leaders have curiosity, lifelong learning, and a sense of being of the people, not above them. We sometimes equate being visible with being better, and if we talk about our passions we're pretending to be experts.

But...a strong personal brand can amplify your company’s message and open new doors for the brand. I coach my clients on taking more of a Robin Hood approach to personal brand, rather than a Tim Robbins cringe.

Overcoming the Barriers: Strategic Self-Branding

Here’s how you can start to reshape your approach to personal branding, turning it from a daunting task into a natural extension of your work habits:

  1. Make your younger self your target audience: Think about where you were ten years ago. Or even two. Remove the pressure to impress peers who are at your level or higher and instead focus on helping those who are walking the path you once did.
  2. Focus on learning out loud: Instead of trying to be the ultimate expert, position yourself as a lifelong learner who is sharing as they go. This makes you relatable, as you discuss both your successes and the parts you get wrong.
  3. Embrace storytelling over advice: Share the “things I wish I’d known” rather than trying to come off as an expert. This opens the doors to dissenting opinions and dialogue which expands your mind (and your engagement).
  4. Cultivate a spirit of generosity: When you focus on giving back to the community rather than proving your expertise, you naturally attract a following (and detract the ones who aren't the vibe). People gravitate towards those who offer value through shared experiences, without the overt expectation of something in return.

Building a personal brand is PERSONAL and you can decide what parts of you people have access to. It can be a fulfilling journey that not only advances your career but also profoundly impacts those following in your footsteps. We have the tools at our disposal to be more visible and help others along the way. It’s time we applied them to our most important client: ourselves.

Want more hands-on brand training? We have at least 2 workshops per month in the Insiders Club. Free for members Join here.

What's new in Insiders Club

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  • Weekly lunchtime meditation starts February 10!

Did you miss the Building a Personal Brand workshop with Brianna Doe ? Members can watch the event replay here.

What to know this week

🍔 Don't mean to start sh*t but...what's going on at McDonald's? CMO dropped out last week, and a few more high profile employees have also quit.

🍪 Oreo x Post Malone edit is heating up, why do you all think this collab is getting so much buzz?

🎨 Pinterest is now giving color predictions a la Pantone.

📈 Global ad spend will be over 1 Trillion in 2025. Marketing Dive tells us more about where marketers are spending money in this trends report.

🚗 Lyft social manager Bri Reynolds makes a jump to Yahoo to build their LinkedIn presence.

Hot jobs

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