In existentialism, authenticity is the degree to which a person’s actions are congruent with his or her beliefs and desires, despite external pressures to conformity. How is it possible to stay authentic in a personal branding process? Personal branding means to build a persons brand according to market needs. Otherwise it would not be a brand.
So, how can you possibly be authentic while at the same time being stressed out by the strict agenda personal branding sets for you, eg.:
“What’s my unique value proposition to the person sitting across from me? What’s the promise I make to them when I walk in the room?”
The answer is: You cannot.
Being authentic is said to be one of the golden rules of personal branding. I am not a personal beading coach but when I help my clients to declutter the narratives they often open up they feel stressed about the pressure to be and feel authentic.
I understand this because this is a constant hustle, to be authentic but not too authentic 🤔 to be yourself (as if this would be as easy as buying a piece of bread)
What it doesn’t make it more easy is the fact that feeling authentic is not the same as being authentic.
“Authenticity is a slippery thing”, says Jennifer Beer, professor of Psychology at the university of Texas.
“Although most people would define authenticity as acting in accordance with your idiosyncratic set of values and qualities, research has shown that people feel most authentic when they conform to a particular set of socially approved qualities, such as being extroverted, emotionally stable, conscientious, intellectual and agreeable.”
In terms of personal branding, authenticity is based on being culturally relevant to the target customer.
Conclusion? 🤓 Let’s skip this debate and declutter your narratives according to what sparks joy. So I can guide you to own your story.
