My suit is mohair. My tee is cotton, but it’s a high-thread Egyptian cotton and it costs $418. It’s a tee shirt. It’s turquoise and goes beautifully with the suit, which is a light driftwood. My leather loafers match the shirt, of course.
I stroll into the hotel lobby, where I am handed a glass of immunity-infused NA champagne. A valet inadvertently bumps into me from behind, and I nearly spill my drink on myself. I don’t spill, however, and we all share a laugh at the close call. CLICK!
A fantastic IG post. The caption:
No matter how stressful things get, always begin your day with laughter, gratitude, and grace!
To be honest, the above is only part satire. There’s an aspirational aspect to it as well. And some reality between the lines: I love to travel, and I enjoy being pampered. My alcohol consumption is down to about three martinis a year (you read that right!), and I’m always down for a better-tasting turmeric alternative. And while my dreams often involve enormous expanses and exotic places, there is a difference between a dream and an aspiration. Oh, btw, I even have a mohair shirt (not suit), although it’s an outrageous piece from my comedy days, and it needs a trim.
Speaking of comedy, there was a time when virtually everything I posted on social media was parody or social satire. My 3xDailyComedy account on Insta got me through Covid, and had me posting a cavalcade of characters dealing with the pandemic. I played virtually all the characters in The Adventures of Inspector Gerard Rouge, a farcical series written and (remotely) directed by my late friend, the wonderful filmmaker, Boris Damast.
In short, my brand was unreality. Humor. Man of a thousand faces and voices. But once I decided to explore instead of escape, I discovered my true voice – and my Personal Brand. And while I do clean up well, my life is not glamorous. I don’t sell glamour. I don’t sell wealth. I sell heart.
Humor is a big part of my brand – my content is infused with it, and laughter helps the truth go down easier – but the farcical elements rarely emerge. That’s a good thing, because while there are often valuable lessons conveyed through satire, it’s no longer my mission. My mission is guiding you toward a genuine Personal Brand that can be leveraged in the pursuit of your goals.
Two key points can be extracted from this:
- While the “You, too, can be me!” pitch is a mainstay, it only makes sense if “you” are really you, and that implementing your methods will truly help me be you.
- Whoever you are, selling the truth is soooooo much easier – and more fun! – than pretending to be something you’re not.
So, as you venture forth into the marketplace today, consider that your image should be more than a picture – it is meant to be a reflection as well.
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.