While everyone in the world is trying to create their personal brand their approach has become rather perfunctory.
Although we seem zealous to probe our bond with the digital world, there seems to be a disconnect between what we are and what we want to become.
An influencer is a word buzzing with profanity in recent times. Everyone wants to meet one; everyone wants to be one. In the hustle-bustle of reaching the top, we forget to cherish the journey.
We entrap ourselves in this dilemma of numbers in such a way that the whole world becomes numb to us.
From 1k to 10k and then maybe 100k, not everyone gets to go on that consistent journey. We dwell in the dopamine rush of ‘hearts' and 'likes' so much as so we lose control of what we have right in front of us.
Anxiety, depression, paranoia with a sound mind longs for that one viral moment of fame. As soon as the moment strikes, we rush to get another one which isn’t quite the same. To fulfill that desire for fame, we aim for more, more, and even more.
“I cracked a project worth $5000 in under 12 hours. Here’s how I did it.”
“Here’s how I built 25 startups, failed at 22 and now bought a house worth $100,000.”
False hopes crunch lives out of aspirers as they try to achieve what no one can. The absurdity is uncanny in this case to me.
The social media era brings about with it a ludicrous quote of “fake it till you make it.”
“I built a 7 figure business at the age of 12, let me teach you how at $99.99.”
“Here’s how I was homeless and set up a Shopify business and now I live in a $5 mil mansion.”
I’m not saying its folly, but you get my point here. Its absurd how people get absorbed into believing all this is easily achievable.
There are innumerable strategies and everyone seems to be an expert. There are courses and books to learn from, and everyone seems interested.
It’s not easy. It requires a rock hard gut, and plenty of time and energy. Just because it takes time, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll give it all the time that you have. Your social accounts will be there much after you’re gone but you know what won’t?
Your family, friends and loved ones.
And you don’t want to get engrossed so extensively in something that you’ll have to go down the rabbit hole yourself to get Alice.
Your personal brand is nothing but you and how you portray yourself to the world. Do good and you’ll find good things happening to you.
But if you’re in it for the fame, let me give it to you straight: you won’t have time for family or friends.
Sometimes you get to choose, sometimes you don't. Diversification in stocks might work out for you, in attention, not so much.
Balance, my friend, is the only constant in life. To get something, you have to lose something. Whether its your people, money or fame.