Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are—this is Chris. Today, I want to dive into an intriguing topic: personal branding and the challenge of staying authentic. It’s something we all wrestle with, whether we realize it or not, especially in those moments when we’re put on the spot.
Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are—this is Chris. Today, I want to dive into an intriguing topic: personal branding and the challenge of staying authentic. It’s something we all wrestle with, whether we realize it or not, especially in those moments when we’re put on the spot.
Picture this: You’re in a meeting at work, and someone turns to you and says, “What do you think?” Instantly, your mind doesn’t just jump to your opinion—it leaps to, What will they think about what I think? It’s a natural reaction, rooted in our primitive need to protect ourselves and belong. Without that instinct, we’d either be sociopaths or blurting out every unfiltered thought like we’ve got Tourette’s (which, let’s be honest, wouldn’t go over well). So, for most of us, the normal response is to read the room—gauge the people, adjust our tone, volume, and pace—and deliver our thoughts in a way we hope will land.
Over time, this shapes how others see us. You might become the “quietly spoken, kind, caring person who’s relaxed in meetings.” That’s your brand. You carry it from the meeting room to the hallway and throughout your workplace. Or maybe you want to project strength—speaking in a lower tone, choosing your words carefully, and only chiming in when it counts. “Hi, everybody. Good to see you here,” you might say, pausing for effect before dropping a deliberate, “I get what you’re all saying, but here’s what I think.” You’re not afraid to disrupt, aiming to have the last word, to make your voice matter.
Then there’s the person who dominates the airtime—entertaining, engaging, and joyful—using charisma to get their message across. Each approach builds a sense of self, a way of communicating, a role in the community. It works… until it doesn’t. Because here’s the catch: in crafting that brand, you might leave a piece of yourself behind. And that piece? It could be the key to your success—or, more importantly, a part of you that you genuinely love but feel forced to suppress.
The Cost of the Filter
That filtering process—the constant balancing act of being liked and getting your point across—is exhausting. You sit in a meeting for an hour. You haven’t run a marathon or done a thousand push-ups, but you walk out drained. Why? It’s not the physical effort; it’s the mental and emotional toll. The frustration of unspoken truths, the annoyance of a brand that cages your real self, the struggle to influence a room when your “style” feels restrictive—it adds up.
Maybe you spent the weekend with a community group that values kindness and peace, so you show up Monday trying to embody that vibe. But then someone’s hogging the spotlight, another’s cracking jokes, and a third is politely nodding along, and you’re left thinking, My brand isn’t cutting through. It’s confusing. Do you stick to the script or switch it up? There’s no one-size-fits-all fix here—generic solutions like “always do this” are a trap. Context matters.
At home, for instance, the stakes might be higher. If you’ve got kids, aging parents, or a partner, blurting out your raw, unfiltered thoughts could shatter the peace. The cost isn’t worth it—you’d rather contain that inner voice than let it disrupt the harmony your family needs. Your brand, in that case, takes priority over your heart. At work, though, it’s different. You might feel your brand boxing you in, leaving you bored or listless. You’re grinding away, but a part of you is quietly dying inside. That’s when you face a choice: let your true self wither in the cocoon of your brand, or put yourself first and let your brand flow from that authenticity.
Living Inspired: The Power of Your Inner Voice
I’m a big believer in living inspired—letting your inner voice speak louder than the opinions of others. But there’s a trick to it: you’ve got to be willing to say what’s on your mind and back it up. The secret to speaking from your heart isn’t just letting it rip—it’s having good intent. If you’re in a meeting and you’re jealous, insecure, or reacting out of anger, your words will fall flat, no matter how polished they sound. Bad intent shines through, and people see it a mile away. You’ll come off as a jerk, a time-waster, or worse.
So, step one: Are you in a good state? Grateful to be there? Thankful for yourself? Have you done the prep—slept well, moved your body, breathed fresh air, dressed the part, and grounded yourself with some positive self-talk? Step two: Know your intent. If it’s for the greater good—profit, less stress, a tighter team—great. If it’s just an emotional knee-jerk, zip it. Good intent comes from the heart, and the heart always speaks to the future. It’s not about the moment; it’s about what could be—more success, more peace, more results.
When you speak from that place, it’s powerful. But here’s the kicker: you’ve got to declare your intent, or people might misread you. Say something bold like, “I think we’re wasting time here,” and without context, it sounds like a jab. Add the “because”—“because I want us to be less stressed and more productive in the coming months”—and suddenly, it’s a vision, not a critique. Without that “because,” people assume you’re just grumbling, and if there’s someone louder or more dominant in the room, they’ll pounce.
Rebranding from the Heart
If you want to shift your brand, drop the mask. Speak from your heart, state your intent (aimed at the future), and be ready to handle the pushback. There’s always someone who won’t like it—“Who are you to say that?”—and that’s where negotiation comes in. Avoiding the friction means you’re not really being authentic; you’re just playing it safe. But don’t leap in all at once—test it out. Try it in a one-on-one, then a small group, building your confidence step by step.
At home, though, tread carefully. If peace is the priority—keeping the kids happy, the marriage steady, or your aging parents calm—sometimes you’ve got to bottle it up. That’s okay, as long as you don’t beat yourself up for it. What you judge in yourself festers and spills out elsewhere. If you’re swallowing your truth, know why you’re doing it, and give yourself grace.
This is Chris, wishing you a beautiful day. If you’ve got questions, bring them to the coaching. Bye for now!