From Donald Trump to Martha Stewart, personal branding has become the latest trend in business. Lately there has been such a buzz going around about the advantages of personal branding and its magical healing powers to all your career and personal demands. Is it really as good as everyone claims?
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Here are 6 disadvantages of personal branding.
Yes you heard right…I said DISADVANTAGES:
1. It limits your ability to explore other possibilities
It defines you in a way that can be very limiting.
If your personal brand is about being a passionate marketing director, you might miss out or neglect your other passion for cooking (I love food!). It will also be very difficult to be taken seriously as a passionate cook after being branded as a marketing director. Let’s not forget that it is very humiliating to admit that you have failed or have changed your mind and would like to pursue something different (but it’s not the end of the world if you do….I did it myself and it still worked)
2. Get ready for some criticism (learn how to handle it & be patient)
Your personal brand puts you out there and can subject you to more criticism.
You did not just create a brand about your technical skills or career; your brand is PERSONAL so be prepared for criticism that cuts deeper. Criticism from a client or employer might resemble reproach from your wife or husband simply because a personal brand allows your unique qualities to be assessed with your professional image. For instance, do not be shocked if your client Mrs. Harrison attacks you for being uncaring because your personal brand defines you as a caring and passionate entrepreneur.
3. Rejects the multilayers of a personality
People are not as simple as they define themselves on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or Tumblr.
Most people have many contradictory qualities. Creating a personal brand forces you to prioritize and maintain some of your qualities and reject what does not fit that image. Although a brand can help you focus, gain visibility and prosper in a domain but have you ever thought about what you left behind?
Could your passion for music have developed into anything more than a hobby if you did not drop it to maintain your credibility as a passionate entrepreneur?
4. Limits your ability to live and enjoy the moment
Have you ever been out with a couple of your friends who were more occupied with taking pictures of their meal, “checking in” in the hottest places or posting what an amazing day they are having with their friends than actually enjoying their company? I’m at fault 🙁
At times it feels that building a personal brand really takes away from special moments.
It requires a lot of effort and constant updating of the many social media outlets. It feels like social media is actually making people anti social. I have been to social gatherings where people were more invested in their phones than socializing. Crafting your personal brand is not an easy task and requires a lot of effort, however don’t your family and friends deserve a disconnected you (disconnected from social media that is!)
5. Connects your professional and personal life together
A personal brand actually blurs the line between your personal and professional life.
While that can benefit your career, this blurred border can also be a huge burden. All your online activities are constantly monitored and assessed by your peers and employer.
You are accountable for your actions not just at work but your online activity at all times (yes that includes evenings and weekends). So before you loosen that tie after a long day of work, remember that you still have to project that suited identity in all your actions after work as well.
6. Can really weigh you down!
Although a personal brand can act as leverage in your career but it also can be huge burden that can weigh you down.
Not everything you post, no matter how well intentioned, will be understood in a positive way. Imagine for instance posting a status update that you forget to reread before posting. Well that message has a couple of spelling mistakes causing your aspiring copy writing career to go down the drain.
Is personal branding a magical cure for your career or a poisonous pill that will murder your aspirations?
I would love to hear what you think. Do the pros outweigh the cons of creating a personal brand? Can anyone really maintain a consistent personal brand without neglecting what makes us unique individuals?