How do you conquer obstacles in your personal brand story?

Recognizing obstacles is the starting point. By understanding and acknowledging challenges, you pave the way for growth and reinvention in your personal brand journey

Start by doing a deep dive into your online presence and ask yourself: "What's stopping me from shining as brightly as a thought leader?" Oftentimes, it's a variety of factors both external (distraction, lack of skills and knowledge etc.) and internal (lack of clarity, self-doubt, conviction etc.) Look at your content engagement metrics - are they not dancing the tango you hoped for? Are your messages getting lost in the thousands of messages and posts coming through? That's your obstacle right there! Then, sneak into your audience's shoes (not literally ??) and see how they perceive you. Are you the go-to guru in your field, or are you stuck in the shadows of obscurity? Once you spot the roadblocks, you're halfway to conquering them!

Identifying the problem is step one in the process indeed. What I would personally suggest here is that you reach out within your target audience / community of stakeholders and ask how they would describe you and your personal brand (based on the encounters, your LinkedIn profile,…) and think to what extent that perception is in line with how you see your personal brand yourself. That gap between your perception and the perception of your stakeholders is the conflicting zone you want to work on.

Stoism teaches us some great lessons on overcoming setbacks. I recommend you read a book on stoism as it is the only practical guide to explain how to prevent emotional backlash in response to a setback rather than managing anger when it is already too late. (Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius) These genius philosophers lived over 2,000 years ago and they are still teaching us about setbacks.

This is probably the most important part of your personal brand. What were your failures and what did you learn? The learning from all we do, sharing those experiences are what makes it being YOU.

Some great solutions to consider: Content Revamp: Make it useful, relatable, and shareable. Showcase your personality – you're not just a brand; you're a person of value. Engagement Overdrive: Engage with your audience -- respond to comments, join conversations, and create polls and open-loop questions. Authenticity Amplifier: Show the world the real you. Share your journey, your quirks, and your epic fails. Authenticity is the secret sauce that makes your brand sizzle. Collaborate and Conquer: Partner up with fellow luminaries in your niche. Two stars shine brighter than one. Collaborations not only expand your reach but also add a sprinkle of excitement to your content.

I started by not just saying, "This is so and so," but asking questions like, "Why is this so and so, and what can be done about it?" I didn't leave room for discussion before, I realized, and I started setting a stage for a real exchange about issues. I made my point clear, but at the same time invited people to express their own opinions or question my point of view. After this change, I found that the comments led to real exchanges or debates, and that it developed a commitment to the topic.

The obstacle course of personal branding – it's like a crash course in self-discovery! ?? You see, every stumble is a lesson, and every challenge is a chance to evolve. When crafting your brand story, hiccups can actually turn into stepping stones so take note of those! Challenges teach us about resilience. They show us what we're made of, and more importantly, they remind us of why we started this journey in the first place. The beauty is in the authenticity of sharing those not-so-picture-perfect moments. After all, who doesn't love a relatable story? ?? Remember, your brand story isn't just about where you are – it's about the journey that got you there, complete with all its plot twists and epic battles!

For the longest time, i hid the biggest obstacle i faced: prejudice at work. Prejudice against my name, my ethnicity, my religion, my speech. It was when I became more vocal of how I handled it, how I sought to break past cages people keep wanting to put me in, that I felt whole. That my story, my brand, was now one that I wrote. And with that, came self-confidence and success. So share what you do to break past obstacles, because that's what makes you unique.

In my opinion, I grow not only through every success, but also through all the failures that arise and that I have to deal with. No failures, no success - that's the realization I've drawn from this, and it has honed and shaped me tremendously as a content creator. And the best part? I can pass this knowledge on to others and maybe help them fail less often. I'm all for mutual support and less exclusion.

Crafting a compelling story is like preparing a gourmet meal – it requires the right ingredients, a dash of creativity, and a pinch of finesse. When we set out to craft your story, we embark on a journey to discover the heart and soul of your work. We dig deep to unearth your unique flavors – your values, your mission, and your vision. First, we gather the raw ingredients – your history, your team, and your aspirations. We blend your personality, making sure it's a true reflection of who you are. Then comes the secret sauce – authenticity. Serve up a story that's true to your brand, because authenticity is the essential spice that makes your story unforgettable.

My mistakes can become your mistakes, too. It's almost impossible to write posts that please every single reader. So focus on making sure YOUR readers are captivated by what you have to say. Your readers are your community. It won't always be easy to write good and understandable posts from the start, you only learn that through practice. So don't be too hard on yourself, you are just at the beginning of your journey, and most importantly, have fun.

Testing your personal brand story is all about experimenting and you can't avoid -feedback. ?? First, gather your tribe – those friends, mentors, or colleagues who won't hold back. Share your story with them and watch their reactions. Are their eyes lighting up in interest? Are they leaning in with curiosity? Or are they confused? Secondly, it's time for the test on social media! Throw a teaser of your story out there. Is it getting likes, shares, and comments? Or is it more like the sound of crickets? Engagement speaks volumes. And here's the kicker: don't be afraid to pivot. Just like a good dance move, if it's not working, switch it up! Tweak your story, test it again, and keep the elements that can get you applause.

Sharing your story can resonate with others going through similar challenges. I was speaking with a client who wanted to balance selling his book with selling to clients for his full-time job. Taking a split approach to your content to resonate with both audiences is definitely possible, so don't shy away from getting overwhelmed at the thought.

Sharing your personal brand story is like a show – you want the right backdrop, the right atmosphere, and the right audience. Here are the two things: 1. Know the audience – Different settings call for different story flavors. By knowing your audience you can tailor your story to resonate with their vibes – are they the tech-savvy type, the C-level executives or elite potential clients? 2. Right Timing - Timing is key, just like the perfect punchline. If you're launching a new project, that's prime time to share your origin story. If your journey includes overcoming hurdles, that's a source of inspiration for others. And if you've got an "Aha!" moment that led to a breakthrough, walk your audience through your discovery.

I personally tackled this by defining my content mix (based on my personal brand and my stakeholders) and then allocating specific content to specific channels. Like the way I am going to lean into SaaS sales (part of my content mix) on LinkedIn is different from instagram. On instagram I might reshare stories from certain Sales SaaS accounts (like overheard in Sales) where on LinkedIn I might focus more on giving my opinion and making a social media post about the evolution of the SaaS industry.

Think of your brand like the Sword of Gryffindor: take in that which makes you stronger. That conflict? That bully? That racist? That sexist? Face them head on. And absorb them. Brand yourself as a hero, as something meant to grow stronger in the face of conflict. This is what makes you powerful. This is how your brand becomes powerful.

I disagree. I think people are getting more and more tired of self-victimization stories. Many sound like such a stretch and people are not gullible - they are right through that. I own a personal branding agency and people who overcame real struggle often hesitate about touting it. Those who had a great life with some regular obstacles stretch it out into long and dramatic narratives. Aren’t you tired of that too?