Do you really need to do ALL the things to elevate your personal brand?

I’m always torn when it comes to the personal branding advice I see online. It makes the love/hate relationship people have with the word relatable. (Literally, I’ve had people in the past battle me about how they don’t want to “build a brand” but then describe personal branding in what they “prefer” to do instead…sigh.)

But as I celebrate my four-year anniversary of leaving my full-time job to focus on my business and the upcoming five-year anniversary of my book “From Nine to Thrive: A Guide to Building Your Personal Brand and Elevating Your Career,” I’ve been in total reflection mode.?

?Is there too much focus on focusing on doing all the things for the sake of online visibility??

?Such an oxymoron, right??

?But every day someone is telling you aaaall the things you need to do in order to be “successful.”??

?Granted, this is a part of thought leadership–sharing ideas. But sometimes the same experts who talk about how to “easily” build your personal brand are the same ones telling you to…

• ?Post on social media every single day. (Spoiler alert: Many have social media managers and VAs who do these things for them.)
• Have an active presence on all the social media platforms.? (How's Clubhouse going by the way?)
• Stand out and don’t follow what everyone else is doing (except if it includes dancing, lip-synching, and pointing at things because everyone is doing it now).??
• Be authentic. Be bold. Be badass. Be…. ( For something that’s “personal” there’s a lot of branding advice dictating who you should? “be”.)

?And then there’s my favorite "easy" advice…

• Just work hard and never give up on your dreams and you will be successful. (Sounds great. But many hardworking, talented people give up too soon because they compare their realities to the illusions these very experts create.)

Here’s the thing: These snippets of personal branding advice are as hollow as cheap Easter chocolate eggs leftover in the seasonal clearance aisles for 50% off.??

And while I know shorter pieces of content, graphics, and cute photos attract “likes,” they don’t have depth. Instead, they usually lack the details that inspire consistent action–both big and small.??

For example, back to my 4-year anniversary of leaving my corporate job. Many have done the same, but it’s usually followed up with instant success stories of six-figure businesses and fool-proof hacks.?

Well, let me tell you this: When I did make the big leap, I was also a mom-to-be, and as great as it was to say I left my job, I was crawling when it came to what I perceived as progress (and my son wasn't even born yet!).??

I was under the illusion that the seven years of building my business on the side would make the transition easy. That I could totally work on my business with my baby quietly, cooing in his rocker, and watching me with adoring eyes as I worked at my desk. I mean, that’s what the other business moms were doing too, right??

WRONG. ??

In reality, I was barely sleeping. Not eating. And could only focus on keeping this cute, new little person fed and clean. It was a totally new experience for my husband and me, and we basically felt like extras from The Walking Dead.?

When it came to elevating my brand as a business owner,?I felt like I was starting over again in many ways.? And you know what? I did. I’ve made pivots and adjustments as I did more and had hands-on experience with what it means to build a respected brand and business.?

?The “secret” to growing was to do.?

?So while there’s personal branding advice given in the name of empowerment, no one can “empower” you to do anything.? And I certainly do not have a fancy blinged-out magical wand that will instantly help you skyrocket your brand (although how cool would that be).??

On the other hand, mixed in with hollow advice on social media are also great, generous information that is actually helpful. But, ultimately, you may find that your biggest lessons may come from NOT doing something versus doing what you were told you should do.

As an empath and introvert, I’m aware of my energy. As I’ve gotten older, I'm learning how to best protect it in a world where being on social media and doing all the things seem to be the only way to be successful. This means...

I don’t post every day.

I don’t share every detail of my personal life, which I prefer to keep private.

And I don’t dance or feel like I have to try every new social media hack to know that I don’t want any parts of it (I had no interest whatsoever in trying Clubhouse).

That said, I’ve scaled my business substantially from where I started four years ago. I have had the pleasure of working with amazing clients that include not only well-respected industry leaders but Fortune 500 companies.

And I’ve managed to get my words and ideas on top websites like Forbes, Business Insider, and Fast Company.?

Humble brags aside, there’s clearly more than one way to build your credibility. And it’s important to define what elevating your brand looks like for YOU. (By the way, if that includes dancing, posting daily, and trying out new platforms, that’s fine, too.)

So, I invite you to ask yourself this ONE question: What's the bare minimum I can do to elevate my personal brand??

In a complex world, there’s something special about simplicity. So as you think about this, consider starting at the bare minimum so that you're consistent and then build from there.?

It’s helpful to honor the unique journey you’re on and where it leads you, even if it’s quiet. Even if your path doesn’t look like anyone else's right now. Even if you’re not sure what the heck you’re doing.?

Know that sometimes the best thing you can do is stop listening to what everyone else says is easy–and listen to what feels easy for you. ??

Marietta Gentles Crawford is a personal brand strategist and marketing expert specializing in public speaking, corporate workshops, and LinkedIn for businesses—big and small. Get your?free LinkedIn Guide?and stay connected.