Are you interesting?

Dan Schawbel at the Personal Branding blog has a great new post, The Five Laws of Being an Interesting Brand.

My favorite is Law #2: Be Yourself 

"Your personality is your best and most distinct attribute. 

I can’t copy it, nor can any of my readers or anyone else in the world. 

It’s easy to not be yourself sometimes because you want to impress someone or you want to fit in with cultural or group norms. 

When you start acting like everyone else, you lose the essence and beauty that would actually make people interested in you. 

By being yourself, you’re bound to appeal to certain types of people."

If you want your personal brand to capture people's attention, follow Dan's advice:

• Stop trying to fit in and start freaking out.
• Your freak factor is what makes you special. Don't throw that away.
• You won't please everyone, but you will find fellow freaks who value your unique qualities.

Comments

[Joseph Joel Sherman]

Betsy Johnson sent me a great article by the The New York Post: MINNESOTA COUPLE DANCES DOWN AISLE IN VIRAL VIDEO. The comments show a range from congradulatons to condemnation. One thing is for sure - they were being themselves.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07242009/news/nationalnews/_181078.htm

[Joseph Joel Sherman]

Great post. For a long time I tried to be quiet at work. People told me I laughed too much. What do I get complemented on the most? My laugh.

Perhaps Ricky Nelson had it right when he sang:

I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again

When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same

But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

[Angie]

Thanks for sharing this...it is very interesting. We often get so wrapped up in figuring out who we think we SHOULD be and forget who we really are.