A tactical, no-nonsense guide on personal branding

Brand is a complicated subject.

In one way it’s super simple. 

We all have companies and people that come to mind when we think about a brand. 

But it’s also complicated to explain.

That’s why there’s a ton of books about it.

And it can be even more complicated to build your personal brand online and IRL.

That’s why there are a ton of high ticket personal branding coaching and course offers out there.

I don’t like complicated.

Complicated gets broken.

Complicated makes you lose consistency. 

I like simplicity.

Simplicity isn’t easy but it makes it EASIER to stay on track.

If you struggle to explain your process/offer/idea to another person, it’s too complicated.

So, I’m constantly on the search of minimal essential. What are is the 80/20 of a particular situation? Are there any time-tested, classic strategies or ideas I can leverage?

Which leads me back to personal branding. 

The simplest explanation of online personal branding I’ve found is this…

Your personal brand is what you believe, what you do, and what you like. 

And you already know all of this stuff. 

It’s just hard to convey it through a peripheral device like a keyboard, mouse, or camera.

The people that have the strongest personal brand are the people that have removed the friction of these interfaces and have conveyed who they are as clearly as possible. 

That’s why I love writing. 

Each time I write, I am getting closer to both understanding myself a little bit better AND introducing myself a little better online. 

There is a visual element too. 

In a lot of cases, this can be the easiest component of your brand to nail down first. 

Don’t overthink it. 

What is something in the physical world that you like, makes you feel good, and brings you energy and/or peace?

There’s your thing.

For me, it’s mountains.

I love mountains. 

I’m from the Appalachian mountains and it’s in my DNA.

When I was in Yuma, AZ a few weeks ago on a business trip, I took the last day and did some hiking in the mountains out there. 

While I was driving to the trailhead, I noticed I had a huge smile on my face. 

Without realizing it, I was in this moment of pure joy. And it was based solely on my proximity to mountains. 

You have something like this too. 

Find it, and lean into it. 

Here’s some examples from my online presence. Lot’s of mountains.

Get some,

Swanagan

P.S., I was on my first podcast last week! My buddy Chuck is a medical doctor in Dallas and has a podcast for pathologists. We talked about a ton of stuff but most of the conversation centered around my time working in a formaldehyde plant. Check it out here: