Posted
July 14, 2010
Most young people want to be the king. I did. You probably did too.
My concern is that the ‘be the king’ message is way out of hand. It most subtly appears in the whole personal digital brand movement – an inordinate emphasis on image and being ‘the social [area] guru’, complete with logo, branded blog, branded avatar, slogan, and then a complete lack of actual work.
Daniel Agee put it well:
I have a photographer friend determined to be the most well-known photographer on the face of the globe. He’s been turning down actual photography work to speak about his photography. The problem is, his photography is mediocre at best. He’s trying to show he’s the best, rather than being the best.
Annie Syed added:
What is most disappointing is this masquerading of ‘I can help you’ which is really another way to sell your services, product or book. How rarely people tap into the humanity of one another.
The myth of the personal digital brand is that image precedes substance. That following is more important than delivering. That looking like you know what you’re doing matters more than actually doing it.
It doesn’t. Build the kingdom first. Make it worth being king of.