Great post

What you said:

“It diminishes all the unexpected delight that comes from not worrying about your place in the world, but instead simply occupying it to see how it will change you, and the community around you.”

What Christopher Lasch said in “The Culture of Narcissism”:

“The political man of an earlier age knew how to take rather than desire (Sennett’s definition of psychological maturity) and judged politics, as he judged reality in general, to see ‘what’s in it for him, rather than if it is him.”

————

What you said:

“Humans thrive in communities (um, duh). But creating a perception of yourself as a human in competition with other humans does the opposite of creating community. It creates animosity.”

What Christopher Lasch said in “The Culture of Narcissism”:

“Experiences of inner emptiness, loneliness, and inauthenticity are by no means unreal…They arise from the warlike conditions that pervade American society…”

Warlike conditions like excess competition and personal branding.

What about self-employed professionals are are actually competing out there to make a buck against the big corporations? Shouldn’t they develop a reputation in the marketplace that is based on their competency, character, and charisma?

Many lawyers, accountants, financial planners, real estate professionals, and even a few health professionals are proud that they are consciously trying to be consistent with their marketing efforts and image building.

I play many different roles… and they are separate (but equal). So I have role models I look up that are radically different… be they Robert Kiyosaki or Abbie Hoffman… and I am a collage of who I choose to influence me.

It’s annoying that the phrase “personal brand” has become a new buzzword for what we’ve always called a “reputation.” But when it’s used to market a practice and to point out our uniqueness… it can be productive and fun.

After all, isn’t “rebellious troublemaker” a neat personal brand catchphrase?