I haven't figured all this out--especially about aligning one's why with an employer, which I think is mostly about finding a workable compromise--that is a compromise that doesn't compromise one's values. I have much to say about the academic's transition into office environments, but that is not what motivated me to want to comment.
I haven't figured all this out--especially about aligning one's why with an employer, which I think is mostly about finding a workable compromise--that is a compromise that doesn't compromise one's values. I have much to say about the academic's transition into office environments, but that is not what motivated me to want to comment.
Instead, it's the personal branding thing you were talking about as a self-employed person/entrepreneur. When I was freelancing, I found it important to be myself and not try to be everything to everyone. For me, the term "personal branding" borrows so much from advertising and positioning that I find it offputting from the outset. It's also a potentially damaging way for me to look at it because I already struggle with authenticity. Instead, over time I learned to speak well about what I have to offer (as an editor) and what makes me different from someone else. This comes from within, but obviously is put in perspective and context with the world. (This not unlike some of the work of teaching.) But "personal branding" makes it sound like it's an exterior process. Our culture is heavily bent toward these kinds of exterior processes (and is in fact a powerful way that our consumer capitalism works). Resist those tendencies and think about what excites you and tell people you want to do that. Excitement and enjoyment are catching. Be you.
Ah, I like the interior/exterior distinctions. I think you're quite right about resisting the exterior process. In fact, it might be liberating to think of my coaching and editing as a trade, rather than as a brand. My uncles run a tree removal service that is basically driven by their reputation as good sawyers. But they play zero games with exterior marketing, and they lose no sleep over the ups and downs of demand (it's seasonal, it's life, they do other things during the winter).
I have been thinking about how to communicate the value of my training as a memoirist to coaching clients who need help with personal statements and applications, since I think that is a somewhat unique combination. But you're right that reminding myself about what I'm excited to do and communicating that genuinely is better than getting twisted up in the marketing, which I will always suck at and hate.
I haven't figured all this out--especially about aligning one's why with an employer, which I think is mostly about finding a workable compromise--that is a compromise that doesn't compromise one's values. I have much to say about the academic's transition into office environments, but that is not what motivated me to want to comment.
Instead, it's the personal branding thing you were talking about as a self-employed person/entrepreneur. When I was freelancing, I found it important to be myself and not try to be everything to everyone. For me, the term "personal branding" borrows so much from advertising and positioning that I find it offputting from the outset. It's also a potentially damaging way for me to look at it because I already struggle with authenticity. Instead, over time I learned to speak well about what I have to offer (as an editor) and what makes me different from someone else. This comes from within, but obviously is put in perspective and context with the world. (This not unlike some of the work of teaching.) But "personal branding" makes it sound like it's an exterior process. Our culture is heavily bent toward these kinds of exterior processes (and is in fact a powerful way that our consumer capitalism works). Resist those tendencies and think about what excites you and tell people you want to do that. Excitement and enjoyment are catching. Be you.
Ah, I like the interior/exterior distinctions. I think you're quite right about resisting the exterior process. In fact, it might be liberating to think of my coaching and editing as a trade, rather than as a brand. My uncles run a tree removal service that is basically driven by their reputation as good sawyers. But they play zero games with exterior marketing, and they lose no sleep over the ups and downs of demand (it's seasonal, it's life, they do other things during the winter).
I have been thinking about how to communicate the value of my training as a memoirist to coaching clients who need help with personal statements and applications, since I think that is a somewhat unique combination. But you're right that reminding myself about what I'm excited to do and communicating that genuinely is better than getting twisted up in the marketing, which I will always suck at and hate.