I'm increasingly finding the concept of self-branding to be dehumanizing. I hope I can properly articulate my thoughts through this rant.
It feels like before we can even secure opportunities today, we're forced to expose ourselves and walk naked in the digital marketplace, selling our identities and personal values - our birthrights, dare I say.
Being exceptionally skilled at what we do no longer seems sufficient and excellence alone is not enough to guarantee success. Instead, we're being compelled to loudly proclaim our abilities, like a dominant 50-ton gorilla beating its chest, boasting about being the best.
All I want is to work diligently, focusing on producing outstanding results. I want to immerse myself in my craft, studying and perfecting the smallest details without the burden of thinking of reminding the world that I am the best. Because, to be frank? I am not. I am nowhere near the best.
While humans are built for community, I don't believe we're yet equipped to meaningfully connect with over a thousand people at once. Well, I am not.
I uninstalled Facebook after reaching 1k connections, and I'm hesitant to post on Instagram as I approach the same milestone there. Having surpassed 3k connections on LinkedIn, I often wonder what these thousands of people could possibly want to hear or see from me.
Why does the world, except my 100 WhatsApp status viewers, need to know that I love to read about borla cars, plastic chairs or even elevators? Why must I share my work or learning with a world that never forgets?
It's a question that resonates deeply and keeps me awake. You see, my Akan forefathers noted in the proverb "Nkyene nkamfo ne ho" to wit "Salt does not praise itself". As the salt to the earth and light to the world, I am in a dilemma! Do I praise myself?
Yes, I am a city set on a hill; I cannot and must not be hidden. But do I go shining my light like a torch in people's eyes?
King Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived, offered these words of wisdom in Proverbs 27:2, "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips" (NKJV). How do I self-brand in a way that follows this wisdom?
I wake up each morning thinking about the proverb "Ankorɛ hunu na ɛyɛ dede," which translates to "Empty barrels make the most noise" selling the idea that those who have little to offer are often the loudest. Has this changed in the 21st century?
I am torn! To brand or not to brand. What matters most? To be seen or to do excellent work. I don't want to have to do both. I have so much energy for only one.
