It's ok to be awesome, you know?!

On May 26th, 2011 Mark Bandte wrote:

So I've recently noticed that there are some cool, cool companies out there, who seem a little bit afraid to acknowledge just how awesome they really are - and I think that it's a bit of a shame.  Of course there are some positive aspects of keeping things low-key, depending on who you are and what your target is; for example if you want to be a bit more underground and exclusive, but hey - isn't it more about attracting like-minded people to your brand?  And yes, there is a line between knowing how awesome you are and being arrogant, which is why humility is so important.  But how can you know that you are awesome and still be humble?

By knowing yourself, and knowing what you want.  By knowing how people perceive you, and by stepping out of the subjective and being able to see yourself from the outside.  It's kinda like before you go out in the city and you look at yourself in the mirror and you say 'I'm ready.  I look good. (well, as good as you can be anyways)'  But it's also about being present in those places that YOU think are awesome.  By being proactive in those places, and by getting inspired by others' awesomeness.  

Someone said to me at SMCCPH (about personal branding) yesterday that by being present and proactive in awesome places makes you feel cooler, because in a way it makes you feel like you're a part of the cool-kids-crew.  This is definitely true, but it's there more than ever that you need to reign in that arrogance.  Because you aren't doing anything awesome to be a 'part of the crew'.  You're just tagging along for the ride, which means that that 'cool feeling' you're getting is empty.  Doing what my partner, Henriette says as 'Doing Epic Shit' is not about shouting to the skies about how cool you are, but it IS ok to realize your awesomeness.

But you know what?  It really is ok say 'You know what? I AM awesome.  WE are awesome.  Love us!!'  You can either walk into a room (or onto the web for that matter) and be present, engaging and interested in people, or you can stand against the wall and hope that you'll get noticed - and think about it: what's the worst thing that can happen?  That someone won't notice how cool you are?  So what?!  That just means that that person/client/partner isn't right for what you want to achieve.  Move on, and don't take it personally.  Whoever it is that doesn't notice you isn't going to think 2 seconds about you after you walk away.

In the end, I think it's not about doing what you think is cool, or being more like someone else, but about being You x 2.  I mean...You + You = even more you, which is awesome!

Peace, Love & Heavy,

Mark William

[personal, branding, awesome, arrogant, cool, being, yourself] [2 comments]