Blogging Naked: Personality Is Included

I’m reading Personality not Included  by Rohit Bhargava right now. And I’m having pangs of inadequacy.

I think I must have been somehow traumatized by the ‘in-crowd’ kids in school who were hanging out in packs and talking about having a ‘cool personality.’ (I know, but in those days we had somewhat archaic language for bad-ass, and ‘cool’ was it.)

Personality: I never got it then, and probably still don’t. I know I’ve got one, just not sure that it’s all that ‘cool.’

Recently I’ve been filming The Blog Squad video clips of myself talking about blog writing tips. Have you ever had a chance to see yourself on film? It's revealing for sure... omg, as the kids say.

(Dialog inside my head: "I think I come across as a dork. I seem unsure of myself, modest (not a good trait for a marketing expert), and somewhat shy. Definitely not cool...")

I admit the earlier video clips I shot were scripted and rehearsed – and they sure do seem like it, too! Now I’m trying to be spontaneous and more natural, no script, unplugged as they say.

My recent video clips show me stumbling over my words…

(Inside my head: Somebody help me! I feel very ‘uncool.’ Plus, I look like an older version of myself – …oh, I forget, I am older… When did that happen?)

I’m so glad I’ve got Denise, my trusty partner. At least as The Blog Squad, we can combine forces and have a personality–a–deux. I can put on my bright pink Blog Squad persona and feel comfortable... almost cool.

So I know how important it is to get out there and show your personality. Bhargava hits a home run with his book Personality not Included, and gives plenty of examples of companies that get it and the tragic, faceless companies that don’t.

But, man, it can be scary to let your personality out there on the Web. As Sonia Simone asks, how can you “feel great blogging naked?” 

Anybody else struggling with showing your personality for business purposes? Or am I still the gangly, skinny kid trying to fit in…?

Comments

[Karma Kitaj]

Patsi, I've been thinking how much fun it's been to "be myself" on my blogs, something I haven't felt I could do with other writing -- prof. articles, my books. I've learned well what you and Denise have taught, that you need to be conversational, personal,engaging through the use of self. I did a video clip for a landing page some time ago and the 1st try was scripted and AWFUL. I did a 2nd one which was much more free...no script...just spoke from my heart, and wouldn't you know it, my (former!) VA mistakenly broadcasted the 1st one. I don't think I'd like blogging nearly as much if I had to go back to being "dorky."

[Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad]

Thanks, Karma. One of the (only) advantages to getting older is that you give yourself permission to be who you really are: as dorky as you wanna be! It's much more fun recording live and unscripted... as long as I remember the message I'm supposed to deliver. ;0