How to Build a Personal Brand That Feels Real (and Not Forced)
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A lot of people feel pressure to look perfect online. They worry about saying the wrong thing or feel like they need to act a certain way to stand out.
But in my recent podcast episode with Lorraine K. Lee , LinkedIn Top Voice and author of Unforgettable Presence, she reminded us of something important: your personal brand should feel like you. Not a character. Not a performance.
Just your real self, shown in a clear and confident way.
Lorraine has spent years helping people create strong personal brands, and her message is simple and freeing. You don’t need to invent a new identity.
You don’t need to copy what everyone else is doing. You just need to understand who you are and let that shine through.
Here are the big lessons we talked about.
1. Start With Being Real
Lorraine shared that authenticity isn’t a trick or a tactic. It’s about choosing to show up honestly, even when it feels easier to hide behind a polished version of yourself.
When you lead with your true values and speak in your natural voice, people connect with you more quickly. They feel like they’re getting the real thing, not a made-up version created for attention.
The funny thing is, when you stop trying so hard to impress people, the right opportunities tend to find you.
You attract clients who understand you, partners who trust you, and followers who stick around because they genuinely like you, not because you fit a trend.
2. Share Stories, Not Just Accomplishments
One of the biggest ideas in our conversation was the power of storytelling. Your personal brand grows stronger when you tell stories about your experiences, not when you simply list what you’ve achieved.
A story about a challenge you faced or a lesson you learned last week can make you far more memorable than saying, “I’m great at this” or “I won that.”
Stories humanize you. They help people relate to you. They give your audience a way to understand your journey in a simple, emotional way.
You don’t need to be dramatic or overly personal. Even small moments, like a mistake you corrected or advice that helped you, can build trust and make your message stick.
3. Be the Same Person Everywhere You Show Up
Another point Lorraine made was about consistency. She said your personal brand should feel the same whether someone meets you on LinkedIn, sees you in a meeting, or talks with you in person.
Your tone, your values, and the way you treat people should match across all spaces.
This doesn’t mean you need to dress the same every day or use the same exact words online and in real life. It simply means people should recognize you. If you’re warm and friendly online but quiet and stiff in person, the mix feels confusing.
But when your behavior matches your message, trust builds naturally.
4. Lean Into Your Own Strengths
Many people try to shape their personal brand around what they think they should be good at.
Lorraine encourages the opposite. She wants you to build your brand around the strengths you already have. You might be a great listener. You might be skilled at explaining complicated ideas. You might bring calm energy to stressful situations.
These are real strengths, even if they don’t feel flashy.
When you use the strengths that come naturally to you, your confidence grows. You stop trying to force something that doesn’t fit. And you stand out because your brand feels grounded and true.
5. Let Your Brand Change as You Grow
Your personal brand doesn’t stay the same forever. As you move into new roles, learn new skills, or shift your interests, your brand should grow with you.
Lorraine talked about how important it is to let your brand evolve instead of trying to hold onto an old version of yourself.
Think of it like updating a room in your home. You don’t tear the whole house down, you keep what works and refresh what no longer fits. Your brand should move with you, not hold you back.
The Real Message: You Don’t Have to Become Someone New
At the end of the day, you don’t need to “invent” a personal brand. You already have one.
Your job is simply to uncover it and show it consistently.
When you focus on being real, telling stories, leaning into your strengths, and allowing your brand to grow, you build something that people can trust and remember.
→ Listen to the full episode with Lorraine here.
Mo
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Thanks for reading!
Looking polished is a full-time job no one actually pays for. The brands that stick are usually the ones that drop the act and just show up with a pulse.
The best brands are built on trust, not image. If people believe you’re real, they’re more likely to stay connected over the long run.
Thank you for inviting me on, excited to relive our convo :)
This is a great overview of brand-building, thanks. Emphasizing the genuineness of yourself rather than creating an artificial self is the smart way to go.
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