I was asked this morning whether my marketing message is more or less important than how I make my website viewers feel. This got me thinking about a whole range of things.
Whether you actively market yourself or not, you’re still out there giving messages to people about who you are. We all have personas that we want to portray, and there’s often a gap between who we really are and that image.
There’s a couple of problems with this. First, it takes considerable energy to maintain an image different from who you really are. After all, Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” Second, people will eventually find out the truth anyway – or at least have suspicions – and grow to mistrust you.
My answer to that original question was that I strive for authenticity, and let that do the marketing for my coaching services. Some people may not particularly care for my style and approach, but they wouldn’t have been satisfied clients anyway.
And, more important, I can only be my best as a coach when I’m using my skills, gifts, and true self.
Does that mean I lay out all my ugly fears and failings for everyone to see? Not at all. We all have our inner struggles, and it’s great to have a vision of that Ideal Person we’re trying to become.
For instance, I tell people that I have a desire to be constantly optimistic and supportive. Absolutely true. I don’t always achieve that goal, and I try to admit when I fall short. It’s actually a way for my family and friends to push me in that direction, to stay on course.
Don’t we all want to be surrounded by people who are helping us become who we want to be?