What Personal Branding Really Means in 2025

Personal branding is everywhere right now, and honestly, I sometimes feel like it's starting to lose its meaning (not completely, but...)

When something gets talked about too much, it starts to feel like it’s being shoved in your face. After a while, we swat it away like a fly trapped in the house.

Suddenly, everything is about building a personal brand, monetizing it, scaling it, turning it into an empire while you sleep. It’s feeling somewhat overplayed. Maybe even a little hollow. Or maybe that’s just me.

I am in this space. I’m one of the personal brand pushers! Haha. So maybe I’m just seeing too much of it.

It’s like when you learn a new word and suddenly hear it everywhere, or find a great little restaurant and now it’s popping up in every conversation.

However, the truth is that personal branding does matter. It matters a lot!

You can call it your purpose, your mission, your business, your reputation, your legacy.

Whatever language you choose, it comes down to the same thing:
People want to know what you’re about. What you stand for. What matters to you. Can they trust you?

We read the ingredients on the back of the box because we care about what we put into our bodies.

We buy from brands that align with our values and treat people well.
Where we put our dollars tells a story about what we believe in.

Your personal brand is the same — it shows people what you stand for.

It gives you direction. It helps you clarify your message, both visually and verbally.

It makes it easier to get your work in front of the people who actually need it.

Because the truth is, everything in life needs a bit of packaging.
Not to be fake. Not to be performative. But to help others understand what it’s about.

We’re all bombarded with noise online. Your personal brand helps you cut through that.
It helps the right people recognize you.

At the end of the day, we all want to be seen, heard, and understood. That’s why we share on Substack. On social. That’s why we create.

Personal branding helps you get clear on who you are, what you want, and why you do what you do.

In a world overflowing with so much information, that kind of clarity is POWERFUL!

Your personal brand is a map. A route. A strategy. A way to navigate the chaos and reach your people.

So call it what you want — but I know this for sure:
When you know who you are, you are unstoppable.

And, I want you to be unstoppable.