Pulling the plug on your personal brand

Hello there, 

I hope you are well.

When I first launched my personal brand, and the business I have today, I set myself a deadline of three years.

That I thought, was the magical number to determine if I had something the market wanted. I had big goals and aspirations, if I was good enough, things would happen quickly.

The 3 year timeline was inspired after reading that Simon Sinek had been invited to deliver a TEDx talk after speaking for 3 years (often in friends lounge rooms). His TEDx talk went on to be viewed 60 million times!

I am now seven years in and I can see how the crazy deadline I set has often made me feel like a failure. My expectations were so high and the odds stacked firmly against me. 

On the days I especially feel like giving up, I think of my favourite author Steven Pressfield.

Pressfield had been writing unsuccessfully for decades before he published his first novel at 52.

The book became a big hit and was made into a movie directed by Robert Redford starring Will Smith and Matt Damon.

It took 28 years for him to experience an overnight success and go on to sell millions of books. Prior to reaching commercial success as a writer, he drove a tractor, he was a teacher, a copywriter and picked fruit as a migrant worker. He never gave up on his dreams and used his setbacks to make him better not bitter.
 
They say a goal without a deadline is simply a dream, yet I would warn against putting a deadline on some of your dreams.

This is especially relevant when it comes to personal branding and putting yourself out there. Everything takes time, and it will likely take longer than you think for there to be a tipping point resembling success.

Don’t give up, use your setbacks to make you better, and let go of the unrealistic timelines that constantly make you feel like you are failing. There is no deadline to being the best version of yourself so keep trying. 

I hope this helps.

Warmest wishes

Carlii