My take on the conversation about ‘personal brand’. In my view, this is much the same as our ‘persona’, i.e., the public face we present to the world, to project a certain image, to present ourselves in a positive light.
Creating a personal brand can help us gain influence, power, and market share. Personal brand is persona with commercial interests.
I began using my Ausome Charlie persona on social media in June 2018, mainly for sharing content about neurodivergence, because I wanted to share autism and neurodiversity-related content but only to those who shared my interest.
According to the psychologist Jung, the persona is a necessary part of the psyche that helps individuals adapt to social situations and interact with others. Jung cautioned that relying heavily on the persona can lead to a loss of authenticity. We can lose sight of our true selves.
My Ausome Charlie persona has evolved along with me, influenced by my own experiences and epiphanies along the way, and external factors. I try to keep it real, and not compromise my authenticity to gain popularity.
I only started to drop the mask in my forties, to break from the shackles of neuro-normative expectations, to admit when I am not OK.
I have no intention of honing a popular public image at the age of 47. Take me as you find me, and sometimes that will be cynical, sometimes triggered. Deal with it, as my daughters say.
If that makes it hard to become one of the ‘key players’ or ‘influencers’ of the neurodiversity movement, or the neurodiversity industry, am I bothered? No.
If my place is on the fringe, that is just fine. I have friends here, and I fit right in.
Jungian Archetypes: Self, Persona, Shadow, Anima/Animus
#Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #PersonalBrand #Brand #Persona #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #ASD #ADHD #AuDHD #CPTSD #Authenticity #WholeSelf
Ausome Charlie 