You're not a person. You're a brand.
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2023
- The dystopian story of the "personal branding" movement.
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Развлечения
It's strange to me because being a "brand" seems to give no wiggle room to change your mind, grow, learn, and just simply be a different person from one in point in time to another. I hate the idea of being locked in.
I think the best counteract to this problem is having a brand like Hank Green’s (but I might be biased bc he’s one of my role models.) When your brand is tied to education, both consuming new perspectives and discoveries and sharing what you’ve learned with the world, growing organically becomes something you’re known for.
@@Ghost-lt4sf exactly, make the act of growing as a person part of your brand and youre good to go
Brand is just a commercial way of saying identity. no one, but you can tell you what it should be.
That’s the hardest part, knowing when to change up .
Being a skilled writer has been part of my brand since I was in second grade, and being the bright eyed naive kid who's got a future has been a part of my brand
Becoming aware of the brand and how it makes me feel like I can't change is wild
@@Ghost-lt4sf I really really love this way of looking at it.
Branding is actively bad for creativity and problem solving. It narrows decision making drastically and always makes you think from outside in. As someone who's working on unmasking, and using art to help build self identity, it's one of the things I have to actively bump up against when I have conversations about art. People have been conditioned to steer conversations about art into commerce, and the effect is disgusting.
Absolutely agree. I've realized that art has value outside of how well it plays economically. I believe the worthiness of my art is ultimately based in the meaning it holds for me and maybe others regardless of its financial success and/or popularity.
Yes. They brand cattle and slaves. They market the marks(dupes). Don't fall for Babylon control.
This is true even working at a gallery. I ask people if they have any questions about the art or artist as in “do you want to know the backstory or their technique or their main message?” And people say “no thanks I’m just looking” as in “no, I don’t want to buy any art.” Like they can’t take my offer of information at face value because they think I’m implying they should buy a piece. I’ve even had people tell me “No, I have enough art” when I offer to tell them more about the background of a work. Like… 🤨
I am an artist and have worked as such professionally. It is even more complicated than what you mentioned, because the other side is true as well at the same time. The disgust some artists have with money and building business has led to a perpetual cycle of poverty for many artists. And the high skill of being authentic AND good at selling art (assuming it is the profession) takes an incredible maturity IMO. I am disgusted too, both by inauthenticity *and* the narrative that an artist can’t commercialise their work because that would take away from it. So personally I bumped up again this mindset of lack both with the artists in my family and all through my art degree, as I find it heartbreaking for incredibly talented people to being mentally and emotionally limited to a life of hardship working “hustle” style jobs.
It’s incredibly hard to be confident in selling my work when I was told by other artists and teachers that it makes me a sellout to do so, yet other people who put 15+ years into their craft are confident professionals. Despite all my success I still struggle with this “story” on my mind.
I'm currently trying to find myself as an artist and am also building a sense of self-identity as I work on healing some deep wounds. Do you have any books, material, or content you could share that's helped you?
I have stopped going on socials, am settled at a place in my career where I earn a comfortable wage and don't feel the need to fight for further promotion, and finally feel like I can live life for 'me' and not as a brand. I touch grass often, and socialise in real life without even telling the internet what cool things I am doing! Sometimes I don't even take pictures of the cool experience!
Not having a personal brand felt almost misanthropic at first, but not caring what others think of my actions is so freeing. This must have been how my parents and grandparents lived their life. Crazy to see how we have adapted so quickly to hustle culture. I agree economic stability has a lot to do with reclaiming your life from branding.
Appreciate your take on this.
Anyway, there is a trend that people "don't care what others think".
Where does this lead us to? Also, we are interconnected anf influence each other. There is no way you can 100% act or even think for your own.
So might as well put something out there in the world, that you think is worth it.
Social media is just one way of doing it. If you rather have conversations with your loved ones, it's just as valuable.
I don’t know why, but I just rarely post on socials and get a lot of anxiety when I do. I have a lot of creative dreams, but I think the weight of being perceived as a brand and being unable to sustain that image is overwhelming. I just give up before I even get started, the dreams persist
Same
@garth1771 Same and idk how to cope. The idea of curating myself feels so overwhelming and existentially exhausting. It’s draining in a very specific way that nothing else feels, and it confuses me. I don’t know how to get over it.
Im currently a graphic design student but my dream for a job is basically to make an art shop and sell cute art prints, stickers, posters, stationery,etc but I feel so exhausted of the idea of having to go on social media to basically “sell myself” so that people will discover my art. Thinking about having to think about how to present myself and my art on social media and to strategize of how to best present myself for an “algorithm”, makes me feel like i will habe to be more of a advertiser more than an artist. Cause when you dont post, no one will see your art, and if you cant post consistently people forget about you amd your art. It feels like a perpetual need to be like “look! Look at this i made this! Interact with me!” Rather than my art speak for itself. Idk what to do, and if my negative feelings for this “self advertisement” are something i just have to accept as part of what being an artist is now, or just change my future plans because ijust cant take the way it just drains my psyche… idk it’s weighing heavy on me and idk what to do or how to deal with it. :((
Wow I wonder if this is part of the reason I'm so stuck right now. I want to post and share my art, but I don't feel like I can brand myself consistently enough. I have so many projects and ideas of different mediums, I would need to make 10 different accounts to post in a way that is pleasing to other people, and then I could never create enough to keep an account active. Posting whatever varied stuff I make to a single page doesn't feel good enough, which almost directly translates to the way I create not being good enough. I don't think I'm making very good sense but yeah. I want the emotional security to not care if other people find my art as brand. I want the security to create whatever I want whenever and not care if someone expects a similair "product" as before.
@@Faith-wz7hu that makes total sense. I think Noone knows, like all youtubers first videos sucked, it just took time to figure out and the only way is trial and error. I say eff it, just start, and you'll figure it out on the way.
The problem is that you are a perfectionist, and you have a fear of failure. But you need to sweep those thoughts aside, and post your art. Im not saying you will become successful, because well what if you dont? Is it the end of the world?
But sitting and pondering whether you will succeed or not will not help you.
Just put your work out there, do whatever you like, and whatever will happen will happen. But either way, you will be Ok
I know "touch grass" is a good meme and very memorable, but I think the key takeaway from the answer is "economic stability"
💯 touching grass is nice and all if you can go back inside to a dry warm house and make yourself and your family a healthy meal.
100% ^^^ !!!
Sidenote: Her book (self made) goes into it this in fascinating detail where she argues that selling your identity (aka personal branding) is one if the more insideous casualties of the gig economy, coz it puts the onus on the worker to solve the problems of the system... but it's instead seen as a fun marketing tool to "get ahead"
(Other book recco from my research, if anyone is curious, is an anti recco, just to drive the point home: the 1997 book on personal branding by Tom Peters that named the phenomenon. It espouses "personal branding" as a revolution... but not well imo. In it he brags about not seeing his kids coz he's working on his brand. So bleak)
@@struthless dang it the more I learn about this, the more depressing this system seem to be
I like thinking of it as go out and "grow grass"...build community and make positive actions in your own circles off the internet.
That’s actually genius! I’m going to keep that in mind
Im always been baffled that people buy clothes by brand, and not by how it looks. I just go for an asethetic and colour palette and try to find whatever cheap cloth fills that specific look.
You're branding yourself this way too.
I've been in marketing and advertising for 15 years... I hated the idea of people referring to their 'brand' since 2010. It's very dystopian. Nice video, thanks spreading the word!
The irony I find is how often the word "authenticity" comes up in personal branding labels.
This was amazing! This is literally at the basis of how modern society changed. In Korea, one of the main trends these days is 'personal branding'. Everyone is obsessed with it, there are courses everywhere, and guess what... people are miserable. Of course in this pressure, 90% of people cannot get over their fears and are left behind, feeling even worse. Thanks again for this eye-opening video! (and of course the Alphabet Superset!)
I like the part where you said “90% of people can't get over their fears”
I appreciated this breakdown sooo much. I work in branding and I refused to touch personal branding because I don’t believe in glossing ourselves up just to get what we want. As a digital marketer, I cut ties with ALL my channels because it was making me feel so fake and performative. I’m an artist in a branded / branding world, but I maintain that staying connected to ourselves and our neighbors is the key to getting our head out our own @$$ and living a satisfying life.
I remember I wanted to be famous when I was younger as I think a lot of us fantasize, but as we get older, we realize that being famous leads to constantly perform and that can include being a brand which is pretty dehumanizing. Being a brand has its limitations and doesn't allow us to grow as people.
My latest struggle is designing an entire identity for myself as if I were a brand and then getting upset when I don't fit that brand 24/7
For reference, I'm (mostly) not doing it for anybody else. I'm autistic and my sense of identity is very fuzzy. What I want out of life changes fast enough that I never get it. I need the stability that self brandification brings, even if it doesn't really work in practice.
I feel this so much. On my end I have ADHD, so my branding changes as fast as my attention span. I also keep bobbing from masking and not with my artist profile-I can never quite keep the balance between professional and realistic. At this point I've more or less accepted I'll probably be changing my branding every year.
Brother it's been a while since I've seen such a relatable comment, may god bless you
Shit, I'm autistic and relate to this hard
Man... I feel the same and I hate it. Its so frustrating
I have adhd and I’m always fluxuating and I’m okay with that but I feel like society really wants me to be one consistent person, even more annoying is that person is different to whatever circle of people I need to accommodate. I’m a parent, I like wearing baggy comfortable stuff so I can play guitar and paint and I know and trust that I’m smart and can get anything done, but interacting with the outside world it feels like my outfit determines if I’m going to be respected, and it’s gross to me that people are so reliant on aesthetics that they have the audacity to think I don’t respect myself if I show up in sweats. And I also suddenly feel /ugly/. I’m a pretty girl, and I don’t really think much about it until I think about other people perceiving me, suddenly I’m upset that my closet isn’t a Barbie wardrobe. I got myself some nice stuff, but it all feels like a costume or disguise often. I jokingly make what I call “Barbie arms” at my husband when I think I’m finally dressed in a “well branded” way. I was in a communications class and everyone said I looked smart and like they knew me really well, and I sighed relief just a little bit because I was seen as a smart person, but I also cringed and shriveled because I felt so unknown. I felt like they saw all the outfits I wore just for class and thought “I know you so well!” It struck terror inside me. Now I have a closet full of half overly feminine things that make me feel like a Lolita on a shelf, a billion blazers that make me feel 50 so 40 year olds will be nice to me (I’m 26) and like 5 running pants that I feel ugly and horrible in the second I start thinking about other people, but feel fine when I’m not looking. None of them even make a fucking “outfit”. So I’ve been obsessed with making “wardrobes” on Pinterest, and then I ducking cry because I’m afraid either I can’t afford it or if I do get them I will feel like I’ve simply dawned a new disguise. God I hope this crisis ends soon! I wish people just respected that I contain multitudes.
17:52 you remembered the "touch grass" part. I remembered the "degree of economic security" part. I live in so much fear of my paycheck being messed with and no safety net (bc there realistically isn't one) that I will not do anything to jeopardize it.
I call this the commodification of the self. Its hard. If you leave social media or dont post people ask if something wrong with you or youre going through it. everyone is trying to be famous or known for something. I suffer from this too. Capitalism ruined us as a society. Doesn't help that social media made us more lonely so we do stuff for attention to feel worthy of others time since our favourite famous personalities get so much love.
how old are you? i have left social media and dont post at all and nobody asks me that
@@nonefvnfvnjnjnjevjenjvonej338423.
@@nonefvnfvnjnjnjevjenjvonej3384how long have you been off social media? I was off Instagram for years so I didn’t hear the question at all, but the second I came back there were 5-6 people who were like “Alex - you’re alive.” Different comment, but essentially the same question as OP.
@@alexsawyer2060 im still off social media
Another one who blames capitalism.
I'm always so impressed by the way you take a broad topic and pinpoint the exact moments in history that contributed to how things are today. I feel like I just watched the confusing background static of my entire life being explained to me in a way I could finally understand.
Second this
He made it all sound like a history class...
this mini-documentary changed my life. THANK YOU, MAN. im masochistically interested in this stuff, and i am nerding out hardcore over the evolution of branding. i love the full-circle moment from the podcast. form genuine relationships that make you drop the facade, drop the brand. in a way, it's returning to that promise from IBM for lifelong communal stability, but forming it as a community instead of relying on some corporation to give it to us.
Thank you!!! And so true about the non corporate version of the IBM dream - that's such a good way to put it 💕
this came at such a perfect time, I'm always writing, drawing, doing photography, you name it, and I know that if I began posting what I do I could easily 'make a name for myself', which on the surface does sound very appealing but equally so incredibly redundant, why can't I just enjoy my interests without feeling compelled to show everyone my interests
it's a strange thing to reconcile bc there can be tangible benefits if you do commodify yourself and have a wider reach, and there's always a small part of me that wonders about that when I do my hobbies, but I always end up caring more ab just enjoying the present moment rather than trying to package it up neatly and advertise who I am
it would be interesting to dissect the fact that people feel like they only possess certain traits if other people can see and affirm them, e.g. can you describe yourself as an artist if no one has seen your art and wouldn't say you're an artist/you may be a really talented writer but if you've never put your writing out there, would it be enough in let's say a job interview to say you're a writer without any 'proof' that you are one, bc in that scenario a person that has advertised their writing will almost definitely do better than the person that can write really well but just lays low, which is a shame since not everyone wants to broadcast themselves
why can't i just study obscure science in the woods and hang out with people smh
I think part of the meaning of art is actually sharing it with others. I am much more motivated to do something or make something when it’s for others, or shared with others. You can call yourself an artist, and I’m sure people will accept your self-identification… but the problem is, each of us can be very deluded about how good we are. Some people think they’re good, but they’re actually terrible, and only sharing it with others can give you an objective opinion. And putting yourself out there is what pushes you to be a better artist… if that’s what you want. If the point is the pure enjoyment of the activity, then theres no need to share it. That’s not a bad thing, but I’m not sure one can really call themself an artist if they have never let their be seen
@Infiniteuponinfinite you make really good points and I actually agree, in my case I write and draw etc more for enjoyment and emotional catharsis than for perfecting the craft (i did study art for many years too but now its just something i enjoy on the side) and amongst my social circle I've often drawn or written things for/with others and am blessed to be in a circle of creative people that are always exchanging ideas and showing each other what we may be up to, so in that case I'm seen in my physical community as the artist I see myself as, or if thats too strong of an identifier than at the very least they know me as someone inclined to art, my comment was more along the lines of the shift from that to then showcasing yourself to the wider world through social media
the only reason that's smth I even ponder upon is bc of how frequent it is for people to see someone's hobby for example and say 'you could sell that' 'you should post that', which ik is definitely a compliment but equally it's intriguing that people tend to validate someone's interests based on its monetary/social media potential, if that makes sense? as in, do I really have to be keeping an online world of strangers updated on my random artistic endeavours just so I have proof that I love and identify with my random artistic endeavours? is it not enough that I do so in the real world with my real community?
I think it's just bc nowadays personality and presence (esp online presence) is currency and it makes me wonder whether I'm missing out on smth important by not jumping on that train
No need to dissect. We're social animals. Sharing has helped our development over the millennia, and it's something we're always going to do. It is a choice to share via social media though. No-one says you have to do it.
0 seconds ago
I agree and relate to what you're saying. I would say it's the format that's the problem more than anything. The internet is just too massive and too filled with content to make each contribution feel unique. It's just this overwhelming ocean of stuff. But the fact that all of us creative types have all been funneled into this as the only real option makes it all the more frustrating. The end result is millions of people posting everything imaginable in an attempt to grab some attention. It's like this massive swirling vortex of endless material. The whole thing just happened way too fast. And our attention spans and sanity have paid the price. I spend a lot of time contemplating my own contributions and how I will go about them because if you really want to make it at this point what choice do you really have? That is if you want to make anything meaningful. The most popular stuff is still typically the dumbest. That has never changed. Sigh. 😂
In the mid 90s when I worked at NCR, every one that worked their had to attend a long meeting explaining branding and how it works and how they were going to use it. After that meeting I swore to myself i would never be a human billboard for a corporation. And at 57, i still hold true to it. If i buy a t shirt it will be of an animal, or great place to visit.
Super insightful!! I have social anxiety, so the pressure to brand myself is excruciating. It amplifies my fear of rejection and criticism to a deafening decible. I wish I could have financial stability without constantly scarring myself like chattel. At least cows got branded once and then just touched grass every day. We’re expected to monitor and shape our brand every single day, and touching grass is just an “instagrammable” opportunity to continue branding ourself. People can’t even retire anymore, so we must spend our whole life anxious we could lose our livelihood tomorrow.
When I lived as a Buddhist monk I always felt like people viewed me as a brand or stereotype rather than a person with struggles and adversities I was working with.
I guess it has to do with Buddhism as a religion and that they want conformity between everyone who called themselves a monk.
Advantage is that people have an idea of what to expect. But disadvantage is that the individual monk will always be stuck doing the same thing everyone has done before him which unfortunately has a lot of things lacking since the general concensus is that no one can get enlightenment anymore and if they do they absolutely cannot share it with anyone.
Wow, thanks for sharing this perspective! That is difficult to feel like others are not seeing your individuality. I wonder if you've heard of Nichiren Buddhism? It's intention is to help any person become enlightened now and create a peaceful world as we are -- as unique individuals with problems. Look up the Sokka Gakkai if you’re interested, it's in over 192 countries so hopefully would be easy for you to meet someone part of it! Good luck to you!
Such a great video, Struthless. This is a huge problem we face in society. We are human beings! We should not constrict ourselves to the rigidness of a brand. We need to allow ourselves to grow, learn, adapt, and change whenever we want to.
As someone whose career is a music producer, song writer, dabble in film making, graphic designs, along these lines I feel it's basically a necessity to brand yourself if you want to build.
Unless you have parents in the industry or a connection you got to find ways to attract eyes.
Art a true artist Doesn’t care or make it a priority to attract eyes your not An artist a true artist if you do or if that’s all you care being seen your a MARKETER
@@fatii8281 Yes, but someone who wants to make 'artist' their profession, is required to play the marketing game to some extent. Imagine how little art there would be in the world if nobody monetised it. All the incredible frescoes in Italian chapels were all commissioned by the hyper wealthy, for example.
@@thegrinderman1090 your not required to do anything you don’t want you mean you feel forced pushed to because supposedly everyone is doing it live life for you not be a Darvon copy that the different being think for your self or being a clone a true artist will always be connected to that heart chakra inner voice
I have seriously been wondering about this for years! I had a marketing prof who would go on and on about personal branding. I attempted to express how actually horrifying it all was. Needless to say, he didn't understand my perspective. So glad you made this!!
Everyone is your mirror. Over identification with anything as “you” is only gonna cause suffering imo. Both fulfillment and knowing yourself can be found in service to others rather than so much focus inwards. That’s my feeling, at least. Thanks for another awesome vid Cam. Really made me think about the ways I’m unintentionally branding myself haha
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I love making art and sharing it, but I hate feeling pressured towards monetization. I want people to see my art, but when you try to get attention the systems in place assume you also want money. I don't. I currently have a day job I enjoy and I don't need to monetize my work. Still the urge to monetize sucks the fun out of everything
I agree. Whenever I place a goal of monetising on a hobby, it ruins it. I just want to create for the love.
I read a sci-fi book with this idea, where everyone in the future was a personal brand. It was Extras, the fourth part of Scott Westerfield's Uglies series. And the longer I'm around, the more I'm reminded of that book.
Except in the book, everyone's basic needs were taken care of, it wasn't out of desperation for survival, it was for luxury. Unlike in the real world, where lack of money means the risk of homelesness and starvation.
What's the nam of the book?
@@joys_ads Extras, it's part 4 of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield
Been a brand strategist and designer for 15 years, totally obsessed with my work, and this is one of the best overviews of the concept of brand I’ve ever seen 💯
You’re not a brand. You’re a person.
Dude your channel is so refreshing. Such a great balance of pop and philosophy with a nice pace. Thanks for all the work you have done to give us these thoughts. Hope you're still enjoying it as well. ✌️
I frickin love your mini docs! It’s always such random topics but you make them so interesting and I always learn something new 😄❤️
This had me thinking about how Joji started from FilthyFrank, dizastamusic, etc. Wrote an entire book based off said RUclips character, and then completely flips the coin and becomes jojivlogs full time.
Glad you are back!! I’m so sure I’ll enjoy this series
One thing I like from your “brand” is how easy you jump from one subject to another and is always easy to connect with it.
That was really fascinating. In recent years, I've started to realise that how things are now is not the ultimate norm like you perceive it as a child, but are a result of our history. And that things like personal branding or the internet or all that technology we use nowadays are still so young! It boggles my mind. The world how it is in this moment is just one screenshot of human history.
Privacy settings people!! It's not hard. Share stuff with people that you actually know and who know you, family and a handful of close friends. Maybe set up a second account as your public self for the thousand "friends" you have. Everyone has the right to a private life. Guard your privacy like gold.
Privacy is selfish. You should put everything about yourself out there. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. 🙂 Let's all make the world a better place by sharing ourselves!😀 Welcome to a brave new world 😁
(no i don't actually think this)
Thanks for all of your videos. You have helped me a lot throughout the years.
Caught myself thinking that I don't want to be one brand, I want to be multiple of them. Because if I create one, it will go all over the place and not be aesthetic. It will create a dump of my thoughts experiences, art and so much stuff that I want to be at the same time. Idk if that makes sense
its scary how perfectly timed this video is. I am a marketer and I see everyone as brands, its part of my job and i am passionate about it. A month a go I started this struggle to find myself due to a break up with my ex. I have realized that I dont have an identity, its ironic because I literally give companies and people their identities while I lack mine. SO for the past 2 or 3 days I have been trying to uncover who I am and what type of man I want to be (i am 21) and it has been a great struggle.
But the more I am learning about branding for individuals (and even at my work) the more i am realizing how limiting that is. Maybe a good brand to have is to not have a brand, to not be that unique, be average or be great at many things. This is why we love Keanu Reeves for example because he is just another guy you know, you relate to him, his acting is average but we love his personality as a sweetheart celebrity who is nice. And on the other hand you have Donald Glover whose brand is to do many things, to not have one title, his creations are not the best in their genres but they are great.
"Nosedive" episode of Black Mirror has captured this phenomena perfectly
I think the "touch some grass" sentiment is spot on, thank you for highlighting it in the end. In my opinion the second part of the answer was equally as important, because while people can develop a personal brand for benefits in life, it should not be necessary for survival. When touching grass it is therefore incredibly important, in my opinion, to put effort into making sure that the people in your sphere of influence have their basic needs met. Thank you for the video, it was very thought provoking :)
Man, this was a GREAT video. I love hearing the way your mind works and how you dig deeper into the "why" behind things. Thank you for putting the work into this channel that you do. Lots of love coming your way from Orlando, FL
I'm so happy to hear a critique of this idea, because it plays a big role in the IEB school curriculum of South Africa. In the subject called Life Orientation, there are whole weeks of class set aside to teaching highschool students how to build their own personal brand, and it always felt so dystopian. The adults teaching that syllabus are the same adults complaining that the youth are so selfish and focused on their own appearances, despite that being exactly what they are taught
I love this, thank you so much! I always knew that "let's go brandon" was a code for something but now I know it's saying "come together, encouragement, brand-on, and commodify yourself!" Makes sense. It's an intellectual ironic jab at selling the ideas of ourselves rather than being in touch with reality. I'll go talk to my neighbor now, the one with the bumper stickers and fun symbols flag
/s bc it's needed I guess
Bro, you’re RUclips videos are terrific. I’ve been becoming more and more alienated by the self-help and alternative self-help industries recently, as I find them to be very repetitive and just pushing an agenda on the viewer. However, your videos are so fun and informative, and I feel like you’re making this videos purely for the sake of it. I love that you have no ads either! Please keep up the good work 👊🏽👊🏽
Love this content! Pretty sure I could watch you ramble about cement production and still be entertained. So excited for this series 😊
I was thinking about this a lot lately, when you have a channel with your name a lot of things change
First of all, I just want to say a big thank you to you Campbell for putting together all this information into a fun and engaging format. This goes for all your previous videos, too, which I have been watching ever since I was a college student more than a year ago, powering through my thesis.
As a graduate of an Advertising course, I can say that this is all too true. This stuff has been drilled into our heads and it was only during the misery of my thesis that made me snap out of it and vow to stay away from the soul-crushing hustle. We already know it never ends, so why should we keep pushing it, right? I’ve had a great deal to unlearn about this and so many other aspects in my life, and it’s an ongoing journey.
I know, I’m still quite young, inexperienced, and the choice to make this comes with a lot of privilege (and a whole lot of anxiety!) Life has been tough regardless. But I’m an artist at heart so deep down, I don’t regret that choice. It’s too important for me to sacrifice.
This is a great video!!! A few months ago I was on the search for a jacket to keep me warm on my early morning walks with my fur babies… I would rather buy 1 jacket that i really LOVED and would wear year after year than multiple ones that maybe I would wear once or twice but bought purely because of the “brand” and/or “price. I wish on large online retail websites/apps there is an option to just remove any mention of brand and price when scrolling because I hate how even unconsciously we are drawn towards brands and pay a premium price for the pleasure. In my research I found a video that mentioned a high priced shoe brand put all their shoes in a budget shoe stop like “spend less shoes” and even though the price was super cheap, sales plummeted. So it does show how a name, symbol, etc can have regardless on how hideous it might be.
Yeah there is a lot of psychology behind luxury brands.
I love that each and every one of your videos raises questions that I hadn't thought about before
6:45 Omg you use apple garamond. I love that because it conveys the idea of "speaking about the past and conecting it with current events"
Since the machintosh marks a staple in the beggining of a future with more accesibility in advetisement and technology in general (a "modern" era), but it's also an old looking serif, i think it really links those two ideas and fits perfectly with the vibe of the video.
Oh no is that a *brand*
canceling stuff prevented me from really having any form of serious online presence.
I don't know you, so I implore all readers to take my words with a grain of salt.
I started watching you randomly, you just appeared in my news feed. I was drawn in by the fact that you appear cheerful and happy, but also kind, soft-spoken and insightful. It looks to me like this is the real you. So, even if it isn't, I'd ask you to smile every day. You make people's lives better.
this is my favorite channel to watch by far! the quality and originality of video editing is awesome.
I Had to subscribed after coming across this video. as a DJ who was on the nightlife & decided not to be after being in for a little. I've decided to do my own thing and do something that is positive..with branding I've gotten a logo based off what the colors represent but for me and how I was to brand my self. But I've been procrastinating with posting on social media & not getting anything done due to the pressure then since i've quit FB & other social medias for almost a month been on and off but this time is more permanent. I noticed forget branding it takes away from being your true self just to be represented as something and being too careful.
I Thank you so much for making this great video for awareness this is why with modern living I try my best to stay away from a lot of things that may put a dent into your mental health.
dude. your content is dope and superswell today as ihave been teaching/working branding since facebook was farmland. THIS is perfect for that.
You're videos are great man! Huge inspiration!
Haha funny to see you here! I also follow your channel!
@@giovanna9571 haha small world. Thanks 👊
Yeah its been used a lot but it holds true, to "touch grass." I feel like I tend to overanalyze and over prepare for every worst outcome, always looking up reviews and trying to get the perfect choice. I tend to get overly anxious and I feel its been exacerbated by so much information and content online that I consume.
But when you throw your phone across the room and sit with your thoughts without moving, you'll feel so much in your mind, your body, everything going haywire, but essentially nothing is really happening. You are just there sitting in whatever environment you are in. Its what you do for 4-10 hours of the day, sitting or laying down doing nothing, except you are watching a screen that has a lot of something going on so it feels like everything is happening at once, when really again it is nothing.
To remind myself to do this frequently, no habitually I believe is good for my mental to acknowledge that nothing has happened, I am okay, and if anything bad does happen, I will still be here. Worst case scenario is I am no longer here, but at least then that nothing well very well be apparent. Or maybe not at all haha.
Disgusting concept. South Park did a whole episode on this and it was 100% accurate.
what episode?
To go a step further with the ordinary personal being cancelled, a certain farm site exists that seems to pick out whomever they deem as not worthy of living. It's disgusting how far some people will go to make others miserable.
There's an old British movie from 1979 (pre computers, pre 'personal branding') called Being There. A one line summary is an old guy who was a gardener - probably on the Autistic spectrum, who is assumed to be something he's not from somebody misinterpreting him and Not Listening! He is quickly touted as some new age philosopher in the media. I remember that show well, and, having enjoyed the backdrop of a significant chunk of life before home computers, I now break out the popcorn. I think the world is actually living this movie. Absolutely recommend this movie to anyone looking for the pause button.
The way you put together videos is unreal, i love seeing the evolution of your content and im only at the intro but its already UNREAL. i love it
I love that the title will pull in viewers who *want* to be brands, and then you tell them to touch grass 😂
the ol bait n switch :P
Perfect timing, as im currently struggling with these concepts right now. To eat, to keep a roof over my head, I have to commoditize myself. It feels like a form of prostitution, as if the elites are our pimps. Tired of playing this game…
Love this video. And it came to me at the perfect time. Thank you! ✨
My favorite documentary you did yet!!!!! What a hook at the beginning, simply brilliant
Easiest sub. Loved watching a great mind like yourself express a perspective a resonate with so deeply.
Enjoyed the awareness man, currently exercising in the back of my girlfriends parents place as I comment this. The key is 100% to touch grass. Can’t wait to see more, cheers mate!
Really big fan of this new confidence you’ve found and the self growth you share. Much love:)
no, I'm a little teapot
Great video man. That must have been a ton of work. Hilarious at points. Useful while I actually realize I am being pulled into personal brand world.
I’m in the process of setting up my Shopify now. The tech thing flies right over my head so it has been incredibly complicated. I’ll get there, though 💚 You’ve definitely helped my journey along! Can’t wait to see what you come up with for C.
I love the bit at the end about how to cope with all this, as an autistic person who’s generally pretty denigrated by media, it makes me laugh and is very affirming when a lot of self help advice it just “do things like an autistic person” (and in this case also surround yourself with us/people like us as well) I rally like the translating of “touch grass” to be get away from the online idea of yourself, instead of just “go outside” bc we can’t all do that (one of the many reasons I can’t is, funnily enough, I am allergic to grass lol.) 💜
Like so many issues that can negatively impact our lives, it's amazing how far back they started and then didn't really come to our attention until we all learned to compare notes (social media, vlogs, the podcast boom, and so on)
This strikes the perfect balance of your old content and new style content
I've wholeheartedly rejected the brand mindset. Its a meaningless word that people will apply to anything even though that thing is something else. I see it dying off in the near future. Anyone who's deep into it needs to go outside, leave their phone and other screens at home, and stand on a rural street corner for 5 hours while they shut their brain off. They need to escape the "grind" world of being a good little productive wageslave and remember there's more to life than work, and its worth fighting for the abolishing of having to earn a living. Living is free.
I think you have to first discover who are first, as a person. Favourite quote "Find your purpose or you're wasting air" - Nipsey Hussle.
I'm so grateful for the Alphabet Superset. I graduated in May and have been looking for a job in my industry since then with abysmal success, and my mental health is in the drain right now. The hardest part is feeling like I have put a ton of effort into something with no progress, which means no dopamine to help me cope with the disappointments. Working on this challenge has given me something to focus on that is completely unrelated to my job hunt. I do digital art as a hobby, and having a blueprint for making weekly projects has given me something to focus on. It's giving me a space to feel engaged and accomplished instead of feeling defeated. Having something I can work toward and being able to track my progress visually isn't fixing my life or curing my depression, but it's a lifeline that I am clinging to while I navigate this ocean of despair. Thank you. Just thank you.
SUCH a good video. Excited to see the rest of the 26 documentaries!
Dude, you're such a genius man, wtf!
The accurancy of this video is beyond imagination.
God damn! thanks for the content my man, it really is high quality
Thank you so so much man!!! Appreciate these words heaps xx
As always, this a well-researched, fun and interesting video from the amiable 'Mr Struth'. I agree with the conclusion - keep your feet on the ground, connect with others (in the outside world) and don't buy into your own bullshit.
I've watched this video nine times and it just gets better every time. Bravo! 👏
Struth you legend, i just had my eureka moment thanks to this. cheers
Very first time seeing a video of yours and I loved your style, in depth views.... definitely here for more! So watchable!
Since I found this channel at year ago it has been nothing but A+ content, good on ya mate
I was totally expecting you to say "The Blogs, The Blogs, The Blogs are on FIRE!"
4:18 literally, with wrighting, perfect pun sir.
I loved to learn about the IBM policy where they won't fire anyone once they hired. Sounds pretty relaxing.
Wow.. This new surperset is on fire! (I watched out of order, A, C, B)...
This one was.. scarily relevant as Im doing job searches atm and going through other stuff... but damn mate, really top notch stuff!
Great video as always. It's interesting to look back and see how branding developed into the beast it is today. I think a lot of us grew up through it, myself included, but didnt notice the major changes as we were living them every day.
That was awesome. Incredible amount of research and different threads brought together in an insightful and entertaining way. 👍
loved the video. The history part introducing the point and the whole discussion around it. Perfect, new subscriber from now!
Great documentary. Thanks.
I’m really enjoying this serious and I feel like we’re one brand, but we have different brands in our life-internet brand/persona, career/work persona, personal persona, family persona, you have to wear all these hats and it’s like who actually are we?
Great video! This brings a lot of context and nostalgia all at the same time.
This was amazing to watch. Thank you.
I'm so jealous of you maintaining this brand but keeping it so authentic as well. I don't know if it's adhd or trauma or whatever but I have such a diluted sense of SELF I can't even start putting it up online, I don't know who am I. I've worked in wildly different industries, I have wildly different interests, my political views are nuanced to the point I can't align myself with any group, I'm childfree aroace but those things are not super important to me either, they are lack of affiliation not a core part of personality. I work as an artist but even that is not something I crave to do, it's just a nice alternative to a 9/5 grind and I'm good enough with it.
I cannot curate my brand because I don't know what it is.
I thought of this quote i heard somewhere when i read what you typed:
"Jack of all trades, master of none; but oftentimes, better than one."
Maybe you can do multiple things instead focusing on only one?
love it
Omg!!! Ali, thank you! This means a lot to me coming from you ❤️ huge inspo
This would be the collab of the century!
Love this man! Excellent work!
I spose even the clothes you wear, the things you say, your hairstyle, its all your brand. I guess it's all about what are you going to turn your brand into
This was a really great follow up to the documentary "And the king said what a fantastic machine" - I just saw last weekend at Love&Anarchy film festival. Highly recommend that one too to anyone who has a chance to see it. Looking forward to the rest of the alphabet and what you come up with :)
I have some brain processing issues due to long-covid and the background music makes it hard, to listen to the words you’re saying AND keep up with the quick visuals at the same time and just hurts my brain. I think it’s fun once in awhile for a few seconds but when it persists, it’s difficult to watch to someone with cognitive impairment. Just wanted to share my pov ! love your work
struth - would love to see a video on how you built your current social life and any tips for doing so. Seems like it can make such a difference in someone’s lifestyle and you seem very qualified to give advice on that!
Omg that’s so brilliant that you’re using this framework to come up with ideas for videos! Brilliant! 🎉