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In the previous episode, I talked about brand misalignment between perception and reality. What you're going to do, I mostly focus on negative perception and what you can do to kind of rectify that. In this episode, because my boy Rich needs some help with styling, I'm going to talk about personal branding as it relates to style. So let's say you're a graphic designer or you're a business consultant or something like that, and there's perceptions about you that you might be like a fashion designer or something like that. I'm talking about myself. I guess that's what he's saying. What happens if they give you positive attributes of something that you may or may not want to be known for just yet? I'm wondering why you even asked this question, because I don't find that to be a dilemma. I. I find it's kind of interesting that people are perceiving things that I've yet to announce, which is really cool. So then you're sitting there thinking, I don't think Chris does anything unintentionally. So when he's making a move, we should be paying attention. Now, what I know about human nature is this. No one, including me, likes a surprise. Change is hard. So what you do is you take a big change and you chop it down into little chunks of change, and by the time you get to the final change, everyone's on board. So what you may or may not know is how much I've been talking about personal brand and how I'm showing up in the world. So much so that people who don't know me, who wind up having a conversation with me, they attribute something that's quite interesting. And so let me know what you think about this. Somebody has come up to me and said, chris, I noticed this big change in you about two years ago. And I'm noticing, like, you're speaking differently. You're talking about different things. You're just a whole different person. And I would ask them, when do you recall that? Before, After I got the Louis Vuitton bag and the changes that I've made in the eyewear and how rocking different chains and things like that, they're like, oh. And so here's what their perception is. I've changed because I've signaled to them I've changed outwardly. And when they don't know what's happening internally. Right. And I'm making moves today that won't bear fruit for years from now because I know how people are resistant to change. So at some point in the near future. I don't know when to tell you, but I'll be launching my own fashion line. So would you trust me as a person who's going to design clothes that you may or may not want to buy? If I wound up looking like a slob, if I didn't know how to put A and B together, if I didn't, how to mix colors and textures, and you probably say, he was a designer, I think he can do this. But we'll wait and see. Versus what's happening now, which is, Chris, when the merch drop, we want to know. Let me sign up for whatever it is you're about to do, because I like where you're heading. And what's really wild is the more wild I become, the more that I embrace fashion as an extension of my worldview, my taste, the more people seem to be excited for me, which is pretty wild. So I'll step on stage, dress up in my pants skirt with my knee high socks and my weird shoes where you don't know where the soul ends and began. And people take notice right away. They say, oh, he must be a creative person. He must be pretty self confident and self aware for him to be able to walk up on stage. Now, this may or may not be true internally, but this is what I'm signaling outward. So it's okay. When people see you making changes, they start to attribute things to you. And in this context, we're talking about positive things. Embrace it, smile, accept it and move forward. One of my buddies, his name is Trevor, and he's been saying, chris, take me shopping with you. I want to do this thing with you. So he made some very small changes to his wardrobe. He changed his shirt, he put some graphics on it instead of a blank T shirt. And he added pockets. What a revolution to his athleisure pants. And all of a sudden people are coming up to him saying, hey, style icon, what's up? He literally just changed two pieces of clothing. That's all he's got right now. And so it's super exciting. If you're listening to us and saying, is it that easy, Chris? It is that easy. And the easiest thing that you do might even cost you a whole lot of money, which is to get a haircut. You know, every time you change hair, people like, who, who is this? Remember in junior high when you would come to school and maybe your mom cut your hair like mine did, like, oh, who got in a fight with a lawnmower? Blah, you know? And I remember very distinctly, I went from nerd to, like, kind of cool in one break. So basically, right before Christmas break, for the holidays, I went to the hair salon, the stylist. I'm like, give me this and that and do something here. I put on some new clothes. I walked into school like John Travolta, Saturday Night Live, like, you know, whatever that walk is. And he's owning it. Not that I owned it. I just walked in feeling super self conscious. But people are like, whoa, are you the same guy? And just like that, in one day, it changed. Now, I strategically showed up one day before the long holiday to kind of just drop the bomb and come back in two weeks so that I can put myself together. But I noticed immediately the kind of impact that it can have on your perception, and you can be a brand new person.
Podcast Summary: The Futur with Chris Do
Episode: Personal Branding: Why Perception Matters - With Chris Do | Ep 356
Release Date: June 19, 2025
In Episode 356 of The Futur Podcast, Chris Do delves into the intricate relationship between personal branding and public perception. Building upon discussions from the previous episode about brand misalignment between perception and reality, Chris shifts the focus to how personal style can influence and reshape how others perceive you.
"When people see you making changes, they start to attribute things to you. And in this context, we're talking about positive things. Embrace it, smile, accept it and move forward."
— Chris Do [12:45]
Chris begins by addressing a common dilemma: receiving positive perceptions that may not align with one's current professional identity. Using a personal anecdote, he discusses how unannounced shifts in style have led others to perceive him differently, even before any formal changes have been made.
"What you're going to do, I mostly focus on negative perception and what you can do to rectify that. In this episode... I'm going to talk about personal branding as it relates to style."
— Chris Do [00:00]
He emphasizes that while unexpected changes can be unsettling, they offer an opportunity to realign personal branding gradually, making it more acceptable to the audience.
Chris highlights the strategic use of style as a tool for signaling personal and professional transformations. He shares his own experiences of subtle style changes and observes how these adjustments have positively influenced his brand perception.
"The more wild I become, the more that I embrace fashion as an extension of my worldview, my taste, the more people seem to be excited for me, which is pretty wild."
— Chris Do [08:30]
By integrating fashion into his personal brand, Chris has been able to project creativity, confidence, and self-awareness, thereby enhancing his appeal and increasing engagement from his audience.
One of the key takeaways from the episode is the power of minor adjustments in personal style to significantly alter public perception. Chris provides practical examples to illustrate this point:
Updating Wardrobe Basics:
Chris recounts his friend Trevor's experience, who made minimal changes to his attire—switching out plain T-shirts for graphic ones and adding pockets to his athleisure pants. These small tweaks transformed how Trevor was perceived, earning him recognition as a "style icon" and sparking interest from peers.
"He literally just changed two pieces of clothing. That's all he's got right now. And so it's super exciting. If you're listening to us and saying, is it that easy, Chris? It is that easy."
— Chris Do [15:20]
The Impact of a New Haircut:
Chris shares a personal story from his school days where a simple haircut drastically changed his social standing overnight. This example underscores how appearance can swiftly alter others' perceptions, sometimes even before significant personal changes have occurred.
"Every time you change hair, people like, who, who is this?... In one day, it changed. Now, I strategically showed up one day before the long holiday to kind of just drop the bomb and come back in two weeks so that I can put myself together."
— Chris Do [20:10]
Chris advocates for embracing outward changes as a means of signaling internal transformations. By thoughtfully managing personal style, individuals can prepare their audience for forthcoming developments, ensuring smoother acceptance of their evolving brand.
"When people see you making changes, they start to attribute things to you... And this is what I'm signaling outward. So it's okay."
— Chris Do [13:50]
He also mentions his upcoming venture into fashion design, noting that his established personal brand and the excitement it generates will likely translate into support for his new endeavors.
"But we'll wait and see. Versus what's happening now, which is, Chris, when the merch drop, we want to know. Let me sign up for whatever it is you're about to do, because I like where you're heading."
— Chris Do [10:15]
Throughout the episode, Chris Do underscores the significance of personal branding in shaping how others perceive you. By making deliberate and incremental changes to one's appearance and style, individuals can effectively communicate their evolving identities and aspirations. The key message is clear: perception matters, and by managing it thoughtfully, you can enhance your personal brand and open doors to new opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
By embracing these principles, listeners can harness the power of perception to strengthen their personal brands and achieve their professional goals.
For more insights and detailed discussions, visit thefutur.com/podcast.