In business, it’s good to care what people think about you. Even if they’re thinking, “Wow, she doesn’t give a crap about what people think about her!”, you care that they’re thinking that. The beauty happens when what people think about you lines up with the awesomeness that you actually stand for. And by beauty, I mean a bigger, happier, audience who wants to shout your name to the heavens. You and your clients riding off into the sunset. More cash to free your life up. You know. Beauty.

A mini-step before we get started

Before we dive into step one on Thursday (Tuesday/Thursday posts are back! Jello pudding all around!), I need you to come prepared. Humor my teacher-side for a second and grab a pencil and some paper. Write down ten words to describe the way people feel about you right now. Or rather, how you think they feel about you. Use your intuition. Here are some examples:

• A dedicated father/mother
• Snarky
• Really, really affordable (read: cheap!)
• Invisible
• Stylish
• Business-like
• Self-promote-y
• Unreachable
• Uber confident
• Happy!

Now, make a second list of ten words that describe the real you. The way people who totally get you would describe you. The way you would describe yourself when your flame is burning brightest. Some examples:

• Funny
• Book-lover
• Super high quality
• Well-respected in whatever field you’re in
• Always has new ideas
• Always knows where to go/who to talk to
• Genuine
• Everything you do is amazing
• Smart
• Trend-starter

Now look at your two lists. Are they the same? If not (even if they’re just a little bit off), I’m writing this series for you. And I’m writing it for me, too.

What it means to be yourself on the web

When people tell you to be yourself on the web, they usually mean that you shouldn’t talk like a robot. That you should acknowledge and embrace the fact that you’re a real person or that your team is made up of real people. Other than that, all’s fair, baby. As Sparky commented last week:

Do your thing. You’re a rock star. You’re ninjariffic. It’s a game! You’re JanisJoplinTreCoolGwenStafaniAnthonyKeidis all rolled into one huge rock idol.

(Sparky. Is. Awesome.)

Saying that there’s one particular way to be yourself is like saying there’s one way to freestyle — it just doesn’t make any sense. Still, there is a way to cut the confusion out of all of this.

Ambiguity, be gone!

Over the next month, we’re going to talk about how to change people’s minds about you. Even if you’ve got a bunch of raving fans, it’s good to go through this process once a year or so to re-align yourself with your audience.

Ready? Come armed with your lists and your thinking caps (again with the teacher-mode!) on Thursday.