2 Bad Personal Branding Examples That Will Make You Cringe
Introduction
Personal branding is the process of building an image and reputation for yourself in the professional world. It’s important to present yourself in a positive light to achieve career success. While many people are doing it right, there are some bad examples of personal branding that can make you cringe. In this article, we will discuss two such examples.
The Fyre Festival Founder
In 2017, Billy McFarland organized the Fyre Festival, a music festival that was supposed to take place on a private island in the Bahamas. The festival was marketed as a luxurious experience, with top-notch accommodations, gourmet meals, and big-name musical acts. However, the reality was far from what was promised. Attendees paid thousands of dollars for tickets and arrived on the island to find that nothing had been properly prepared. The accommodations were cheap tents, the food was limited, and there were no musical acts.
The fallout from the Fyre Festival was disastrous. McFarland was charged with fraud and sentenced to six years in prison. His personal brand, which had been built on the idea of a wealthy entrepreneur who could create exclusive experiences, was ruined. Instead of being seen as an innovator, he was now a criminal.
The Juicero CEO
In 2017, Doug Evans founded Juicero, a company that sold a $400 juicer that could only be used with proprietary juice bags. The product was marketed as a breakthrough in healthy living, but it quickly became clear that it was not delivering on its promises. News outlets reported that the juice bags could be squeezed by hand, making the expensive juicer unnecessary.
Evans’ personal brand was built on his passion for healthy living and innovation. However, his company’s product was revealed to be a scam, and he became the subject of public ridicule. He was forced to step down from his position as CEO, and his reputation took a major hit.
Conclusion
Personal branding is important for career success, but it’s important to do it right. The examples of Billy McFarland and Doug Evans show what can happen when personal branding goes wrong. Instead of being seen as successful innovators, both men became known for their dishonesty and scams. To build a strong personal brand, it’s important to be honest, authentic, and deliver on your promises.
