What Do you and Tiger Woods Have in Common?

Can we really split our individual life from our business? According to internet guru Gary Vaynerchuk you can't. These days, it’s just a bitter hard reality that every body is their very own branding outlet and more than capable to broadcast everything they need to everyone at large through the internet. You can connect with thousands of fans just by sending out a tweet! See @MichaelBesson

Nowadays everything you do and everything you tweet is basically out in the open until digital death do you part. Yes, someday your children's children will be able to scrutinize your personal life online!

So, if we are saying one thing and doing another, sooner or later you’re going to get called out on it.

Unlike a number of politicians that can retain their people for a couple, four or seven years despite their irrational personal lives, the foundations of real business are a bit distinct. For our private brands to have substance, they have to be consistent with our personal life.

It can be risky to build an individual identity around a specific reputation or persona that may not be enthusiastic or capable to live up to that brand.

That’s never to say that you can't still do things right and now have some demented wacko write about you everywhere concerning something totally untrue (its happened to me.) But it does suggest that in today’s digital business environment ultimately, how you show up consistently over time and over the internet will eventually prevail.

If you are straightforward, operate with integrity and present followers a heavy value proposition that should show up over time. Contrarily, in case you’re schlepping garbage and attempting to create a quick buck, the digital world will nail you when it does, it’s big game over!

That is why when individuals like Elliot Spitzer or Tiger Woods get uncovered we feel disappointed and let down. It’s as if we had bought an upscale product only to find out that it doesn’t perform as marketed.


It was once that business was business and what we did in our individual life was private, but in the age of individual branding and social media, business is personal. So what’s the answer? Do things correctly, play the sport to win but play the game to provide a lot more than you get in return. Sort out how to offer someone a $1,000 of value for $100 and folks will write your ticket to success.

Michael Besson is known as a key note speaker, life-long entrepreneur and the creator of BizChangerZ.com. He serves start up and emerging companies with strategic planning and business development.  Since 1994, Michael has delivered bleeding edge online & offline marketing, consulting services for clients nationwide. For further information on Michael or his online / offline marketing strategies, email BizChangerZ@gmail.com.