Why Trying to Please Everyone Is Killing Your Brand episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 24, 2025 · 45 MIN

Why Trying to Please Everyone Is Killing Your Brand

from Balanced Ambition · host Matt Southam

Is your personal brand holding you back without you even realising?In this episode, personal branding coach Ben Stickland explains why trying to please everyone is one of the biggest mistakes you can make — and how being more you is the ultimate growth strategy.We unpack his “Be More YOU” framework, how to attract the right clients without the sales calls, and why your quirks might just be your biggest superpower.📲 Connect with Ben:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thepersonalbrandingguy/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepersonalbrandingguy/🕒 Timestamps:00:00 - What a personal brand actually is01:23 - Why Ben left employment to build his own thing02:12 - Why pleasing everyone is bad for business05:00 - “You’re not an office kettle” explained06:30 - Avoiding nightmare clients08:30 - Corporate hangovers & being ‘palatable’ online11:00 - People-pleasing and holding back opinions13:45 - Branding and… how you eat your KitKat?17:35 - Using AI to be more human, not less20:00 - Visual cues that make you unforgettable22:00 - Moustaches, mullets, and making a statement23:30 - The dating analogy that says it all27:00 - Authenticity as a sales filter32:00 - “Be More YOU” framework explained34:00 - Redefining success on your terms36:00 - Stop bragging about being busy40:00 - Boundaries, payment terms, and knowing your worth42:00 - The power of collaborations43:15 - Final thoughts on being unfiltered

Is your personal brand holding you back without you even realising?In this episode, personal branding coach Ben Stickland explains why trying to please everyone is one of the biggest mistakes you can make — and how being more you is the ultimate growth strategy.We unpack his “Be More YOU” framework, how to attract the right clients without the sales calls, and why your quirks might just be your biggest superpower.📲 Connect with Ben:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thepersonalbrandingguy/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepersonalbrandingguy/🕒 Timestamps:00:00 - What a personal brand actually is01:23 - Why Ben left employment to build his own thing02:12 - Why pleasing everyone is bad for business05:00 - “You’re not an office kettle” explained06:30 - Avoiding nightmare clients08:30 - Corporate hangovers & being ‘palatable’ online11:00 - People-pleasing and holding back opinions13:45 - Branding and… how you eat your KitKat?17:35 - Using AI to be more human, not less20:00 - Visual cues that make you unforgettable22:00 - Moustaches, mullets, and making a statement23:30 - The dating analogy that says it all27:00 - Authenticity as a sales filter32:00 - “Be More YOU” framework explained34:00 - Redefining success on your terms36:00 - Stop bragging about being busy40:00 - Boundaries, payment terms, and knowing your worth42:00 - The power of collaborations43:15 - Final thoughts on being unfiltered

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Why Trying to Please Everyone Is Killing Your Brand

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This episode is 45 minutes long.

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This episode was published on September 24, 2025.

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Is your personal brand holding you back without you even realising?In this episode, personal branding coach Ben Stickland explains why trying to please everyone is one of the biggest mistakes you can make — and how being more you is the ultimate...

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