Baby, I Was Born This Way.
When you think about it, personal branding is a form of soul-seeking. It helps you discover your identity, your quirks, your priorities, and what and who really matters to you in your professional and personal life. Despite what multiple websites may tell us, the so-called ‘personality test’ did not come about with the advent of the internet; it’s been around forever.
In ancient India, horoscopes and the science of astrology were commonly adopted methods to seek one’s identity and answer the more metaphysical questions about life according to the placement of your stars. The questions ranged from employment prospects, to monetary stability, to the eternal search for peace of mind and tranquility, interpreted for the seekers by jyothishes (transl: astrologers). As has been scientifically proven now, some of these astrologers possessed legitimate knowledge of the universe, allowing them to analyze personalities basis cosmic positions. People came from far and wide to seek out this universal knowledge as a way to uncover their identities and satisfy their soul-searching quenches.
Reading horoscopes was, in many ways, ancient India’s zeitgeist to personal branding.
While taking ‘The Fascinate Test’ by Sally Hogshead, the word ‘Fascinate’ really stood out to me. It seemed to me that the test was fundamentally designed to show you how others perceive you (unlike other personality tests that tell you how you see the world), and I immediately looked forward to my report. Many young professionals today (including myself) find it challenging to package and effectively articulate their personal identities during job interviews, or any other opportunity that is time-sensitive (the fleeting 9-second elevator pitch). Furthermore, the format of prompts using a likert scale to respond made the test extremely accessible, easy to comprehend and relevant to every person.
My archetype according to the test is “The Catalyst”– Out-of-the-box, social, energizing, enthusiastic & creative with my primary triggers being ‘Passion’ first and ‘Innovation’ second. Strangely enough, I already knew all of that about myself, and I simply agreed with the output.
So how did I already know this?
The concept of Astrology & Horoscopes have been a strong influence throughout my upbringing. The mere difference however, was the style in which the two outputs were packaged. ‘The Fascinate Test’ felt more marketable, outward facing and positively engaging, whereas a conventional horoscope chart reading is solemn, rooted in context and forewarning.
At-A-Glance
The most significant difference that this test made for me, was how coherent and uniquely organized the results were, providing me with concrete, yet succinct touchstone on how I would go about branding my identity. I also discovered that personality traits mean differently in different contexts. Yes, I may be social, energizing and out-of-the-box in a context that nurtures those traits for me, whereas I might be diametrically opposite in another context.
The takeaway was that personal branding lies in the atmosphere, the people and the culture that allows one to inculcate their identities. Moreover, it lies in finding purpose. A great example here — and for this we’ll have to go into the archives– is Henry Ford, a pioneer in his industry if there ever was one. Henry Ford obviously took his personal branding quite literally and named an automobile behemoth after himself (if that’s not a testament to confidence, I don’t know what is). The important thing to note here is that he had immense pride in the quality of his work, and he achieved this not by re-inventing the wheel each time he produced a new car, but by streamlining his system, his process and ultimately, himself. In essence, he seeked out his soul, his purpose.
‘The Fascinate Test’ helped me introspect and understand the cultural nuances as to why my personality is the way that it is and more importantly, how to find purpose within these answers. I understood that personalities cannot be viewed in isolation, for they do not exist in silos; they thrive in purpose, confidence, and in the right context. I speak of horoscopes and astrology because my culture– a civilization that has been around for centuries– has taught me that individuals exist as one of a whole, a single drop in the ocean, and that individuals are only as strong as the contexts within which they exist. Personality traits can be deployed accordingly.
With this in mind, taking this test has allowed me to understand a few key facets of my personality, and will allow me to employ them when and where I feel necessary, with purpose and with drive. Because baby, I was born this way.
