Those who do and those who don't......those who will and those who won't....

Last night I went to a 'Personal Branding Meet Up', this was two firsts for me and I found both quite interesting. I had never been to a 'meet up' with a group of like minded sorts and I had never really looked into Personal Branding on any level. It was presented by Marian Schembari and I found this event incredibly interesting in quite a few different ways.  

Seeing yourself personally as a sellable brand is fascinating, we can just about market anything in this very capitalist world. As an anthropologist I additionally find marketing and advertising incredibly fascinating.  Studying a group of people, how they think to persuade them into buying lots of stuff they possibly don't need. What could possibly be better than that??  A friend used to tell me advertising is evil, I think it's magic.

Aside from this meeting someone like Marian who at a young age (well younger than me ;)) is incredibly charismatic, inspirational and hugely successful at marketing herself and her business.

This made me consider what separates the likes of the Schembari's and the Zuckerberg's in the world from the rest of the masses.  These dynamic sorts who just 'do', whilst the rest of us just 'think'.  

I have always had massive issues with people who moan about their lives, their lot and never do anything about it (especially in the luxury of the decadent Western world), I never really considered myself to be included in this.  Sure I moan when things piss me off (who doesn't), but if they piss me off long enough I'm outta there, fixing it, changing it. I'm interested to know why it's really that hard for others to change their lives?  I remember seeing a quote once that said 'all change is good' because as a very beautiful friend of mine says....there are no mistakes just lessons. 

So many people have said to me 'you were so lucky to go travelling, I wish I could go travelling'.  

This angers me for two reasons. 

Firstly it annoys me because sure I was lucky to go travelling, but I saved my money, I booked all my travel and accommodation and I did it.  That wasn't luck, this was me making a change, I actively went out and did what I wanted to do.  Secondly if you want to go travelling, go fucking travelling, there is nothing stopping you.  This is where you sit here and think of a million reasons excuses, to not go, to not do.  There will always be excuses to not do something, sure it's easier to be inactive, to not change.  

However.... if that's the choice you make, to just 'be' you can not in good faith moan about it or look at those successful types who are living the lives that you want and be envious....because when you were just 'existing' that flash of light that glanced past you was them living.  

So either put up or shut up.  You only have one life so get living you lot!!!!