Brand Sacha Is Back...

[co] Okay so back into the week… rolling along… after 2 rather average weeks of training. Punctuated with the flu, despondency and general lack of oomph (so therefore the lack of posts).

So this week got a bit of the old mojo back and have been rolling through the sessions. Anything that involves hard efforts I have still been doing at 80% (if lucky) as body still not fully charged, but enjoying getting the routine back. But have managed to get all running sessions ticked, bar one, it’s the swimming and biking which have suffered the most… which kind of sucks as for once (and I remind you its all relative) I actually was almost enjoying swimming… almost….

Now the point/theme of this post is about personal brands. What it is that we project about ourselves to others and how we are seen by others…. Now the fit with a blog about running a marathon is that those of us who do these kinds of things, such as marathons, do project a certain type of image to others.

We find camaraderie with those who do the same kind of things and elicit certain responses from those who don’t. From a simple sharing of 'what are you training for?'... we have each other sussed.

Now I have just started a new job. Which is also which made me think about this. No matter what I try it is hard for me not to become this person who ‘trains’, ‘races’ etc… Because in the end when I am asked ‘how was your weekend?’ it inevitably includes a reference to swimming, biking or running… not as much drinking as there used to be… and there you go, I am put into a box.

Now its not like it’s a box I don’t like. And to be fair when thinking about why we do these things… when the training is hard and not the normal definition of fun… a part of me admits that there is an appeal in being the sort of person who can do this and also an appeal in not being a person who doesn’t and all the stereotypes that image conveys.

So looking back on the 2 weeks where my training was interrupted I was also having a crisis of ‘who am I?’ (well maybe not so dramatic, but sounds better). Because while I was enjoying my enforced time off etc and motivation lacking… what was I about? If I wasn’t working towards a marathon or Ironman? Could I become a corporate ladder climber only? What would take the place of my sport obsession?

If not, what would people think of me? What do they think of me now?

Am I boxed in as an intense, focused, driven person? Are these positive or negative traits? What does sport as a core to your personal brand say about you in the wider picture?

I guess in the end I am happy with what it portrays... I cultivate it and it becomes even harder to avoid over the years.... so maybe I should just embrace it fully.... (but no tattoo yet; thats a whole other box I am not sure I can to yet)... So the question is what brand do you portray? If you don't like it... maybe time for a change...