In an age where the creator economy is booming and people are embracing the personal brand route, it’s got me thinking: which is better? Being known or staying anonymous?
I've seen both being utilised well and really helping people max out their careers, but it's interesting how in short, theres really no right or wrong answer. I think both have balanced pros and cons.
Anonymity, for example, you get to enjoy the privacy of your life which can be lost as you gain notoriety. It can also feel like less responsibility on your shoulders because once you gain notoriety, you’re seen as an example, almost a role model for people to follow. A lot of people would struggle to deal with that, especially if you don’t tie in with societies expectations. It’s like you can't be your full self and have to move fully PR trained due to the pressure to maintain your image (if you care about that) Let’s not forget the mystery that anonymity adds. We’ve seen mystery work so well with Carti, his Opium collective and more. People love figuring stuff out and being left curious. The whole mysterious gimmick has almost become a meme though with people being tired of it and people who try to mimick it. Additionally, to a degree you miss out on some of the benefits you would get if you were to be known.
On the other hand, notoriety. Contrary to what i was saying previously on not being able to be your full self, Slawn is one of the best examples of someone who’s wholeheartedly themselves, while not being anonymous. Furthermore, the notoriety allows people to connect and relate to you better, boosting your marketing & branding efforts. Your build more trust and humanise your brand. People love it when they resonate with you and better yet, look like you in terms of your background, ethnicity, appearance etc. It can also be a sense of fulfilment for those seeking status or further “give back” moves they plan on doing. It comes with a lot of leverage and benefits purely from the fact they “know the face behind the brand”
I guess it depends on YOU. what can you handle? What do you value? whats your long term goals? Who you are, shapes this answer.
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