There is something called a public face and a private face

This describes the whole essence of public relations as a discipline

Every human being has a public face, which, when defined simply, means how the general public sees and perceives the person

This public face is mostly composed of makeup, wig, powder, lipstick, BBL, breast implants, cheerful demeanor, and steeze

 

This face is what is seen on the TV, in the photo Album on the phone, and impressed on the hearts of onlookers and the general public

The term, making an impression is a product of the public face

Impressions are not natural; they are products of an extra effort to leave people with a belief or an understanding of the person beyond their natural abilities or proclivities

 

The private face describes the true state of things. Michael Jackson was a child at heart, but the King of Pop in public.

Whitney Houston was a victim of an abusive marriage in secret, but a global icon in public

Charley Boy was an irresponsible man to the public, but a loving and responsible man in private

 

I think you get the idea now.

You project a persona deliberately for the public to see constantly, and retain in their mind’s eye as who they truly are, while they keep a private face of who they truly are away from the public

 

Those who are familiar with superstars don’t see them as superstars.

They see their vulnerabilities, the chinks in their armor, the childish behaviour, the combustible nature, and their insecurities.

The public does not see that because seeing it would ruin their image, and the image is the true value of their worth.

 

Fela’s portrait adorns the walls of hotels globally because of his public image

Fela depicts an antisocial deviant, a social justice crusader, and an anti-corruption persona.

He is not a role model any parent wants their child to emulate, but he is nonetheless an icon

 

That is how unpredictable branding is.

A bad boy image sells, a bad girl image sells, a gangsta image sells, a slut image (Kim K) sells, a good boy image sells, a good girl image sells, notoriety sells, infamy sells, anything that brings you to the limelight sells

 

The problem with branding is that once an image sticks, changing it takes a lot of work. If your public face is that of a thief, you get to keep being a thief in people’s minds for a lifetime. If they see you as a child molester, that is who you are. If they see you as a chef, you may have other businesses and excel in them too, but you will be stuck in their hearts as a chef.

 

George Weah will more likely be remembered as a footballer than as the president of Liberia, and Arsene Wenger will more likely be remembered as the former coach of Arsenal than as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development. When images stick, they do so for a while, and only a few people get to change their image successfully in a lifetime

 

A bad name sticks.

In today’s social media space, a bad name defines people deeply.

Most people remember the line from Nedu’s ex-wife on that podcast where she said her husband assumed that one of her children was his, and she didn’t bother to correct him.

That statement redefined marriage for many people

 

In today’s world, almost everybody can be researched on social media

You meet a new man or lady, and you want to know what their past is all about

You type the person’s name on google and all sorts will pop up

 

As much as possible, please preserve your good name as a man or as a woman.

 

A friend wanted to get married recently.

He met the lady, and they really connected

The lady told her older brother, who lived in the USA, about him

The older brother gave the name to a professional to do a thorough research on him

 

The research revealed that he was divorced five years ago. It revealed details of the woman he got divorced from in London and his son.

This was after he had paid a professional to scrub all his details off the internet

 

The greatest disservice you can do for yourself as a person is to cast yourself in a negative light on social media because you acted in a certain manner, either out of emotion or intentionally

Once the Image sticks, that is who you are

 

Baba Ijesha will tell you this for a fact. He tried reconstructing the narrative recently on a podcast, and the backlash was so venomous that the podcaster had to pull down the episode and apologise to the general public.

A good name is better than gold and silver.

 

There are people who will do things that will bring them out of obscurity into the limelight deliberately

There are people who do things and find themselves in the limelight unintentionally

The former is always better than the latter

If you will be popular, please be popular for the right reasons

Let your public face be your own creation and not as a result of a misadventure

 

You are in charge of your destiny!

Always remember this.

 

-GSW-