Meet Jonathan George

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jonathan George a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Growing up, I never heard the terms “self-esteem” or “confidence.” Although I started working on my personal development journey at nine years old, it took me two decades of cultivating personal brands to gain a profound understanding of myself— the way I assist others in knowing themselves.  During this time, I realized something important – these two terms are very different.

Confidence is the “knowing” that something is true about ourselves.

Self-esteem embodies how we perceive and value ourselves even when we aren’t confident in certain areas of our lives.

You can feel confident about a specific skill or talent but still struggle to recognize your self-worth. For instance, take someone who knows they’re an excellent singer. But, lacking self-esteem, they might hesitate to share their talent with the world. Even if they do share it, they might find it challenging to understand how valuable their skill truly is.

The truth is, without developed self-esteem, your talent will never reach its full potential. Imagine a speaker – it’s well-made and knows its purpose. It can be confident in “knowing” it can amplify sound.  But without a power source, it remains unable to fulfill its intended function. That power source for us is self-esteem.

The good news is that both your confidence and self-esteem can be developed through consistent practice.

My self-esteem grew as I became more self-aware, acknowledged both my strengths and weaknesses, and embraced my core belief systems. By prioritizing intentional self-care and committing to personal growth, I significantly boosted my self-worth. The source of my self-esteem lies in my self-fulfillment and happiness. Even in moments where I lack confidence in certain areas of my life, my understanding of my worth remains unchanged. However, when I am confident, my well-developed self-esteem propels me to maximize my talents to their fullest potential. It also empowers me to recognize and demand my true value when utilizing those talents.

The frustrating part for me is realizing that this journey could have been much quicker had I had the right tools from the start. That’s why I’m so passionate about the work I do now. I’ve utilized my personal experience and expertise to refine the process, helping people swiftly grasp and improve their self-esteem. This empowerment enables them to radiate confidence, which catapults them to the success they desire.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a personal brand advocate, and I firmly believe that cultivating a strong personal brand is essential in today’s digital age. We live in a time where constant comparisons on social media, and competition in online dating and job searches are causing a significant increase in depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Understanding our true selves and effectively presenting ourselves to the world is not just relevant; it’s imperative.

As the CEO of Unleash Your Rockstar – Personal Brand Agency, I’ve personally experienced the struggle of finding my own identity, understanding my desires, and aligning all the aspects of my being. The world shouts, “Be you,” but how can we do that when we don’t know who we are? Most of us are lost beneath layers of insecurities and fears. Without self-confidence, building relationships and trust is nearly impossible, and achieving success in our goals becomes even more challenging.

That’s why I’m passionate about helping my clients embrace their authentic selves. I’m proud to say that my clients have collectively amassed over 150 million online followers by rocking their truest selves. They leverage their authenticity to succeed in their endeavors.

Many so-called “experts” commonly emphasize that a personal brand consists of elements like a website, fonts, colors, or meticulously crafted social media content centered around your professional expertise or what you “do.” However, I’m here to tell you that your personal brand is, in fact, YOU! You are not what you do! You can achieve remarkable success without relying on these external elements. While we do create and develop these assets for our high-achieving clients, it’s crucial to understand that they are constructed upon the foundation of their true essence and core identity.

I assist individuals in discovering themselves both internally and externally, empowering them with the profound confidence that self-awareness brings. It’s not just about knowing who we are but also about learning how to package our authentic selves in a way that the world can understand.

At our agency, we cater to a diverse clientele, including celebrity brands, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and those who aspire to make a significant impact on the world. However, recognizing the mental health crisis affecting our youth, primarily due to the impact of social media, I founded Rock My Campus. This initiative employs personal branding to help educators and students become more self-aware, self-confident, and resilient individuals. This innovative method has already made a huge impact in just two years.

I’m excited to share that my upcoming book, “Unleash Your Rockstar – The Power of You Through Personal Branding,” is set to hit the stands in January 2024. It’s designed to empower Gen Z and Millennials to develop themselves personally and professionally, providing them with the tools and insights needed to thrive in today’s world.

In summary, I’m dedicated to helping individuals embrace their authentic selves, navigate the challenges of the digital age, and build a personal brand that not only sets them apart but also contributes positively to their mental well-being and success. With the agency, the launch of “Unleash Your Rockstar”, and the Rock My Campus initiative, I aim to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and our society as a whole.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on my personal and professional journey, there were three qualities or areas of knowledge that I believe had the most significant impact on my path. These qualities not only shaped my personal development but also played a crucial role in my work in personal branding. Here they are, along with some advice for those who are early in their journey:

  1. Embrace Your Core Talents (CTs): One of the most transformative insights I acquired revolved around what I refer to as Core Talents (CTs). These intrinsic attributes form the very essence of our identity. They encompass a diverse spectrum of positive behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that shape our personality, character, and mindset. My background in the music and entertainment industry initially led me to focus on what I term “external talents” because they pertain to our actions, our “doings.” However, I came to realize that the most significant talents are those that reside internally. CTs are these internal talents, deeply woven into our DNA, and they serve as the driving force behind our actions and external talents. Recognizing and harnessing these core talents can empower individuals to surmount challenges and attain their aspirations. To those embarking on their journey, I encourage dedicating time to self-discovery, unveiling their unique core talents. This newfound understanding will lay the groundwork for personal and professional growth.
  2. Prioritize Your Being Over Your Doings: In a world that frequently emphasizes external achievements and talents, I’ve come to understand that your essence, your “being,” is the key to success in all your pursuits, your “doings”. While external talents, such as skills, knowledge, and expertise, are undeniably important, it’s equally crucial to nurture and embrace your internal talents. These core abilities serve as the driving force behind your accomplishments and undertakings. I urge individuals to make self-awareness and personal development a top priority, as doing so can streamline their lives and enable them to direct their energy towards endeavors that genuinely resonate with their core essence.
  3. Enhance Confidence Through Core Talents: Confidence plays a pivotal role in both personal and professional success. What I’ve come to realize is that comprehending and harnessing your core talents can significantly bolster your confidence, even in situations where it may initially be lacking. These innate abilities can be instrumental in overcoming inherent flaws, knowledge gaps, or areas where you may lack expertise. When you establish a profound connection with your core talents, it manifests as a potent and authentic confidence that serves as a source of inspiration and trust for others. My advice is to acknowledge that confidence is a quality that can be nurtured by aligning your actions with your core talents. This alignment has the potential to fuel heightened motivation, improved performance, and a positive influence on those in your sphere.

In summary, my journey has taught me the valuable lesson that personal branding and achieving success extend far beyond external achievements and skills. Recognizing your core talents, centering your focus on your inner self, and leveraging the confidence rooted in these talents are fundamental components of both personal and professional success. To those who are embarking on their journey, I strongly encourage you to step onto a path of self-discovery, wholeheartedly embracing your core talents. This newfound understanding will not only empower you to conquer your insecurities but also drive your actions, propelling you toward your goals. This transformative journey holds the potential to infuse your life with purpose, fulfillment, and a positive impact that can be felt by all those you encounter.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
A healthy mental state is crucial for the well-being of our personal brand, as it directly impacts our ability to be happy and perform at our best. To ensure my personal brand as well as my clients’ personal brands stay on course, I consistently emphasize the importance of maintaining alignment. To prevent overwhelm, I rely on three essential strategies:

  1. Core Values: Understanding what truly matters to you is essential. By identifying your core values, you can avoid activities and commitments that don’t align with your happiness. This, in turn, frees up more time and energy for pursuits that ignite your passion and bring you joy.
  2. Self-Care: Taking a holistic approach to self-care is vital. This involves tending to your physical, mental, spiritual, and financial well-being. To maintain balance and happiness, all four areas must be in harmony. When one aspect becomes imbalanced, it can quickly trigger stress and overwhelm in other areas of your life.
  3. Setting Intentions: Clarity and goal-setting are powerful tools for staying on track with what truly matters. Having a clear vision of your goals and a strategic plan to achieve them enables you to filter out unnecessary distractions that can clutter your mind and environment.

These practices help me and my driven clients stay focused on what truly matters and maintain the balance necessary for a successful and fulfilling life.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Levi Walker for professional photos. The others are mine.

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