120222 — Blog — Rulerless

Backward branding

When I think of great personal branding, I think of pop stars.

Pop stars — the ones who are the best at being pop stars — are incredible at making it seem like they aren’t trying, even when they have a whole team carefully crafting their image.

They cultivate an air of mystery, yet they are easily recognizable, even with a just a symbol. Think of Madonna’s lace gloves, Elvis’ sideburns, or Michael Jackson’s red leather jacket.

Casey von NeumannNovember 15, 2022120222, 011023Comment

Playing the part

A few years ago, I had to front a band.

This was a bit of a crisis for me. I had spent twenty years trying to never be the “chick singer,” out there with just a tambourine for company (sorry, Stevie Nicks). I had always hid behind a guitar, piano, or even a drum set in order to present myself as a “real musician” (with all the internalized misogyny inherent in that statement).

And now, with all the roles filled, it was on me to just sing (and play a little tambourine).

Casey von NeumannNovember 14, 2022120222, 012623Comment

Let us get to know you

When I was in high school there was no social media. There wasn’t even email.

So how did I maintain relationships with the kids from other schools that I met at music camp? Or my friends who went away to college and elsewhere?

We wrote letters back and forth. Actual letters, on paper.

Casey von NeumannNovember 3, 2022111522, 112122, 120222, 120522, 021023 Comments

The unapologetic schoolmarm

As many women do, I found myself recently in one of those cocktail party conversations that I didn’t realize until later that I could have ended much sooner.

I was working to maintain a comfortable distance from my conversation partner, who had apparently been drinking heavily. Unconsciously, he closed the distance every time until he had backed me directly into a tree.

Casey von NeumannOctober 28, 2022111422, 112222, 112922, 120222, 010523, 020923Comment

What other people think

At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, Fiona Apple, at not quite twenty years old, accepted her award for Best New Artist with a speech that earned the criticism and derision of many.

“This world is bullshit,” she said, her choice of words bleeped by the censors. “You shouldn’t model your life about what you think that we think is cool and what we’re wearing and what we’re saying and everything. Go with yourself. Go with yourself.”

Casey von NeumannJuly 7, 2022072222, 072522, 092922, 120222, 121922, 123022, 010923Comment