my wife planned a special night for my birthday we’re sitting at an amazing
birthday we’re sitting at an amazing
birthday we’re sitting at an amazing Michelin star rated restaurant she looks
Michelin star rated restaurant she looks
Michelin star rated restaurant she looks stunning as she always does and I’m
stunning as she always does and I’m
stunning as she always does and I’m trying to hold my own in the suit like
trying to hold my own in the suit like
trying to hold my own in the suit like this and when the food starts coming out
this and when the food starts coming out
this and when the food starts coming out I think what so many of us think
I think what so many of us think
I think what so many of us think nowadays that will look great on
nowadays that will look great on
nowadays that will look great on Instagram the appetizer comes out oh
Instagram the appetizer comes out oh
Instagram the appetizer comes out oh wait don’t take a bite main course oh
wait don’t take a bite main course oh
wait don’t take a bite main course oh that’s nice snap honey what’s wrong oh
that’s nice snap honey what’s wrong oh
that’s nice snap honey what’s wrong oh look at that dessert it looks perfect
look at that dessert it looks perfect
look at that dessert it looks perfect hold holds click lighting filter setting
hold holds click lighting filter setting
hold holds click lighting filter setting post content I mean it was awesome but
post content I mean it was awesome but
post content I mean it was awesome but my pride in taking those perfect shots
my pride in taking those perfect shots
my pride in taking those perfect shots was interrupted when I looked up from my
was interrupted when I looked up from my
was interrupted when I looked up from my phone and saw my wife sitting there
phone and saw my wife sitting there
phone and saw my wife sitting there alone how did this become normal my
alone how did this become normal my
alone how did this become normal my normal
for me it has a lot to do with my job a
for me it has a lot to do with my job a job that I love I’m a personal trainer
job that I love I’m a personal trainer
job that I love I’m a personal trainer and it’s a very personal profession
and it’s a very personal profession
and it’s a very personal profession interaction with the trainer is
interaction with the trainer is
interaction with the trainer is extremely intimate we all have body
extremely intimate we all have body
extremely intimate we all have body insecurities a little extra belly fat
insecurities a little extra belly fat
insecurities a little extra belly fat scrawny legs arms that keep waving long
scrawny legs arms that keep waving long
scrawny legs arms that keep waving long after you’ve stopped and you’re about to
after you’ve stopped and you’re about to
after you’ve stopped and you’re about to hire someone to literally stare at talk
hire someone to literally stare at talk
hire someone to literally stare at talk about and work those bits we all prefer
about and work those bits we all prefer
about and work those bits we all prefer never to showcase so it comes as no
never to showcase so it comes as no
never to showcase so it comes as no surprise to me that before you start
surprise to me that before you start
surprise to me that before you start working with me
working with me
working with me you start creeping on me who’s this dude
you start creeping on me who’s this dude
you start creeping on me who’s this dude I’m about to spend time with and these
I’m about to spend time with and these
I’m about to spend time with and these days you don’t ask for my credentials
days you don’t ask for my credentials
days you don’t ask for my credentials resume or go to my website you go to my
resume or go to my website you go to my
resume or go to my website you go to my Instagram so then the question for me
Instagram so then the question for me
Instagram so then the question for me then becomes what elements of myself do
then becomes what elements of myself do
then becomes what elements of myself do I show you the marketing honest words
I show you the marketing honest words
I show you the marketing honest words tell me that’s my brand
tell me that’s my brand
tell me that’s my brand Joey Thurmond fit fitness guru health
Joey Thurmond fit fitness guru health
Joey Thurmond fit fitness guru health expert and wellness influencer the brand
expert and wellness influencer the brand
expert and wellness influencer the brand something I’m supposed to sell but you
something I’m supposed to sell but you
something I’m supposed to sell but you don’t learn about selling yourself as a
don’t learn about selling yourself as a
don’t learn about selling yourself as a brand when studying to become a personal
brand when studying to become a personal
brand when studying to become a personal trainer and now to take my business to
trainer and now to take my business to
trainer and now to take my business to the next level I need to build that
the next level I need to build that
the next level I need to build that brand so I went on a journey to figure
brand so I went on a journey to figure
brand so I went on a journey to figure out what in the hell all of that means
out what in the hell all of that means
out what in the hell all of that means your value is measured by your brand
your value is measured by your brand
your value is measured by your brand equity a marketing consultant told me my
equity a marketing consultant told me my
equity a marketing consultant told me my value
my value that seems arbitrary if my
my value that seems arbitrary if my value is measured by this equity
value is measured by this equity
value is measured by this equity what’s the metric well that question
what’s the metric well that question
what’s the metric well that question wasn’t hard for two friends of mine to
wasn’t hard for two friends of mine to
wasn’t hard for two friends of mine to answer one a TV producer the other
answer one a TV producer the other
answer one a TV producer the other national magazine editor two different
national magazine editor two different
national magazine editor two different companies two separate conversations
companies two separate conversations
companies two separate conversations despite their personal recommendations
despite their personal recommendations
despite their personal recommendations and my qualifications their boss has
and my qualifications their boss has
and my qualifications their boss has told them he needs three hundred
told them he needs three hundred
told them he needs three hundred thousand we only work with people who
thousand we only work with people who
thousand we only work with people who have three hundred thousand social media
have three hundred thousand social media
have three hundred thousand social media followers that’s how we know they’re
followers that’s how we know they’re
followers that’s how we know they’re legitimate okay my value then about
legitimate okay my value then about
legitimate okay my value then about thirty thousand so I need three hundred
thirty thousand so I need three hundred
thirty thousand so I need three hundred thousand people to like me
thousand people to like me
thousand people to like me and follow me from me to be relevant it
and follow me from me to be relevant it
and follow me from me to be relevant it sounded crazy but at least I’ve got my
sounded crazy but at least I’ve got my
sounded crazy but at least I’ve got my metric there so I thought let’s work on
metric there so I thought let’s work on
metric there so I thought let’s work on building your brand that marketing
building your brand that marketing
building your brand that marketing expert told me they told me to be
expert told me they told me to be
expert told me they told me to be playful yes be in shape but not
playful yes be in shape but not
playful yes be in shape but not unachievable be a be perfect but
unachievable be a be perfect but
unachievable be a be perfect but approachable just be yourself but try to
approachable just be yourself but try to
approachable just be yourself but try to be more like this guy yeah it’s five
be more like this guy yeah it’s five
be more like this guy yeah it’s five hundred thousand followers only post at
hundred thousand followers only post at
hundred thousand followers only post at peak engagement times of 6:00 a.m. noon
peak engagement times of 6:00 a.m. noon
peak engagement times of 6:00 a.m. noon and 9:00 p.m.
and 9:00 p.m.
and 9:00 p.m. oh wait wait wait wait wait wait one
oh wait wait wait wait wait wait one
oh wait wait wait wait wait wait one more thing
more thing
more thing ready post a lot of shirtless selfies
you need to create a character and make
you need to create a character and make it seem like you are a celebrity and
it seem like you are a celebrity and
it seem like you are a celebrity and your life is better than the lives of
your life is better than the lives of
your life is better than the lives of your followers my life needs to appear
your followers my life needs to appear
your followers my life needs to appear better than yours we all do crazy things
better than yours we all do crazy things
better than yours we all do crazy things to be successful sometimes some we’re
to be successful sometimes some we’re
to be successful sometimes some we’re proud of and then there’s a time I paid
proud of and then there’s a time I paid
proud of and then there’s a time I paid a guy who promised he could give me five
a guy who promised he could give me five
a guy who promised he could give me five thousand followers they turned out to be
thousand followers they turned out to be
thousand followers they turned out to be fake yeah where I paid a follow farm to
fake yeah where I paid a follow farm to
fake yeah where I paid a follow farm to follow and unfollow people on my behalf
follow and unfollow people on my behalf
follow and unfollow people on my behalf so my profile could get noticed
so my profile could get noticed
so my profile could get noticed makes sense or the time I paid a service
makes sense or the time I paid a service
makes sense or the time I paid a service to like my photos or when I covered
to like my photos or when I covered
to like my photos or when I covered myself in saran wrap and hemorrhoid
myself in saran wrap and hemorrhoid
myself in saran wrap and hemorrhoid cream just to show how you could get
cream just to show how you could get
cream just to show how you could get slightly more abdominal definition just
slightly more abdominal definition just
slightly more abdominal definition just from sweating a little bit it works
from sweating a little bit it works
from sweating a little bit it works all in all last year I spent more on
all in all last year I spent more on
all in all last year I spent more on social media marketing than the price of
social media marketing than the price of
social media marketing than the price of all of my certifications in five years
all of my certifications in five years
all of my certifications in five years of college apparently becoming a brand
of college apparently becoming a brand
of college apparently becoming a brand has a price and it’s steep steeper than
has a price and it’s steep steeper than
has a price and it’s steep steeper than I realize from looking at my bank
I realize from looking at my bank
I realize from looking at my bank account and my life then a friend sent
account and my life then a friend sent
account and my life then a friend sent me a link
me a link
me a link I clicked feeling like you can’t stop I
I clicked feeling like you can’t stop I
I clicked feeling like you can’t stop I couldn’t get rid of Instagram if you’re
couldn’t get rid of Instagram if you’re
couldn’t get rid of Instagram if you’re missing out Oh like when I failed to put
missing out Oh like when I failed to put
missing out Oh like when I failed to put my accountant private withdrawal like
my accountant private withdrawal like
my accountant private withdrawal like when I physically get anxious if I don’t
when I physically get anxious if I don’t
when I physically get anxious if I don’t post at peak engagement times taking
post at peak engagement times taking
post at peak engagement times taking risks paying for followers relationship
risks paying for followers relationship
risks paying for followers relationship problems
my birthday dinner I didn’t need to read
my birthday dinner I didn’t need to read any further these were all signs of
any further these were all signs of
any further these were all signs of addiction in the quest for 300,000 likes
addiction in the quest for 300,000 likes
addiction in the quest for 300,000 likes from strangers I was becoming a stranger
from strangers I was becoming a stranger
from strangers I was becoming a stranger to the one I liked the most the
to the one I liked the most the
to the one I liked the most the obsession with being present online came
obsession with being present online came
obsession with being present online came at the cost of me being absent in real
at the cost of me being absent in real
at the cost of me being absent in real life it made me question my intent was
life it made me question my intent was
life it made me question my intent was that excited for future life events
that excited for future life events
that excited for future life events because of content would I be that new
because of content would I be that new
because of content would I be that new dad in the delivery room yeah holding my
dad in the delivery room yeah holding my
dad in the delivery room yeah holding my wife’s hand but at the same time trying
wife’s hand but at the same time trying
wife’s hand but at the same time trying to capture the moment for likes and
to capture the moment for likes and
to capture the moment for likes and follows what’s happening to me I was
follows what’s happening to me I was
follows what’s happening to me I was turning into that guy who needed more
turning into that guy who needed more
turning into that guy who needed more followers
followers
followers the guy who places current value at
the guy who places current value at
the guy who places current value at 38,000 out of 300,000 38,000 felt like a
38,000 out of 300,000 38,000 felt like a
38,000 out of 300,000 38,000 felt like a failure instead of an accomplishment
failure instead of an accomplishment
failure instead of an accomplishment this constant need to be liked and
this constant need to be liked and
this constant need to be liked and followed was causing me anxiety and
followed was causing me anxiety and
followed was causing me anxiety and paranoia it’s something I’m all too
paranoia it’s something I’m all too
paranoia it’s something I’m all too familiar with I was the awkward kid
familiar with I was the awkward kid
familiar with I was the awkward kid growing up in st. Louis he insecured
growing up in st. Louis he insecured
growing up in st. Louis he insecured teen whose mom put him on suicide watch
teen whose mom put him on suicide watch
teen whose mom put him on suicide watch the student who barely made it through
the student who barely made it through
the student who barely made it through college and I am the guy standing here
college and I am the guy standing here
college and I am the guy standing here today who still struggles with
today who still struggles with
today who still struggles with depression
like anyone who was bullied as a kid or
like anyone who was bullied as a kid or struggles with themselves we all cope in
struggles with themselves we all cope in
struggles with themselves we all cope in different ways often building an armor
different ways often building an armor
different ways often building an armor mine was Fitness I committed myself to
mine was Fitness I committed myself to
mine was Fitness I committed myself to being physically stronger than my
being physically stronger than my
being physically stronger than my bullies and I thought I could muscle
bullies and I thought I could muscle
bullies and I thought I could muscle through my anxieties but I was wrong
from birth were branded as individuals
from birth were branded as individuals and now social media creates a new level
and now social media creates a new level
and now social media creates a new level of pressure on who we are supposed to be
of pressure on who we are supposed to be
of pressure on who we are supposed to be the first impression has forever been
the first impression has forever been
the first impression has forever been changed at a quick glance it’s decided
changed at a quick glance it’s decided
changed at a quick glance it’s decided whether we get swipe left or swipe right
whether we get swipe left or swipe right
whether we get swipe left or swipe right who we are as a people isn’t decided at
who we are as a people isn’t decided at
who we are as a people isn’t decided at the first meeting it comes from a
the first meeting it comes from a
the first meeting it comes from a creeping but social media is a necessity
creeping but social media is a necessity
creeping but social media is a necessity it’s the modern day resume it creates
it’s the modern day resume it creates
it’s the modern day resume it creates opportunity it allows us to reach people
opportunity it allows us to reach people
opportunity it allows us to reach people to inspire to teach to learn to have fun
to inspire to teach to learn to have fun
to inspire to teach to learn to have fun and to laugh at ourselves but it also
and to laugh at ourselves but it also
and to laugh at ourselves but it also creates the illusion that we must attain
creates the illusion that we must attain
creates the illusion that we must attain someone else’s unattainable goal a
someone else’s unattainable goal a
someone else’s unattainable goal a perception of perfection and working
perception of perfection and working
perception of perfection and working towards someone else’s goal made me feel
towards someone else’s goal made me feel
towards someone else’s goal made me feel unworthy irrelevant and forever climbing
with the metric change if I ever reach
with the metric change if I ever reach 300 thousand I don’t know then it
300 thousand I don’t know then it
300 thousand I don’t know then it happened
happened
happened my wife and I were going for a walk one
my wife and I were going for a walk one
my wife and I were going for a walk one day in my figurative pile of crap
day in my figurative pile of crap
day in my figurative pile of crap presented itself literally in the form
presented itself literally in the form
presented itself literally in the form of a 300-pound cement statue the statue
of a 300-pound cement statue the statue
of a 300-pound cement statue the statue immediately made my wife and I start
immediately made my wife and I start
immediately made my wife and I start laughing a statue with a huge swirl on
laughing a statue with a huge swirl on
laughing a statue with a huge swirl on the top and the words Shh
the top and the words Shh
the top and the words Shh it’s fountain inscribed on the front so
it’s fountain inscribed on the front so
it’s fountain inscribed on the front so naturally my wife was absolutely her
naturally my wife was absolutely her
naturally my wife was absolutely her idea had to take a picture of me
idea had to take a picture of me
idea had to take a picture of me pretending to well
you know that’s the thing about me
you know that’s the thing about me there’s nothing more authentic than that
there’s nothing more authentic than that
there’s nothing more authentic than that inner child laughing at the ridiculous
inner child laughing at the ridiculous
inner child laughing at the ridiculous life-sized poop emoji but all this can
life-sized poop emoji but all this can
life-sized poop emoji but all this can it be more off-brand this wasn’t a
it be more off-brand this wasn’t a
it be more off-brand this wasn’t a picture with a perfect lighting setting
picture with a perfect lighting setting
picture with a perfect lighting setting and filter this wasn’t what a fitness
and filter this wasn’t what a fitness
and filter this wasn’t what a fitness guru posed but I posted it anyway
guru posed but I posted it anyway
guru posed but I posted it anyway I did what I realize is that we make an
I did what I realize is that we make an
I did what I realize is that we make an impression once we stop trying so hard
impression once we stop trying so hard
impression once we stop trying so hard to be so impressive being real authentic
to be so impressive being real authentic
to be so impressive being real authentic and not bound by so many rules may not
and not bound by so many rules may not
and not bound by so many rules may not get us thousands of followers or certain
get us thousands of followers or certain
get us thousands of followers or certain job opportunities but it will certainly
job opportunities but it will certainly
job opportunities but it will certainly get us followers that count social media
get us followers that count social media
get us followers that count social media is a two-dimensional version of
is a two-dimensional version of
is a two-dimensional version of ourselves a persona a caricature of our
ourselves a persona a caricature of our
ourselves a persona a caricature of our own creation on our own terms so now you
own creation on our own terms so now you
own creation on our own terms so now you can find me and I mean me and that
can find me and I mean me and that
can find me and I mean me and that life-sized poop emoji on Instagram thank
life-sized poop emoji on Instagram thank
life-sized poop emoji on Instagram thank you
”
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