I was talking to someone that I don't particularly "know" in "real life". The conversation was over e-mail, and the only impression that he has ever gotten of me as been via e-mail. I feel like I portray myself as a confident, sassy, sarcastic, social media addict who has brains and doesn't take any BS.

...Yeah, he got that impression. But he worded it as being "Rough around the edges" and he was "Unable to really picture me with children."

This comment wasn't made out of malice, or to be negative. Had I truly considered myself to be as rough around the edges and not-so-good with children as he suspected, I might have said something like "You know me so well." But he doesn't. He simply judged me on whatever hints I gave him that equalled being "Rough around the edges".

Even though this wasn't true, it was true, because he believed it. He's a reasonable person, and he drew a conclusion off of an impression that he got. Whether I intend to or not, I gave off the impression that I'm not "motherly" or "kid-friendly". 

This got me thinking about my personal branding - more so how I see myself VS how others see me.

In the car business, not everyone is friends. There is sometimes friendly, and sometimes unfriendly competition between dealerships, regions, and even salesmen within the dealership. There will be some unreasonable slander that is thrown around. This isn't what I'm referring to.

I'm talking about what your customers say about you. What your clients say about you. What other, right-minded people say about you. You may think you're a top of the line service provider but if one of your client claims that you're not as responsive as he needs, then where does that leave you? 

You're only as good as your worst review.