Losing Self in CEO Persona

Robert Oliver shares how he created an exaggerated social media persona that eventually consumed him.

"After I sold my business with Genius and had my first daughter, I was really frustrated with the world. It started to become a cope. I remember thinking I don't like where the world's headed, and I could sit there and keep crying about it or try to have some influence on it. That's what drew me to intentional social media.

I had tried to do cool health content seven or eight years ago - hyperbaric chamber, red light - but literally nobody cared. In hindsight, I didn't know how to make the content yet. But I saw this clear formula: if I post a car - I am actually rich, I still have business - if you post a car or a watch, people respond. As that started to work, I started doubling down on those things.

You gotta play the game to change the game a little bit. That's when you met me, kind of in that wave where I was pseudo-relevant, even if maybe not in the right lens. Until you learn those skills and develop a platform, literally nobody cares. Nice guy does finish last.

I'll be the first to say I got way too far in that stuff. I got lost in it. Ben flagged that for me seven or eight months ago in a really casual way, asking 'If you do that stuff enough, don't you start to kind of believe it or become it?' That stuck with me.

You lose yourself - it's method acting. Unfortunately, a lot of the things I was leaning into do make you 'cool' or whatever, so now there's this audience that looks up to you in a very specific light. You have two choices: keep down the same path or say 'whoops, this is what I actually am.' I feel like I've separated a lot of the negative parts."