Why You Should Think Like a TV Star for Your Personal Brand (7 Tips)

While not as glamourised as ‘movie stars’, are TV stars the secret to lasting personal brand impact?

For so many in acting, or other industries for that matter, the goal is to make it to the big screen or red carpets. It’s often the culmination of epic production value. So, it’s flashy and glamorous. TV stars, on the other hand, often work in its shadow. But they’re also the ones building a real relationship with their people.

I first drafted this blog a while ago to share how a TV star mindset can help grow your personal brand. And I wrote it through the lens of the iconic TV series Friends.  I had no intention of sharing it anytime soon. Then this week, news of the death of Friends star, Matthew Perry, who played Chandler on the show, broke hearts worldwide.

As millions mourn, if you’re a part of the Friends fandom, you’ll understand why. And if you’re not, perhaps this blog helps shed some light.

I remember the first time I ever watched the iconic TV series Friends. It was back when it originally aired. It is my first ever TV-viewing memory. With so much hype, my family couldn’t wait to tune in to see what all the fuss was about. We tuned in every single week for the next ten years.

If you know me well, you’d know that Friends is one of my favourite shows of all time. To this day, my closest real-life friends and I, wherever relevant, still laugh over life events in the context of Friends episodes. And through some of life’s toughest challenges, it’s been my friend, reminding me to find my next laugh. After the recent deaths of my grandma and dad, it gave me a reason to smile again.

Even in a formidable era, the Friends phenomenon surpassed every expectation. And remains relevant today. When Jennifer Aniston first created an Instagram account in 2019, posting a picture of other cast members as one of her first posts, it made mainstream headline news. The cast proved, even decades on, their social influence remained a formidable force.

So, in a world that places so much importance on ‘movie stars’, is there more to learn from a TV star mindset? Personalities who build a fierce following among their people.

Tip #1: Creating consistency for your people

Friends was born in a pre-steaming era. Before we began consuming TV on demand like it was going out of production. You had to tune into free-to-air TV every single week at the same time. It created an expectation. It built a habit for the audience. It created anticipation. I’d record each episode (on VHS) and rewatch it through the week until the next episode aired.

When it comes to personal branding, consistency is key. Show up at the same time and place every week (or whatever standard you’ve set for your creative content). It lets your audience know when to expect you. Consistency builds trust and trust builds loyalty. Even Perry, who struggled with addiction through years of the filming of Friends, showed up for his people.

Tip #2: Playing the long game

Albert Einstein famously said:

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it…he who doesn't… pays it.”

Since the show’s finale, like many Friends fans, I’ve rewatched the series over and over. Despite the many shows that have since surpassed the Friends production value, I’ve remained loyal to this old favourite.

Without even noticing it, I was in a friendship with the characters of Friends for ten years and didn’t want it to end. As a friend said to me in her heartbroken messages over Perry’s death, “it’s like the world lost a friend today.”

A movie mentality breeds quick wins. Shiny blockbuster events. The long game is less sexy. But, spending 30 mins with their audience every week for 10 years, the Friends cast built lifelong fans. Fans who saw them as friends. It’s also likely why you tune into your favourite blogs, podcasts or YouTube channel hosts.

Tip #3: Evolving with changing seasons

Consistency for your personal brand doesn’t need to mean staying stagnant. Dori Clarke in Reinventing You, proposed that at some point in your career (or many) you’ll have to reinvent yourself. This is less about drastic changes, and more about using your experience and background to evolve. Much like when, fashion-obsessed, Rachel, in Friends, went from a coffee-shop waitress to climbing the fashion industry ladder.

So, like a good TV show, evolve like changing seasons.

Tip #4: Honing your personal style

Towards the end of the first season, Jennifer Aniston got a haircut. And it incited a global frenzy among the public and celebrities alike. It became “the Rachel haircut”. And it’s still referenced today, evolving for modern-day relevance.

The characters each honed a unique personal style. Outwardly representing their values - their personal brand. Aniston in particular became a lasting style icon on and off-screen. Rachel’s style resembles Aniston’s. Showing that your professional and personal style can find natural harmony for your personal brand. One that can become distinctively recognisable in the marketplace.

Tip #5: You are who you spend your time with

They say show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. Or that you are the sum of the five people you spend your time with. Eerily true for the success of the six Friends cast members. Unlike their movie star counterparts, the Friends cast got to form long-term relationships while at work.

In a historic deal, by the ninth and ten seasons, each member of the Friends cast earned $1 million per episode. Perry, recalls in his memoir, that David Schwimmer, who played Ross, was instrumental in negotiating the deal. As the show progressed, Schwimmer and Aniston were reportedly earning more than other cast members.

According to Perry, it was Schwimmer who suggested a collective negotiation. One that set into motion the monumental deal for each cast member. To this day, each reportedly earns approximately $20 million per year from reruns alone.

When it comes to personal branding, remember to look outward. Long-term relationships are key. And do what you can to help others shine.

What made Friends unique was that each had a magnificent personal brand, while no one character was deliberately made the star. And like an organisation, the franchise overall benefited. Because, even in personal branding, the whole is still greater than the sum of the parts.

Tip #6: Creating movie star moments

Personal brand expert, Mike Kim, suggests viewing your strategy like pebbles and big rocks.

The pebbles are the posts, blogs, videos, podcasts or your day-to-day operations. But, a few times a year, you have to throw in some big rocks for a big impact in the marketplace.

Ross and Rachel’s first kiss on Friends is perhaps one of the most significant moments in sitcom history. As was when Chandler started dating fellow Friend Monica. Each season had a few similar climaxes.

Like regularly scheduled TV, branding creates consistency for your audience. But tactical peaks in your strategy keep your personal brand dynamic for your audience. It helps you evolve closer to your vision. And signals to the marketplace that you’re making moves. Like the Friends stars did, TV stars usually eventually get their red carpet moments too.

Tip #7: Leveraging your personal brand’s hard work

While not yet the case for Friends cast members, many former television stars have created podcasts revisiting their hit shows. Rewatching their work, sometimes decades on, and going behind the scenes with their audience (which is often a cult-like following) each week. Whatever field you’re in, always consider how you can repurpose and leverage your hard work to create greater synergies.

While movies may get all the attention, it’s usually short-lived until their next big gig. TV stars put in consistent work over the long term. And usually reap the benefits of lasting loyalty among their people.

So, when it comes to your personal brand, are you thinking like a movie star or a TV star?

And to Perry, RIP Friend.