Something weird me and Picasso have in common

Hey mon ami,

Hope you had a good weekend.

Quick question:

Have you ever wondered why I call myself "Godfrey The Great"?

(you probably haven't lol)

But on the off chance that you have:

No, it's not because I'm some narcissistic writer with a God complex (we just happen to share the same name).

The truth is, it's a name to aspire to.

Something for me to strive towards.

A north star that pulls me forward when I'm feeling anything but great.

And in terms of personal brand names, I think you'll struggle to find one anywhere near as cool.

The point is, names have a lot of power.

More than you might realise.

Take Picasso for example.

When he first started painting, he used sign his work with his full name:

"Pablo Ruiz Picasso".

Eventually, he dropped it to just "Picasso."

Why?

Well, many thought he did it to spite his father.

In case you didn't know, Ruiz was his dad's surname.

And although he was also an artist, Picasso was outshining him by the time he was only 12 years old.

But the real reason has nothing to do with daddy issues.

It was strictly better branding.

At the time, Spain had plenty of Pablos (still do).

There were also plenty of Ruiz's.

But Picasso?

That name is a one of one.

Distinctive.

Memorable.

Rolls right off the tongue and fit the man like a velvet glove.

One name - maximum impact.

When you write online, you're not just creating content – you're building an identity.

A brand.

A reputation.

So ask yourself:

• Does your name online represent who you are now or who you aspire to be?
• Is it memorable enough to stick in someone's mind after they've clicked off your work?
• Does it give you a pep in your step whenever you hit publish?

The fact is, your name isn't just what people call you.

It also impacts the energy you bring to every word you write.

Choose it wisely,

Godfrey

PS. Building your writer identity is just one piece of the puzzle.

In Medium Mastery, I break down how to create a unique voice that readers instantly recognize – even if they covered up your name.

Get it here if the idea of writing online full-time floats your boat.