How to Put Personality in Your Business (Without Being a Nose-Picking Weirdo)

I once watched a man pick his nose on a Zoom call.

Not a casual scratch. Not a subtle swipe.
No—this was a deep dive.
The kind of nose-mining that requires a hard hat and a flashlight.

Then—brace yourself—he rolled it into a little ball… and flicked it.
Right. At. The. Camera.

Let’s just say: that’s one way to show personality.
It’s also how to make sure you never get invited back to anything.

Now that we’ve covered what not to do, let’s talk about what you should be doing:

Why Personality in Business Matters

In a world of beige brands, generic greetings, and websites that all sound like they were written by a chatbot with low self-esteem, personality is your unfair advantage.

Most businesses think “professional” means “boring.”
It doesn’t. It means on brand. And if your brand has energy, values, wit, or warmth—your customer experience should reflect that.

I learned this at Disney.

At Disney, we didn’t say “Have a nice day.”
We said, “Have a magical day.”
We didn’t give guests a room key. We gave them a Key to the Kingdom.

Small words. Big difference. That’s personality. That’s experience.
And it made people feel like they were part of something more.

So, How Do You Put Personality in Your Business?

Here are five field-tested, revenue-boosting ways to do it (without flicking anything):

1. Reimagine Your Phone Greeting

In my carpet cleaning business, we answer the phone with:
“Eastern Shore Carpet Cleaning—let's create your healthy home!”

It’s simple. It’s unexpected. And it makes people smile.

One of my clients—a financial advisor (who is a Led Zeppelin fanatic)—changed his voicemail to say:
“This is the agency that rocks.”
That one line repelled the price shoppers and attracted the fun, values-aligned clients.

2. Use Human Words, Not Corporate-Speak

Stop saying things like “We value your business and appreciate your patience.”
Start saying: “Hang tight—we’re fixing it now, and we’ve got your back.”

People don’t want to hear from “the company.” They want to hear from you.

3. Train Your Team to Be Themselves—With Boundaries

At Disney, we called this “being on stage.” You brought your best self to the performance—but it was still you.

Encourage your team to bring their own flair. Maybe it’s humor, maybe it’s kindness, maybe it’s southern charm. Let them express it—as long as it enhances the guest experience.

4. Design Moments That Reflect Your Brand Personality

Do you send thank-you notes? Great. But are they hand-written?
Do you use the same lame email everyone else does? Or do you delight people?

Example: When we finish a carpet job, we leave behind a small gift with a punny card:
“You’re our floor-ever favorite.”

It’s a small moment—but it makes a huge impression.

5. Audit the Boring Stuff

Take a hard look at your voicemails, hold music, invoices, autoresponders, uniforms, signage, and website copy.
Does any of it sound like you? Or does it sound like your lawyer wrote it?

If the answer is “none of the above,” then you’ve got work to do.

Final Thought: Personality Builds Trust

Your clients aren’t just buying your product or service. They’re buying you.
They’re buying into your way of doing things.

And the fastest way to show them what that looks like is to let your personality bleed into your process—deliberately, strategically, and without grossing anyone out on a Zoom call.

Want help injecting your brand with the kind of personality that attracts loyal, high-paying customers?
I’ve done it with Disney. I’ve done it with my own companies. And I’ve done it for hundreds of business owners just like you.

Let’s make your business the one people remember.
Because the alternative? Is being just another forgettable face in the Zoom gallery.