Oh. My. God! Why Janice from Friends is a Personal Branding Muse

Over ten seasons and 236 episodes, audiences around the world got to know and love every character of Friends, inside and out. They each were known for specific traits:

Monica was the competitive neat freak. 
Ross was the academic. 
Joey was the ladies man. 
Phoebe was the free spirit.
Rachel was the beautiful fashionista. 

And Chandler… Oh, Chandler. He was the funny one, yet always the butt of the joke. 

But the writers were so good, that even the characters we saw for only a few episodes had depth.

From Ross and Monica’s parents, to Phoebe’s twin sister Ursula, and Gunther of Central Perk, it felt like they were in our own social circles. 

However, there is one supporting character who outshined them all. In fact, she appeared in at least one episode of every season. Do you hear her name calling out to you, like a foghorn?

Yes, Janice Litman-Goralnik was cast in season one to play Chandler’s love interest, and we haven’t been able to look away ever since. 

Although Janice wasn’t everyone’s favorite person to be around, one thing is for certain: she made her presence known.

I couldn’t help but notice that that is one of the main goals of personal branding. We all want to make our (online) presence known, and leave a lasting impression on our audience, just like Janice managed to do. 

Here are some Janice-inspired tips to help you elevate your personal brand:

Have a catchphrase.

Okay, perhaps not a literal catchphrase like Janice’s iconic “Oh. My. GOD!” But, people expected to hear this every time she walked in a room. 

When you write your own content, focus on a specific niche so people know what to expect from you. Over time, you will become known as a subject-matter expert, and people will recognize your writing almost instantly.

Define a consistent voice.

Here’s a test: can you hear this picture?

Janice’s unpleasant cackle and nasally voice could make our our ears bleed, but they became a recognizable part of her character.

Hopefully your brand voice is a lot less annoying, but when you define it, stick to it. You have the opportunity to make your content stand out simply by how you deliver it. Establish a voice that is true to your personality.

Think about presentation.

I know Rachel and Monica get all the credit for their fashion sense, but Janice’s looks are incredibly underrated. She most notably wears bold colors and a ton of animal print.

This may not be your style, but you should develop your own brand aesthetic like Janice did. From the formatting of your tweets, to the treatment of your photos, and the colors on your website, consider how your content is presented. 

Show up. 

Throughout the series, it becomes a running joke that Janice always seems to show up unexpectedly.

P.S. this is one of my favorite Chandler lines in the entire show: 

The lesson here is that if you want to people to discover you online and build your brand, you have to show up consistently. Post often, engage with others, and you’ll be heard.

Be persistent.

Remember when Chandler is desperate to get rid of Janice, so he pretends that his job is relocating him to Yemen?

Nevertheless, she persisted.

 

Let me set the record straight: being persistent is not the same as being annoying (except maybe in Janice’s case).

If you really want something, go after it. Build your brand and chase opportunities that interest you.

So why not send a DM to someone you admire?

Why not pitch your writing to a publication?

Why not follow up on your job application until you can’t be ignored?

 

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

What Would Janice Do?

Even though she wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, Janice was always unapologetically herself.

Follow her lead by leaning into your personality, rather conforming to what you think the Internet might want you to be.

Build your brand that is true to you, with all of your quirks, and you’ll undoubtedly leave your mark.

READ MORE: Every Social Media Platform Explained as a Friends Character