I often ponder the perils of tweeting business with pleasure. I’ve written about the dilemmas of self-censorship before.

But, while many warn it’s best to keep things as ‘professional’ as possible, I do find it hard sometimes to resist having a bit of fun – maybe even crack a joke that involves a fart. (Did I just write fart? Yes I did! F-A-R-T. Did anyone die? No, they didn’t.)

You see, some tweeps get nervous that if they start having a bit of fun online, they may jeopardize their “personal brand” – the way they want to be seen and remembered.

Now, there certainly is a very strong argument for keeping those drunken photos or unusual fetishes to yourself. But if a “personal brand” starts lacking its, well, “personal” side…things can get a little boring, for everyone.

Don’t take my word for it, since the early 90s big business has spent millions of dollars attempting to bring their brands ‘to life’ by giving them human characteristics.

Meanwhile, inside these companies, there is a growing trend to ‘retrain’ employees on the art of ‘being themselves’ and ‘having fun’ – now acknowledged as key drivers of productivity, clever ideas and ultimately the bottom-line.

So people, if you ask me, it’s time to loosen up a bit. If big business has copped on to the importance of injecting human characteristics into their brands, why deny yourself your own. Be yourself – it’s easy, it’s fun, and you never know where it might take you.