I have the same problem.. and it's actually one of the reasons I've recently been thinking about moving... I'm not just digging the small town vibe anymore
But hey, it's good practice. If you can "convert" people who have thought of you in that way for so long, you can convince anyone you're a cool guy.

I think it's mostly about being persistant and consistant... If you keep showing them you have changed (be funny, social, show integrity, take the lead.. etc etc) again and again, eventually it will sink in. Making new friends also helps convincing the ones who onyl know the "old" you.. I'm now hanging with some people who have such high social value that I probably wouldn't even have had the guts to talk them a year or two ago... and when they say I'm cool, that helps a lot

But now and again I meet people who thinks I'm still a nobody... But I try to be who I am regardless of what they think of me. My goal is pretty much to not give a damn about what anybody thinks. It can be hard, but if you care and worry too much you're toast
