The Value of a Brand - Part I - Personal Branding

I intend for this to be the first in a two part piece about branding. Today I will cover the value of personal branding and later I will address the topic from a business perspective.

There are countless people that possess a personal brand. We all instantly have a particular feeling about people that are famous or perhaps people we interact with everyday. Oprah Winfrey begets a particular reaction, while Donald Trump may garner a completely different feeling. These are their personal brands at play. Celebrities use their personal brands to attract followers and sometimes to sell various products. It is a very effective technique that results in very lucrative endorsement deals or mass appeal with the public.

What about everyday normal individuals aka the 'rest of us'. Do we have or even need personal brands? Is there a benefit to having one? After all, we don’t sell iPhones nor are we in the business of selling high priced cosmetics or sneakers.

The answer to those questions is obviously yes. The truth is we all have a personal brand. If you believe you don’t, I’m telling you that you do! Think of your parents or best friends. Don’t you have fairly clear picture of what these people are about? People make judgements about each other all the time. From the way we speak, to the way we dress and the ideas we put forth into the world. A mentor once told me “If you don’t brand yourself, someone will do it for you. By then you will have lost control of how you are perceived.” Take a minute and think about what your personal brand could be.

The upside here is its not too late to recapture your brand and mold it into what you want to convey to the world. First you must consciously know what/who you are trying to be. That starts with asking yourself some questions that surround your character and personal goals. From there you can begin to dress the part, speak the language and surround yourself with like minded individuals who can enhance the quality of your brand.

We can all actively manage the way we are perceived and the payoff is quite significant. Imagine walking into a room as known a quantity versus having to constantly define yourself to your audience. That's the power of a solid brand.

Branding is not just for products or celebrities. It’s for all of us. It’s our way to let others know what we stand for and to attract the kind of people and opportunities that we want into our lives.

I challenge you to reclaim your brand or start building one today.

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