How to Create Your Authentic Personal Brand
Personal branding is quite the buzz word these days and I want to address what it is exactly, why it has never been more important, and how I can help you dig deeper to clarify your own. I have made it part of my mission to help you uncover your unique story, fully embrace it, and clearly express it to the world in the most compelling way. I am a firm believer that everything we say and do matters to somebody, and our personal brand is no exception. Because when you know who you are and what you stand for, you become a much more confident, self-assured, and powerful human being. And no one can take that away from you.
So, what is a personal brand?
It is the story that you are telling the world about who you are and what you value. Every individual has a unique brand that is a reflection of their own personality and contributions to the world. Whether intentional or not, if you are a human being, then you have already developed a brand. It is the impression that you give off to others which results from a combination of your experiences, strengths, values, and expertise.
YOUR PERSONAL BRAND MUST BE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED BY YOU, ESPECIALLY THE MORE YOU EVOLVE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AND CAREER. IT IS NOT A ONE-TIME PROJECT TO FORGET ABOUT.
These are the building blocks of any personal brand. Every individual comes with a completely unique set of strengths, values, and expertise that create part of their brand story, which is a crucial piece in building a business and a raving following. Your strengths are your innate talents which come naturally to you, plus what others perceive that you're good at. Your values are the elements in life that are most important to you, and that serve as a personal code of conduct to drive your behavior and decision-making. Lastly, your expertise consists of the knowledge and skills that you have, plus what other people perceive you have.
Why do I need to care about my personal brand?
If you want to represent yourself to the world in a genuine way AND build an audience who is head-over-heels in love with who you are and the work that you do, then you need to build a brand that 100% represents the TRUE you and captivates those who find you! This is why the most important thing you can do with your brand is to make sure it is an accurate representation of who you are and what you stand for. Otherwise, you will encounter a lot of frustration and an overall sense of being misunderstood by others. You may find that people do not associate you with the skills and/or knowledge that you actually have, and this can instantly rule you out of some amazing opportunities. Without having a clear and genuine brand, you will find some major struggle in attracting people who fully understand the real YOU and the value you can offer them.
How do I improve my personal brand?
It starts with DIGGING DEEP to understand yourself better and get clarity on what matters most to you. Take some time to identify your BRAND VALUES, your personal story that has led you to where you are now, and the IMPACT that you hope to have on the world. Imagine if you woke up every day with a fiercely loyal fanbase commenting on your IG posts, emailing you to hire you, and telling you how much they love you? This is what's possible when you have an expertly and authentically crafted personal brand. You will make people SO excited to connect with you and hear what you have to say! People will be attracted to you based on the perceived value that you convey through your personal brand, which will create loyal and returning clients.
