In the last article, we looked at Branding with regards to your company and the product you sell. Today, we want to take a look at another aspect of Branding and that is your personal branding. This may not be as interesting as branding for the company, but it is equally as important. When people ask what is “your” Brand, what do you stand for, what do you represent, or how are you perceived by the public, how do you respond? We do not tend to focus on this as much but we should.
Remember our simple definition of Brand? Your brand is what people think of you when they think of you. So it applies just as much to how people see you as a person, professionally and personally. Throughout my life and career, I never stop thinking about this. There is not a day that passes where I do not ask myself how I am regarded and how I will be remembered. Professionally, I wanted to be the best:
1. Salesperson
2. Leader for my team
3. Trainer for my team
4. Mentor to guide others
Personally, I wanted to be the best:
1. Father
2. Husband
3. Friend
4. Citizen
5. Supporter
This was the Personal Brand that I wanted and I realized early on as a youngster that I had a lot of work ahead to develop and maintain this Brand. It was important to me to achieve this Brand, live up to this Brand, project this Brand, and be defined by it so that I could be “successful” professionally and personally.
Words that describe my personal Brand would include Truthful, Honest, Fair, Respectful, and high integrity. My parents taught me much of this and I believed that this was the way to live my life and the way to conduct myself professionally and personally. This was how I must be recognized and remembered.
Establishing this Brand would give my customers a reason to buy from me, my family to love me, my team to allow me to lead them and my friends to form strong friendships with me and above all gain respect from everyone around me.
To this day, I continue to build and strengthen this Brand. It has guided me well and it will guide me to the end. Please take a moment to evaluate your Brand. If it is accurate, keep it up. If it is not what you expect or desire, make the necessary amendments. You should be satisfied with your Brand at all times.
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