Today I was talking to a friend while she browsed over my blog. Before long she said:
“You’ve got branding on there. I’ve been meaning to figure that out – my brand.”
The key word she mentioned here is “my.” Maybe at the time she didn’t feel like she had a brand, but she knew her brand would belong to her. And that’s really the final takeaway. It is your brand. You own it. It is all about you.
We are each our own biggest proponent. That’s not to say those close to you don’t want the best for you, but when you have a goal you are genuinely passionate about, the drive emanating from within will propel you to achieve it. During that process, you will convince yourself that your efforts will justify your ultimate attainment; and this makes sense. But sometimes the one you have to convince isn’t you.
So how do you convince someone else?
Branding can help with that. Branding is all about positioning yourself where you want to be and creating a certain perception. Which of your assets do you want to highlight? What characteristics do you want to associate with yourself? How do you want people to think about you? How do you want people to react when they see your name? With branding, you get to be in the driver’s seat and in control. You’re at liberty to create what you want.
Each day we make certain decisions because of branding. You may choose one pair of shoe over the other because one has a recognizable symbol on it. Some avoid carrying certain coffee cups in the morning because it is associated with being “cheaper” than another brand. And ladies, don’t some of you choose certain dresses over others because “who” you’re wearing will be more evident at the event with 500 guests?
The concept of branding is nothing new. What is new is the heightened need for even the average Joe to be a brand these days. Your brand is you. So with everyone being a brand, what makes you stand out? You need to have the 30-second answer to that question ready at all times. Opportunity may strike in the elevator during the ride from the 2nd floor to the 9th floor. So you need to be ready before you leave home.
Take some time to connect with yourself. Write down what makes you unique. What is your selling proposition? What is your value-added? What are your best personal traits? What competencies do you have that are in line with the position you want? What quantifiable contributions have you made? If your answers don’t move you, they won’t move your potential client or your potential boss.
Next, you need to put your brand in practice and make it consistent and convincing. However you want to be seen, you have to powerfully hold that stance because the results are largely a matter of perception – a perception that you are responsible for. As a brand, you get to be your own leader. But remember that leaders without credibility have very few followers so be ready to walk the walk.
In the end you want to honestly believe that your brand is as important as that of Pepsi, Dasani or Nike. You have to invest in it, protect it and promote it. Everything you do is a reflection of your brand. But more so than you doing the pitch all the time, you want to get to the point where your client, colleagues, friends, etc. are telling the story. Word-of-mouth is still one of the best marketing tools.
September 9th, 2010 on 5:18 PM
Hey there! Wanted to officially congratulate you on the launch of the new blog!!
My two cents: I agree, you can’t fake your brand, you can’t half ass your brand, you can’t only accept a piece of your message. Your brand has to be 100% you, controversy and all! Some may call my brand of extreme frugality just being cheap – I say, “So what? I’m cheap, but I’m growing wealth! What are YOU doing??” You have to own your brand no matter what, taking the good with the bad and working it all to your advantage!
September 9th, 2010 on 7:11 PM
Thank you Dolla Thug! You are leading the pack and inspiring others like me! You have a great point, good or bad, you have to ride out your brand! Frugality versus cheap… either way, you’re meeting the objectives that your brand is all about! For all who are reading and could use some help in that department, check out http://www.dollathug.com !
September 14th, 2010 on 9:59 AM
A word to the wise. I certainly intend to take your advice as I embark on my next career move. “Connect” & “Convince,” key words guaranteed to encourage anyone to make the best brand for himself.
September 26th, 2010 on 8:20 PM
Inspire-er!
Glad to hear you plan to keep up with me! Very much appreciated! Yes, branding is all about taking full control of the package.
September 18th, 2010 on 1:43 PM
An exciting concept this. I am one of those folks whom tend to wait for things to mature prior to taking action but in this case I’m mindful that inaction leads to only failures so I will heed your comments and begin to do anything about it.
September 19th, 2010 on 1:09 PM
Great article. I know this is not exactly on subject, but I just wanted to add that the site theme here is pretty cool. Is there a name or something? I do not know where to look.
October 4th, 2010 on 7:02 AM
Thanks for this post. It’s very useful.
October 4th, 2010 on 5:18 PM
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October 8th, 2010 on 3:58 PM
I found so many exciting material on your blog, particularly its dialogue. I made a decision to join RSS feed. Keep up the good effort.
October 10th, 2010 on 4:45 AM
Should there be another persuasive post you can share next time, I’ll be surely waiting for it.
October 10th, 2010 on 6:56 AM
This is really a super read for me. Thanks for posting this informative article.
October 10th, 2010 on 5:32 PM
Hey I love this post, it is so true that you are your brand so you have to wear it. Your blog is very informative!!!
October 10th, 2010 on 5:38 PM
Thanks so much, Dejavunaturals! If you don’t believe in your brand and can’t communicate what it is all about, how can someone else get it? It really has to be a holistic approach to get it to make sense and work! I will be keeping up with your blog!
October 12th, 2010 on 1:32 AM
Well, I just want to let you know I like your site.
November 3rd, 2010 on 5:23 AM
Aspiring to be a celeb is silly. Be yourself, be confident and smile. Other will trust you and your brand will follow.
Thanks for pointing out, what i have been trying to figure out.
November 7th, 2010 on 12:37 PM
Yes, Stacy. Staying true to YOU is so important! In your case, being confident and true in what Stacy Knows is the first step! Once your audience sees that, trust will come naturally! With that, the brand will build! Please let me know if you have any specific questions or if anything comes to mind that you would like to bounce back and forth! Appreciate the comments!