Why YOU Need a Personal Brand
You deal with them every day of your life. Retailers spend millions in an attempt to convince you that theirs is superior to the competition’s. Whether its coffee, automobiles, breakfast cereal, or anything else you regularly use or consume, businesses realize that this is their most important asset. What is it? Their brand.
A brand is a promise. It is an image. It is the mental picture you get when you see a particular logo or hear a familiar jingle. It is that identifiable characteristic that persuades you to use a particular product again and again. And, it speaks to the future. A brand tells you what you can expect today, tomorrow, next week, and next year.
While most people see the importance of a company creating and preserving a brand, fewer recognize that an individual brand is just as important. Regardless of your profession, having a personal brand makes you unique from everyone else.
Why does this matter? Well, if you are in the job market, your personal brand may determine whether you get that next job or not. If you are an entrepreneur or small business owner, it distinguishes you from the hundreds or thousands of others who offer similar products and services. Your personal brand prevents you from becoming lost in the crowd. It allows you to show the world your uniqueness.
Just as there are no two snowflakes that are the same, or any two people with the same fingerprints or DNA, there are no two people that are exactly the same.
Most people, when asked about themselves, tell others what they do, usually focusing on where they work and what they do. Those who are aware of their personal brand respond by telling people who they are.
Why have a personal brand? It tells people who you are, and it makes a promise abut the future. It is a promise that what you see today will be the same in the future. Your personal brand sets you apart from the competition, quickly and effeciently.
Developing and preserving a personal brand is a form of accountability. Just as the bottler knows the importance of keeping the cola recipe exactly the same every time, or the hamburger chain whose brand promises you will get exactly the same quality no matter what city or state you are in, a personal brand conveys the same promise and therefore must be protected at all costs.
Why create and preserve a personal brand?
1. A personal brand separates you from others, and distinguishes you from the crowd.
2. A personal brand makes a promise to others that you have a strong foundation, that know who you are, and that you will be the same in the future. It exudes confidence.
3. A personal brand keeps you focused on who you are and helps you to maintain the highest standard for yourself day after day.
You can start today by taking writing down what makes you different and unique, and what your goals are for the future. This step will take an hour or less, but it could be one of the most important hour of your life.
