“Find your personal brand” they said…

I remember the first time I heard the term “Personal Brand” and wondered …”ok so wtf does that mean and what does it have to do with anything?” Since then, and over the past few years as a marketing student, a branding aficionado, and a blogger,  I’ve come to discover just what it means and how it can be used to gain influence, create the image you want to be perceived as, and enhance your reputation.

Your personal brand is your identity and the way that people think of you and the ways by which they remember you. It is how you are perceived by people who know you and who do not, and the way by which you present yourself. It’s your profession, your skill set, your style, your personality, your background, your expertise, the people you surround yourself with, and the things you say and do, the colours and vibes you project. You know all the things that make you, you? Well THOSE are your Personal Brand attributes. The key is making sure you know how to harness them and then curate and design your image.

If you’re still unsure of what exactly a Personal Brand is, think of one of your favourite brands. When you think about the brand, what immediately comes to mind? For me, I think of Lululemon. Lululemon to me equals evolution; passion; body & soul wellness; high quality; experiential; living a happy life; community; and more. Your personal brand is the exact same thing as a product brand, it’s the things that come to mind when your name is spoken.

Creating my blog Brains and Bronzed has given me another platform to express my personal brand, but you don’t need to have a blog to develop your own personal brand – we all have one, it’s just a matter of utilizing it. And the best part about using your personal brand? You have all the control ability to curate and transform your personal brand into exactly what you want it to be.

I’ve laid out the steps I’ve taken to understand what my Personal Brand is below. Ask yourself:

1. How would I describe myself? The things I do, the personality traits I have, the things I like, the achievements I’ve made, the goals I have and so on…

2. How would others describe me?

3. How do I want others to describe me?

When you can understand yourself from this perspective, you’ll be able to clearly articulate your Personal Brand. Once you can articulate your Personal Brand, make sure you LIVE it. That means being consistent and making your brand an extension of yourself as a person. It’s one thing to say your brand is one thing, but unless you actually act and live what that brand is, it won’t be recognized.

When you are living and breathing your Personal Brand, it will start to become engrained in you. When people hear your name, they’ll think of all those pieces of your brand that make you, you! 

Personal Brand 101? Put your brand smack dab on your phone case like I did with my custom black marble BRAINS AND BRONZED iPhone X case from CaseApp!

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