What makes you stand out?

We are familiar with business branding. Companies spend millions of pounds defining how they are perceived by their customers.  I attended an International Women’s Day conference and was introduced to the concept of having a personal brand… A phrase, saying or concept that sums you up and makes you stand out from the crowd.

Good examples of personal branding are Oprah Winfrey who has defined her voice to become one of the most influential personal brands in the world, along with perhaps Kim Kardashian and her sisters who have created huge wealth from their personal brand.

Personal branding is not just for entrepreneurs or famous people, it can help you stand out. It is a proactive way of managing how you are perceived & how you think about yourself. Having a strong brand will impact how you act think and feel. It gives you an opportunity to highlight your strengths and your passions. Your personal branding will make you memorable and stand out from the crowd.

How do you want to present yourself to the world? What do you want people to associate with when they think of you? What qualities make you memorable? At your funeral what will people say about you as a person?

Having your own personal brand, one that captures the essence of you, can then be called upon in times of need e.g. if you have a talk to give, attend a meeting, deal with difficult people or go into a challenging situation. Using your personal brand will give you an added “oomph” or confidence boost. It will help you stick out your chest, hold your head high and walk into a situation being the best version of yourself.

So how do you begin to define your personal brand? How do you get to the essence of what makes you you? What are your key messages were unique selling points?  A good place to start is to get a blank piece of paper and write down as many words about yourself as you possibly can. Ask yourself questions like :

o   Who am I?

o   What makes me unique?

o   What’s my goals?

o   What accomplishments are you proud of?

o   What impression do you want to leave on others?

o   What’s the one thing people always say about you?

o   What’s the story that you want to tell about yourself?

Then begin to filter the list into a top layer of words that really resonate with you. From this you can create a power phrase such as ”breath of fresh air” or “I’m all in!”

After you have created your personal brand, use it to create a positive impact in your life, whether that be at work or at home. You are your brand no matter what your current job, what project you’re working on – always keep in mind the impact you leave on others. Your personal brand should follow you everywhere if it’s an authentic reflection of who you are.

A personal brand is a lifelong project that constantly involves all changes. Your personal brand is the image that people see of you. A combination of how they look at you in real life and the impression they get of you online. 

My power phrase is “eye of the storm.”  I think of myself as facilitating others to find calm and peace when there is chaos all around (that might be chaos internally or externally). I can generate a positive energy to help weather the storms of life.

Whenever I need a little boost I will say to myself “eye of the storm” which will focus me on my mission, my strengths and the essences of what makes me me.  

If you would like help in developing your own personal brand, get in touch and we can fix up a coaching session.