Redefining Your Personal Brand 101
So what is a personal brand anyway and why does it matter?
Whether you’re an intrapreneur, entrepreneur, or student cultivating, unveiling and intentionally managing your personal brand has become more important than ever.
Growing up I always thought that “branding” was reserved for businesses, or celebrities or for cattle/livestock to mark ownership as I would often see displayed in the western movies my father would watch. But as time and technology evolved and the world became more connected and of course I came into my being (which by the way I am still becoming), it has become more and more apparent that branding starts with us individually, branding starts with our individual selves and thrives on our uniqueness and authenticity.
I believe that every one of us were created to use our gifts, talents and skills to create progress in the world for humanity. Before Steve Jobs created the apple Brand, He first had to cultivate his personal brand which required tapping into his purpose, embracing his uniqueness, and fueling his aspirations to change the world and to foster innovation by creating products that would help people do the things they want to do seamlessly. Let’s take the oh so popular brand of OPRAH as another example – Oprah, the Queen of Media as she is often referred and in fact is, has demonstrated consistently by using her voice as well as her actions that the key to cultivating a strong brand is doing the necessary work to find out who you are at your core and tapping into that purpose to create value for others. So, in essence at the core of an impactful brand is You. You my dear are a BRAND. You are your BRAND. Your personal brand begins on the inside of you but lives on the outside of you in the minds and hearts of people who encounter you directly or indirectly– it is the impact you have on others. Your personal brand encompasses how others experience you and how they feel once they have encountered you. Your personal Brand is in essence the outward manifestation of your V.A.L.U.E. - your voice, your aspirations, your life experiences, your uniqueness, and your existence/ purpose. Personal branding is then the art of You in motion - the intentional effort to uncover your unique and authentic self, define who you are, clarify your values, vision, mission and the impact you want to have in the world, and then giving yourself permission to be known for them.
So now that we have clarified what a personal brand is, why does cultivating and managing your personal brand matter…..
First and foremost, you already have a personal brand, and it is reflected in how others are experiencing you right this minute… in your relationships, on your job, in your businesses, etc. The real question then becomes is your personal brand authentically aligned and is it or are you creating the impact for which you were created and that you truly desire?
An authentic and aligned personal brand:
Differentiates you and your business from your peers or competition with the freedom to communicate your unique perspective, showcase your genius and make your competition irrelevant,
Builds trust and attracts ideal opportunities and repel opportunities that are not aligned with your purpose or your goals,
Allows you to experience invigorating energy as you focus on your brand promises as opposed to "playing a role",
Provides opportunities to increase your network and net-worth, thanks to your differentiated BRAND VALUE (it's all in your IMPACT), and
of course, an authentic and aligned brand you allow for an impactful change on the lives of others – remember you are a conduit for change and progress which is all hinged on the potential inside of you and your ability to set your potential free and launching it to the world.
If you are not creating the impact you desire, chances are your definition of who you are at your core may be the culprit.
Good news!
You can Redefine your personal brand by taking control of your personal brand and shifting it into a powerful tool that works for you and creates change for others. Your brand is directly connected to your identity – what you believe about yourself directly impacts your thoughts. Your thoughts fuel your actions and your actions in repetition creates your habits. Your habits are then etched in the minds of others as your personal brand. Within my book, Redefining Her, I discuss the most defining events that were influencing my beliefs about myself, and which were fueling my perspective of the world, my place in it and ultimately my personal brand posture. I am transparent with my story with the intention of inspiring others to emerge from the burdens of their past story – you have the power within you! Taking control of your personal brand begins with:
Awareness – audit your current personal brand. How are others experiencing you and is it in alignment with how you desire to be experienced? What are the experiences that are informing your beliefs about you and your personal brand? Are they factual?
Redefine Brand You – Give new meaning to the experiences that are erroneously defining your personal brand you. Chances are they are based on outdated and incomplete data. One rule of thumb here is that your experiences are meant to inform you, not define you. Shifting your mindset is the alchemy to uncovering the authentic you. The authentic you is fundamental to cultivating a powerful personal brand.
Visualize – envision your ideal brand you. What is the legacy you wish to create? What is the impact you wish to have on others? What are your talents and skills and how can you utilize them to be the solution? Who will you be the solution for (your audience)? To be it you must first see it. This is not about being someone that you are not and instead is about be-ing more of who you are.
What is your current brand posture? Is there room to evolve?
Need help redefining and or aligning your personal brand, visit www.georgiawolfesamuels.com or www.theempactagency.com for additional resources. Let’s connect if you have questions. My handle is @georgiawolfesamuels on all major social media sites.
Georgia Wolfe Samuels is a Catalyst for Women seeking to live a life of purpose and impact. She empowers women to Redefine their personal brand, ultimately creating space to amplify their impact, networth and legacy by teaching principles of self-belief - authentically and intentionally defining the stories they tell themselves about themselves, personal branding and divine connection. Sign up for resources to help you in amplifying your personal brand you at www.georgiawolfesamuels.com.
GEORGIA WOLFE-SAMUELSSEPTEMBER 20, 2021