Why Your Brand Is Your Story

You know what a brand is. You even know what a personal brand is. And from what you know, you have no idea who to build your own brand because, after all, is being you enough to be your own brand? Well, yes and no. Being you is certainly the center and soul of your personal brand. You have your own unique sense of humor, talents, quirks and outlook on life and its prevailing forces. John McEnroe has a brand. So does Zooey Deschanel. And President Obama.

When you imagine these people in your mind, you see them in a certain way. You associate a code of behaviors and values with them, and those collective impressions comprise their respective brands. And believe it or not, people do the same thing with you. You may think of this as your reputation, and in part it is, but your brand extends beyond your reputation in that it can be groomed, refined and promoted across various levels of your life.

This article explains, “Whether you’re on the job hunt, a student, or gainfully employed, you must think, act, and plan like a business leader. With the surge of social media, you have not only the ability, but you now have the need to manage your own reputation, both online and in real life. Employers will Google you before they even invite you to an interview. (Your current employer probably has an eye on what you’re doing, too.) And when you interact with people, both online and offline, they’ll build up an image of who you are over time.”

How well are you managing your brand? Are you controlling how people are exposed to your life and decisions across various platforms from Facebook and Twitter to your fashion sense and social habits? If you are, your brand may be beyond your control. Reign it back in by consolidating your information and keeping it consistent, and a positive reflection on who you are, in every facet or your life—both professional and personal.

Photo courtesy of publicradioexchange.