Who Are You?

Who Are You?

The Power of Personal Branding

Stop and think!

Who are you?  

What image are you presenting to the outside world?  

Are you working to be the best that you can be, personally?  

Or are you instead resting on your laurels, your past experiences, your past achievements?

We oftentimes define ourselves as what we have achieved or experienced in the past.  Is this a true definition of how you want people to perceive you?  Is your past good enough or are there things in your life that you are still trying to achieve, a brass ring that is still just out of your grasp?

You are constantly branding yourself through your values, your flaws and even your idols, those people that you look up to. 

In real life, branding is a powerful and effective approach to how people perceive you and can be an effectual way to beat out your competition in your professional or business world.  The things you do and say influence others, creating a “brand” that identifies you in their eyes.

Branding is physical as well as emotional.  Choices in appearance and music, reading materials, even the people you choose to associate with, all contribute to your personal brand, and the types of people that are drawn to you, whether in person or on social media sites.

Successful personal branding can be just as important to you personally as well as professionally.  Showing a strong personal brand is an important asset in the on-line atmosphere of today’s marketplace.  This can be seen with some of the most recognized personalities like Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, and Opra Winfry, to name just a few that currently come to mind.

You are developing concepts to build your image, sell, package and promote yourself, for whatever path life is taking you down, whatever journey you have embarked on, what the eventual destination will be.

Having stated that, you also need to be authentic in your personal branding.  Many times people try to make themselves out to be something it is impossible to keep up, because it just isn't them.  By being yourself, liking who you are, it is easier to make your dreams, goals and achievements happen to make you happy and at ease. Do it for yourself first.  Know who you are.

TED Talks addresses this idea of "Take Control of Your Personal Brand" through a speech by Jay Clouse, a student of Columbus University in 2013.

Second Chance Solutions is here to help you bring about a second chance to make a first impression, to overcome some past impressions you may have established, recreating yourself in a positive way that brings fulfillment into your life, whatever that means to you, both personally and professionally.

Join in the conversation.  Let us know how you are working on your own personal brand.

by Karen Boggs