| Indeed, almost everything we do is influenced by | | | | are planning major career changes, then your present |
| brand names. Virtually everyone, it seems, is brand | | | | colleagues are not your competitors. If you are |
| conscious, and even professional success is | | | | aiming for a senior post in your current company, |
| sometimes attributed to "personal branding." | | | | identifying competitors and their brand features |
| Your personal brand is your promise of value. It helps | | | | should be fairly uncomplicated. |
| you stand apart from your competitors, your | | | | 4. Focus on your target audience. Identifying the |
| colleagues, and your peers. Personal branding is not | | | | traits of your target audience helps you craft your |
| just about framing a unique, artificial picture for the | | | | communication accordingly, helping you to understand |
| outside world, it is about portraying the distinct | | | | how and where you can reach your audience. |
| amalgamation of cogent and poignant features that | | | | 5. Convey yourself. Describe the essence of your |
| you possess. All these features, including your | | | | brand while creating a personal brand profile. List your |
| strengths, talents, values, and obsessions, are used | | | | brand features, prepare a brand statement, and |
| to differentiate you and to guide your career | | | | create a personal brand tagline. |
| decisions. | | | | 6. Blend well. You can discover the ultimate |
| Your Name Matters | | | | arrangement of communications tools that get in |
| "What's in a name?" some say, but they ignore the | | | | touch with your audience effectively, only when you |
| value of names at their own peril. Our names have a | | | | become acquainted with yourself, your competitors, |
| grand value in our lives. Treating another person's | | | | and your goals. All possible communications tools |
| name with dignity will make him feel gratified and | | | | must be evaluated, and the right combination must |
| encourage him to treasure his name as his most | | | | be selected to reach your target audience. |
| valued possession. Treat his name with respect and | | | | 7. Connect your brand to everything. Remember |
| you will gain his respect, and vice versa. | | | | never to leave your brand behind, not even when |
| The Keys to Successful Personal Branding | | | | you are participating in a meeting, writing a report, |
| 1. Visualize your brand. "To accomplish great things, | | | | giving a presentation, or going on a business trip. |
| we must dream as well as act," says French novelist | | | | 8. Eat your brand, drink your brand. Give yourself a |
| Anatole France. Create your brand framework. | | | | period of at least two weeks to become |
| Envision your goals. Then begin the assessment | | | | accustomed to your brand. Check to see if |
| process and build up your brand. | | | | everything that you do during that period - the |
| 2. Identify yourself. Authenticity is critical to | | | | clothes you wear, the food you eat, the articles you |
| establishing a booming personal brand. For better | | | | use during the day, etc. - is consistent with your |
| branding, get to know yourself better. If you are | | | | brand. |
| innovative, vibrant, and extroverted, you will not win | | | | 9. Assess and progress. Once your brand becomes |
| by communicating the traits of being conventional, | | | | recognized, and the communication skills needed to |
| dull, and quiet. | | | | reach your target audience are developed, start |
| 3. Identify your competitors. You cannot be | | | | measuring your brand's success. All strong brands |
| prominent if you do not know who your colleagues | | | | grow with the passage of time, proving the brands' |
| or rivals are. Find out if your competitors are at your | | | | continued relevance to their target audiences. |
| present workplace or within your industry. Consider | | | | So, go on, mold yourself into a brand and feel the |
| both your own goals and your competition. If you | | | | difference. |