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March 13, 2006

Building a Personal Brand–YOU

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:26 pm

What Makes You Unique?

Personal Branding logo

Mark Twain used to say that everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. People do a lot of talking about things like branding too, but I’m not sure that many know what to do about that either. A brand can seem as nebulous as the weather . . . how do you get your head around what a personal brand is?

I can just about hear my uncle Everett saying, “Personal brand, what are you talking about? I’m not a pair of shoes, and I don’t care what you say, I’m not for sale at any price.”

Ironically, that remark is a branding statement if I’ve ever heard one.

What a Personal Brand Is

Uncle Everett underscores the idea of a personal brand well and articulately–he communicates who he is in a way that others believe in it.

Your brand is you and all you are and ever will be. It’s your uniqueness, your skills and abilities, your image, your traits, and your potential. Your brand is how you as a person will fill a need in a way that no other person can.

Everything about you contributes to your personal brand–everything you say or don’t say, what you wear, your tone of voice, the look of your space, the look on your face, the way you shake hands. The quality of your work is an immense part of your brand, but not, by any means, all of it. Even there it matters whether it’s on time, done with friendliness, with teamwork, with innovation and flexibility.

Forging a Personal Brand

From Uncle Everett’s bald head to his baggy pants, his love for the Chicago Cubs and his fierce devotion to his family were all easy to see.

To forge a strong personal brand takes self-awareness. Think deeply so that you can do these things well.

  • Identify your strengths and your weaknesses.
  • Capitalize on your strengths.
  • Find valid ways to make your weaknesses irrelevant.
  • Determine how you uniquely fit a job market need.
  • Describe and define that unique fit as your personal brand.
  • Determine how your image can communicate your brand.
  • Complete the “big idea” by checking all that you do supports your personal brand.

Sounds like a lot, but the closer you get to refining it to the smallest detail, the more credible your brand will be. Why? Because you will be living it. A personal brand is what you ARE, not how you act.

Everett knew that being who you are is a bond with the community. It the basis on which all relationships are forged. Being any less and you’re only a bad facsimile of what you could be. Your personal brand can be the strongest advantage you bring to your business life.

Be brand YOU and you’re the only one. No one can compete with that.

The best way to promote your business is by living your brand.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
The Only One
Business, Blogs, and Niche-Brand Marketing

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Filed under Branding, Business Life, Marketing, Motivation/Inspiration, Strategy, Successful Blog |



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8 Comments to “Building a Personal Brand–YOU”

  1. March 20th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
    Successful Blog - Brand YOU–Making Your Weaknesses Irrelevant said

    […] Related article: Building a Personal Brand–YOU Leaders and Higher Ground The Only One Business, Blogs, and Niche-Brand Marketing Technorati Tags: big idea branding job market personal branding promotion strategy strengths and weakness […]

  2. March 24th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
    Successful Blog - BusinessWeekOnline Agrees said

    […] Related articles Brand YOU–You Are What They See Building a Personal Brand–YOU Technorati Tags: big idea leadership personal branding personal image self awareness self promotion strengths and weaknesses […]

  3. March 27th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
    Educational Technology and Life » Blog Archive » Building a Personal Brand-YOU said

    […] Building a Personal Brand-YOU (Via Successful Blog.): ” It’s your uniqueness, your skills and abilities, your image, your traits, and your potential. Your brand is how you as a person will fill a need in a way that no other person can.” Liz goes on to suggest tips for forging a personal brand. […]

  4. September 25th, 2006 at 8:58 am
    JibberJobber Blog » Blog Archive » eensie weensie confession said

    […] 23. Build Your Brand (hah, this obviously was a personal favorite of mine. But I was disappointed to realize that I didn’t invent the concept … or maybe she invented it?) […]

  5. October 8th, 2006 at 5:33 am
    A week (+ a little longer) in the life of… at “Ceci n’est pas…” by Vincent van Wylick said

    […] This is (hopefully) going to become part of a weekly series on Brand:Me. In other words, I’ll post about things going through my mind and life at the time of writing, in order to both keep others updated and a progress-report for myself. It’s (a little) longer because lf my long-long break in blogging. Generally though, I think I’ll reserve these kinds of posts for weekends anyway. […]

  6. May 23rd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
    Fred Marlin said

    Intresting. “So what brand do you want phil? A,B OR C? “Why a of course. “A” That would be me. Really a mind awakener. Thanks.

  7. June 2nd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
    Blogger said

    Can we talk - how might I reach you? I would like to talk about perhaps using your services.

  8. June 3rd, 2007 at 7:06 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Blogger!
    I tried to email you. Maybe I got that address not quite right. :)

    You can find my email address on the Work with Liz! page in the side bar. The link is at the bottom of the page. Feel free to write. Weekends are an especially good time to find me. I live inside your computer. :)

    I’m happy to talk with you.

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