Your Personal Brand is one of your most important assets. Your brand represents how others perceive you. It is determined by the impressions you make every day through your actions. If you desire, therefore, to have a strong personal brand, some questions to reflect upon are:
- Do you act professionally?
- Do you have high standards?
- Do you have clear values?
- Are you enjoyable to work with?
- Are you negotiable?
- Do you follow through on your commitments?
- Are you collaborative and cooperative?
- Are you win/win oriented?
A product or company builds a strong brand by consistently delivering value to its customers. An individual develops a strong personal brand by consistently delivering value to those with whom he or she has a relationship—colleagues, customers, family, and friends. Everyday life provides many opportunities to build our brands through simple acts. But each act creates an impression in the mind of another, and our value to them is either strengthened or diminished.
- Are we doing only what is asked or are we constantly adding value?
- Do we seek to judge or to understand?
- Do we help or hinder?
- Are we living in the past or planning the future?
- Do we see life as a struggle or an adventure?
- Are we invisible or invincible?
- Are we focused on the obstacle or the dream?
- Are we too cautious when we need to be courageous?
Brand Moments, the attitudes and behaviors you demonstrate daily, define and communicate your brand. Your commitment to having a strong personal brand undoubtedly will be tested over and over again. It is much easier to hide out than to shine out. But the payoff for your commitment is enormous.
When you have a strong brand, you attract allies. The people to whom your brand matters will be drawn to it. They will support it. They will fight for it. And you will win!
David McNally, CPAE, is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of TransForm Corporation (http://www.transformcorp.com). Elected to the Speakers Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association (NSA), McNally is the author of the bestselling books, “Even Eagles Need a Push—Learning to Soar in a Changing World,” “The Eagle’s Secret—Success Strategies for Thriving at Work and in Life,” and “The Push—Unleashing the Power of Encouragement.” His co-authored book, “Be Your OWN Brand,” is used by many business schools to address the importance of building a strong personal brand. McNally’s books have been translated into 12 different languages and developed into corporate training programs that have been released in more than 20 countries. TransForm works with organizations to develop purposeful leaders who build inspired organizations and iconic brands. Clients include Ameriprise, Areva, Conway, Delta Airlines, Pulte Homes, and Thrivent. For more information, visit www.davidmcnally.com or e-mail info@transformcorp.com.
