Why you should create a brand for yourself?

When people hear of “branding,” they usually think of large companies and their advertising. But you, my friend, are a brand too. We often create an image or persona without giving it a second thought. Whether we realise it or not, we are branding ourselves to the people around us. So why not take a few minutes to think about yourself as a brand? Today, we will discuss why personal branding is of great value and how you can craft a brand identity for yourself. 

If you want to know the power of personal branding, I will give you an example.

The above photo is a much-liked, much-discussed one from the sports world recently. Federer’s rivals attending his farewell event is not such a big deal, agreed. But those tears in the eyes of Rafel and the emotional faces we saw of Djokovic and Andy Murray in a few other pics are not just because of the Grand Slams he won. I believe it is because of the brand he has created – as a great human being.

What is Personal Branding? 

Personal branding is everything about yourself – what you have decided to show the outside world. Or, more specifically, how the outside world perceives you based on your skills, talents, behaviour, character, etc.  

When you consider yourself a brand, just like any other big brand, you need to think – what makes you unique and different? Why should people care about you? 

Your friends and family should be able to answer the question “who are you?” with ease. They should know what makes you unique and why they should care about what you say. That’s the power of branding – it allows people to see who you are without explaining yourself in detail.

Why is Personal branding important?

This image of yourself is more often created without you knowing. Exceptions are celebrities or big companies trying to build a branding image intentionally. This personal brand you create for yourself is of immense importance in your personal and professional life. 

For example, you are trying for a job in a company. One of your ex-colleague is working in the same company, in the same team you have applied for the position. It is common for the recruiter to enquire about you with your ex-colleague, isn’t so? And his answer is the first impression about you in the mind of the person who takes the interview. 

It is the same everywhere you go. When you look for marriage proposals, try to get a house rented. Every time in every phase of your life when you interact with another human being!

So this proves that branding is not just for big companies, politicians, or celebrities. It is for all of us.

Why creating a super brand is not easy?

Think about your personal brand. What comes to mind? Are you kind? Creative? Funny? Generous? Now, think about the opposite of those qualities. Are you unkind? Uncreative? Boring? Stingy? Most of the time, you are neither the first one alone nor the second one. You are probably a mix of both light and dark qualities. 

Just like the universe has been made of both good and bad, we also have those qualities within ourselves. Which side dominates is the war we fight within ourselves most of the time, isn’t so?

How many times have you had the dilemma of knowing what was the right thing to do but failed to do so? Knowing you had to speak up for someone who couldn’t speak for themselves but kept quiet. Acted blind when you saw something wrong was happening. 

So you see, creating the right brand for yourself is not an easy task.

However, what makes us unique as a human is our intelligence or sense to differentiate between right and wrong. This sense allows us to empower ourselves with the right qualities and mindset. How often we use that sense correctly is something we should ask ourselves.

So how to create personal branding for yourself?

It all starts with knowing who you are. What are you naturally super at doing? What comes easily for you? What is that one thing you wish to delete from your list of bad qualities?

It is about understanding your lighter side and darker side. Then decide which qualities you want to nurture and which of those you need to change.

Creating a positive image for yourself is not about being someone you are not. It is about accentuating the qualities that make you who you are and working on the ones that do not. When you focus on being the best version of yourself, you will naturally become a better person and a great brand.

How to Nurture the Good Qualities in Yourself to Make Them Stronger

As I mentioned above, the first step is to realize what is naturally good in you. Then intensionally work on getting better at it.

For example, you are a very patient person. But there may be some triggering factors that test your patience and force you to become an angry person. It can be a specific behavior in others or the way they talk sometimes. Now the focus should be on learning how to manage those situations with a little more patience. Slowly with constant practice, you will get the best at it.

The amount and type of effort differ based on what quality you want to build. Whether you wish to nurture an existing one or build one from scratch.

How to Get Rid of the Bad Qualities in Yourself

This one is tougher than the above one and requires more determination and energy!!

The first step is to figure out what you want to change. What are the qualities in yourself that you don’t like? The ones that make you feel uncomfortable or that hold you back from achieving your goals?

Once you’ve identified them, it’s time to throw them away. This can be a difficult process, but it’s worth it in the end. You ought, to be honest with yourself and willing to face your shortcomings head-on.

There are a few ways to go about this. You can try to: 

1. Change your behaviour, or
2. You can work on changing your attitude.

For example, if you are a person with frequent mood swings, you must find ways to keep yourself motivated. You may have to pull yourself intentionally from the pit of depression each time you feel sloping.

You may take some therapy, do yoga, listen to music, or learn to play an instrument. These efforts are about you trying to change your negative quality. 

Sometimes these mood swings can be because you are around a person so negative, and they intentionally destroy your happy mood. Now what to do is to change your attitude towards what the other person is doing. 

When you realize their intention is hurting you, you will stop giving control of your mood to the hands of another person. You will stop giving importance to that person. Now that is a change in attitude.

It is of utmost importance to be patient and stay focused on your goal. Remember, Rome was not built in a day!

One unique aspect of branding!

Irrespective of what image you choose to show as your brand, one part of that image should always be about being a great human being. Because that is what is left as memories about us in the minds of the people we interacted with.

Getting achievements and fame is a success. Equally important is being humble and rooted in the principles of life when you touch heights. Being kind and showing compassion to fellow humans and our nature are of great value.

Do not think a brand is just for you to get good relationships, big job opportunities, or get high in life. At the end of the day, being a good brand is about being a good human being. That image you try to build will give you a sense of goodness and peace within yourself and send a positive vibe to the people around you.

So why wait…?

Your brand is the intangible total of all of the experiences others have with you. It is what people think of when they hear your name, see your logo, or encounter your product. It’s what makes you unique and sets you apart from everyone else.

When you embrace the concept of branding yourself, you’re taking control of your image and your reputation. You’re putting yourself in the driver’s seat and ensuring that you are the one who sets the tone for how others see you. So what are you waiting for? Get started today and make an awesome brand out of yourself!

Let me know what qualities you decide to work on by commenting below.

See you in my next post. Until then take care and stay safe.