Personal Branding Advice from My Mom
When I think about personal branding and what’s necessary to build and express a consistently powerful brand, I am amazed at the relevance of much of the advice my mother shared with me and my friends during those early sandbox years. My quick tip this month is actually a few valuable words of wisdom from my mom.
Back then she was known to my friends as Mrs. Arruda, but you can call her Barbara. Here are some value tips from Barbara’s Branding Bag:
Just Be Yourself, Honey.
Where it fits in the Reach 1-2-3 Success! Branding Process: Brand Discovery - Authenticity.
Strong brands know how to use who they are (their strengths, passions, values, vision, etc.) to get what they want. Understanding yourself and maximizing your greatest strengths will enable you to project an enviable brand image. But don’t worry, even though others may envy you, they won’t be able to copy you if you base your brand in authenticity.
Sharing is Caring.
Where it fits in the Reach 1-2-3 Success! Branding Process: Brand Environment - Networking.
Giving to members of your network will ensure they’re ready to support you when you need them. Sharing an article, a web site or a new tool to help them succeed will help you build and maintain a strong professional network. The most successful networkers know that giving to their network is the best strategy. And the strongest brands have powerful networks.
You Have Two Ears and One Mouth, So Listen Twice as Much as You Speak.
Where it fits in the Reach 1-2-3 Success! Branding Process: Brand Measurement - Feedback.
Strong brands are obsessive about asking for and listening to feedback. People will tell you what you need to know to evolve your brand, but you need to be listening to make their feedback actionable. So pay attention when people introduce you, listen as they describe what you do to others and most importantly, pay attention when they share a direct piece of feedback that could be the key to refining your brand.
First Impressions are Lasting Impressions.
Where it fits in the Reach 1-2-3 Success! Branding Process: Brand Environment - Surroundings.
Everything in your brand environment says something about you. Your first interaction with someone gives them a powerful brand message. Your appearance, the business tools you have with you and your office and desk are sending mini brand messages about you. Ensure the messages you send are consistent with your unique promise of value.
If You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get.
Where it fits in the Reach 1-2-3 Success! Branding Process: Brand Communications – Visibility.
If you want to speak to a specific group, want an article in a particular magazine or want to provide some value to a specific organization, just ask! I re-learn this lesson over and over.
At the Reach Branding Club, Kirsten and I are building a tele-seminar series featuring interviews with some of the world’s strongest brands. Kirsten and I assembled our wish list of people we want to interview. Then we thought about how often these extremely busy people must be asked for interviews; and we hesitated for a second. Then we just fired off emails and made phone calls to the entire list. And every one of those we asked agreed to an interview - a reminder to Kirsten and I (and now to you) that if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
You Can Be Anything You Want, You Just Need to Want it Badly Enough.
Where it fits in the Reach 1-2-3 Success! Branding Process: Brand Discovery - Goals.
All achievements start with a goal. Successful branding requires that you know your goals so you can direct your energy toward them. Your goals give your brand direction. So you need to be acutely aware of what you want, what you really want, before you can start to build a winning brand. Have you identified and documented your goals?
> learn about the 1-2-3 Success! Personal Branding Process
> get your complimentary copy of An Introduction to Personal Branding
> meet some of the Reach-Certified Personal Branding Strategists
> get what you need to get out in front of your peers or competitors at the Reach Branding Club