Whether it’s intentional or not, each person inevitably has their own personal brand. When most people think of building a brand, they think of commercial branding.
Everyone around you has a perception of you - that is your brand.
How you manage your brand, and how you wish to be seen, will influence your reputation, relevance, and your impact.
Why It’s Important to Tell Your Own Brand Story
Have you ever Googled yourself and been surprised by the results? Remember, anyone who Googles you will see the same things.
But why does this matter?
Well, prospective employers might Google you before deciding to hire you. Whatever Google is portraying your brand to be is the impression the employer will receive of you.
When you take ownership of your brand, you are in control of what onlookers see. You can control your narrative.
The sooner you start writing your own story, the more you’ll be able to control.
How to Base Your Brand on Your Values
All decisions you make in your life are based on your values.
Your values can be established by consciously exploiting your attitudes and beliefs.
If you’re unsure about your values, aligning your brand authentically becomes harder - and this can compromise your reputation.
Identify your non-negotiables in life: the lines you’re willing to cross and those you’re not. Stick firmly to these values and make them the pillars of your brand.
Why Should You Focus on Maintaining Relevance?
Some brands’ relevance deteriorates over time, such as Yahoo and MySpace.
It’s important to achieve fluidity in your brand to be able to mould to current times. If you fall behind, you’ll fall off the bandwagon and be less likely to make an impact.
Problem-solving skills are crucial to be able to maintain relevance.
These include:
adaptability and flexibility,
being able to market yourself,
gaining industry knowledge,
communication skills, and
teamwork and collaboration skills.
Take ownership of your brand and find ways to stand out from the crowd whilst still firmly being a part of it.
Visibility is crucial, but take care to be assertive without being egotistical.
How Networking Can Be Beneficial
Networks are built on reputation and relevance.
You want to network with people who have reputation and relevance in order to build up both of these things as a result.
Think carefully about the people you want to engage with and whether they align with your brand and values. Link with them and continually engage with them to maintain personal professional relationships.
Leverage these networks to help each other maintain reputation and relevance.
Why You Should Get a Mentor
You’re never too old or too experienced to have a mentor.
When choosing a mentor, try and find someone to whom the relationship will be mutually beneficial.
They should want to spend the time to help improve your brand.
An outsider provides insight into your reputation and what people perceive of you.
This is where you need to take time to look at the way you are portraying your brand and whether your values are being perceived as how you have intended.
How Can the My Relevance Impact Model Help?
The My Relevance Impact model is based on three core elements to maintain a personal brand successfully.
These include:
Behaviour: what you do
Values: what you say
Perceptible reality: what others think of you
If your core elements are in alignment, you are able to maintain relevance. And relevance allows you to make an impact in the world.