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Personal Branding

Personal branding is the process of marketing and selling yourself as a brand in order to gain success in business/jobs. Personal branding is a continual process just as knowing yourself is a continual process. As you grow, so does your brand. The need for personal branding arises from the fact that globalization has increased competition in the workplace. As the wheat is separated from the chaff, if you are left standing, you are left standing with others of good caliber. The playing field is now that much more challenging since your competition is as good as, or better, than you.

"If we were to classify people based on aptitude, they are As, Bs, Cs, and Ds. Because of globalization the Cs and Ds have been outsourced. They're gone. All that's left is you. You are now in competition with a bunch of As and Bs. You are now clamoring for attention amongst a talented group of people. How do you now get noticed? How can you shine and be recognized for additional opportunities? How can you be successful when everyone around you is just as talented, or more so, than you? If everyone around you is capable and of A or B caliber, how do you compete with that?"

You build a personal brand and sell it. You sell not just yourself, but your brand, to your superiors, or clients in the case of contractors and consultants.

The same reason people buy Coke instead of Pepsi. The public perception of the company's product is created and marketed in such a way as to enhance the product, or even be the product. Soda is soda, pop is pop for those of us with less-sensitive taste buds. The similarities end, however, when you compare Coke versus Pepsi. Even taste tests are meaningless; it's the brand that sells it.

Checklist

1. Know what you want
2. Be able to articulate what you do
3. Elevator pitch
4. Be positive
5. Have a blog / website / MySpace, or other online presence
6. Business card
7. Multiple e-mail addresses
8. Phone
9. Signature
10. Logo
11. Personal logo
12. More than one resume
13. Mentor
14. Networking outlets / contacts
15. Wardrobe style
16. Multiple IM accounts
17. Alias
18. Mantra
19. Speaking and PowerPoint template
20. Passion

Let's start with some brief definitions.

Checklist Definitions

1. Know what you want: Identify what you want, and start walking toward it.
2. Be able to articulate what you do: When someone asks what you do, answer them immediately with a clear, concise, and confident response.
3. Elevator pitch: Be able to describe who you are and what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator.
4. Be positive: Be positive.
5. Business card: A 3x5 piece of paper or mini-CD that has your personal contact information clearly printed on it.
6. Have a blog / Website / MySpace, or other online presence: Get your brand online.
7. Multiple e-mail addresses: Get more than one e-mail address.
8. Phone: Get a phone.
9. Signature: Your signature is who you are, your title, and your contact information. You should put this on everything you touch.
10. Logo: A visual image that positively identifies your brand.
11. Personal goals: Set goals for yourself that help you reach what you want.
12. More than one resume: Customize your resume to the potential employer or client.
13. Mentor: Find a guru and have them teach you.
14. Networking outlets / contacts: Continually develop your network by attending industry meetings and conferences.
15. Wardrobe style: When you are going to be near people who you wish to sell your brand to, dress to impress.
16. Multiple IM accounts: Get more than one IM account.
17. Alias: Obtain a positive nickname.
18. Mantra: Collect sayings that enforce your brand.
19. Speaking and PowerPoint template: Speak about what you do and have a hot-looking PowerPoint template to show.
20. Passion: Love what you do.