How do you create a personal brand that reflects your values?

A key exercise to reflect on before building a personal brand is to ask 1) what do you want to be known for 2) who needs to know you exist and how can you help them. These questions will help shape the direction of your content strategy and keep you aligned with your goals.

"To thine own self be true" is a line from Shakespeare's famous play "Hamlet." In the play, Polonius advises his son, Laertes, to be AUTHENTIC and HONEST with himself before he leaves for France. The advice in that short phrase written by Shakespeare is timeless and can be applied to various aspects of life, including when building a personal brand strategy.

??The alignment of personal values to a personal brand is a strategic imperative for authentic leadership. ??Reflection and Self-Assessment Delve deep into your personal beliefs and experiences to uncover your genuine values. ??Consistency in Action Ensure your behaviors and decisions consistently align with your identified core values in all situations. ??Clear Communication Articulate your values clearly and consistently across all personal and professional platforms. ??Embedding core values in your personal brand requires ongoing reflection, consistent action, and clear communication.

I try to remember that some days, I might need to ask for a hand; others, I'll be in a position to offer one. The challenge? I don't know which side I'll be on when I wake up — and assume many others don't either...

My core values stem from my deep belief that business should be used as a force for good. Throughout my career, I've seen how access to capital can transform lives when placed in the right hands. That's why integrity, transparency, and empowerment form the bedrock of my personal brand. Integrity means being true to my word and delivering on promises made. It's building trust through consistency between my words and actions. Transparency is about being open, honest, and forthcoming with clients. It's treating people with respect by being direct about risks and rewards. These values shape how I operate, build relationships, and educate those I serve. They allow me to connect authentically with clients as a trusted partner on their journey.

Value propositions for personal branding are about showcasing your unique worth to others. Start by identifying your WHY – the driving force behind your passions and purpose. Define HOW your skills and approach set you apart. Communicate WHAT you offer to solve challenges. This authentic message connects you with like-minded audiences, opening doors to meaningful opportunities.

As a champion for women and minority small business owners, I bring intimate knowledge of the obstacles they face securing capital, coupled with deep expertise navigating the complex lending landscape. My value stems from a passion to educate and empower. My mission is to open doors by equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge to make informed decisions for their ventures. I've witnessed firsthand the transformative impact access to capital catalyzes for communities. This drives my commitment to serve as a trusted advisor - illuminating pathways to success with integrity, transparency and care. When we lift up diverse business leaders, our whole economy prospers.

Megan is right ... Decide where you fit in. If necessary, reinvent yourself. Be willing to change. Read about new stuff. Find someone to disagree with you. Don't take life too seriously, nobody lives through it.

7 Steps to Build Your Online Presence: 1. Define Your Audience & Goals: Know your target audience and set clear objectives. 2. Embrace Authenticity: Share unique experiences and expertise genuinely. Keep it real. 3. Choose the Right Platforms: Select platforms aligned with your goals and audience. 4. Create Valuable Content: Offer insights and tips that resonate with your audience. Be useful! 5. Optimize for Discoverability: Use relevant keywords and SEO techniques so followers can find you! 6. Engage & Network: Interact with your audience and connect with peers. 7. Measure Progress: Track analytics, adapt, and refine your strategy. This is the most overlooked step! Don't miss it!

?? Build Your Digital Presence: Profile: Use a professional photo, a clear bio, and a consistent username. Visuals: Keep fonts, colors, and logos uniform. Content: Plan posts, use effective hashtags, and set platform goals. Engagement: Know your audience, interact, and ensure links work. Launch: Announce with impact and refine based on feedback. ? Stay consistent and adaptable for a strong presence.

As an advisor guiding diverse entrepreneurs, my online presence is vital for spreading my mission far and wide. I optimize profiles with keywords highlighting my niche expertise empowering women and minority small business owners. Sharing my educational content and personal experiences enables me to connect authentically. While my social channels reveal a more personal side, interacting with my community. The doors to economic access have been closed to so many for so long - my digital channels are the key to fling them wide open, inviting those I can empower inside. I'm honored to illuminate the way.

When building your network, ask yourself if your intention is transactional, unconditional, or both. Unconditional networking is more effective, but it's hard to do. When you give without expectation, you may be surprised by the bounty of rewards you receive in return.

Expanding my network means extending hands to raise others up. I proactively reach out to fellow advisors, small business advocates, and aspiring entrepreneurs to uncover shared missions and offer my knowledge. Fostering connections through authentic relationship building allows me to amplify voices that traditional finance has left behind. I aim to listen first, understanding needs, before proposing solutions. Following up and adding value keeps trust flowing. My network is my power to drive change - when we come together to provide access and education, we can unlock potential in those eager to succeed but lacking opportunity. Together, we can open doors to prosperity wider than ever before.

Find out what other people are thinking. Read their posts and say something thoughtful. "Really liked your post" is a good intro, but explain why, and ask a question to which they can respond. Sales is, at its root, an emotional dialogue.

The impact I treasure most can't be captured by traditional metrics. It's the spark of confidence I help ignite in entrepreneurs who've been told "no" their whole lives. I measure my success in loan approvals, dollars accessed, and ventures launched that transform families and communities. But my proudest moments are when those I've empowered become empowerers themselves - paying it forward as mentors. My impact multiplies when their voices amplify mine in opening economic access. Their journeys fuel my dedication to illuminate pathways where others only saw obstacles. communities. This drives my purpose.

Confidence is key. It is contagious and people can feel it. Where have your wins been? What have you learned from your losses? What are you bringing to the table, now?

There are really two components to this: building a brand, and making it personal. Building a brand means you determine how you'll position yourself to reach an audience, as well as what channels you'll use to publicize your brand. This may be a social platform, website, newsletter or other publication, or something else, but it must reflect you. This also includes imagery, colors, fonts, and other design elements. The other point is being "personal." This means anything you create, write, promote, support, publicize, or respond to has to to reflect who you are, your values, what you stand for, what you want to be known for, and what you represent. That's it. It boils down to authenticity. Everything you do should support those points.

Read the book "Leadership Two Words At a Time", it explains the personal value and standing by it beautifully that totally reflects on this article.

? Creating a personal brand that reflects one's values involves authenticity and consistency. Mary, who chose her career as a Sustainability Advocate, shared her passion for eco-conscious practices through social media, initiatives and events. She always promotes environmental awareness which aided her brand becoming synonymous with sustainability. ? She was intentional about taking actions that were in line with her values, volunteered for green activities and businesses. This genuine dedication resonated with her audience, affirming trust and credibility. ? By staying true to her values in both words and actions, her brand became a powerful advocate for sustainability, igniting the impact of realism in building a meaningful reputation.