What are the key elements of a compelling personal brand story and how do you tell it?

By experience, I will advise to identify recurring themes and challenge limiting beliefs. Explore your passions and aspirations, and discuss the impact you want to make on the world. Also after setting goals, values, and brand story, it is important to connect with role models and mentors for inspiration and treasure the importance of patience and self-compassion. Finally, regular reflection, journaling, and adapting your purpose as needed are key. Remember that each person's journey is unique, and genuine guidance can be a valuable compass in the pursuit of a purpose-driven life. Keep learning.

Often when trying to define your propose this can feel very overwhelming, but and easy place to start is to think about what you've enjoyed in your career to date - there are going to be a number of events that stand out to you, things that you are proud of having done well, both in work and outside of work. Make a note of your ‘top 5’. What was your role and contribution and reflect on what it tells you about yourself. Rank the achievements in order of importance to you. This can help to see themes and areas where you have experience but also where you have enjoyed what you have achieved.

Don't get caught up in the verbiage. Mission, vision, passion are all sort of vacuous (and if we're honest, somewhat empty) concepts, at this point. Break it down to the simplest elements. You have your Zone of Genius (what you're incredible at doing, what you LOVE doing above all, plus where you add massive value). You have people you love working with (usually people similar to you or at least on a similar path as you, but a couple steps behind you). You have amazing results you deliver in business, for which you get paid. Now, take all those elements and define your purpose: "I do X (what I love/what I'm good at/where I add massive value) for Y (people I love working with me 2 steps behind me in whatever journey) to achieve Z results.

Your purpose is your Why. What makes you uniquely you? What gets you excited? Unpacking this can take time, intentional observations, and it involves getting radically honest with yourself. Look back at some of the moments of your career that you are most proud of, and ask yourself ''What was I doing in those moments that made me so successful"? Was it working with a team? Did you have great work/life balance? Were you able to lead authentically? Connecting your mind and body is a great place to start (meditation). In doing so, you are able to more closely recognize feelings of joy and abundance, to be able to clearly say, this is what makes me truly happy - I'm in the zone!

Certainly, crafting a compelling personal brand story hinges on six key elements, and defining your purpose is the foundational element. Your purpose forms the heart of your story, elucidating why you do what you do. It should be authentic, inspiring, and in harmony with your values and strengths. To crystallize your purpose, delve into what motivates, challenges, and fulfills you. This introspection helps create a narrative that resonates with your audience, conveying your unique mission, vision, and passion.

As a job searcher, your target audience is the Hiring Manager with a specific title in a specific department within a specific industry This is why job searchers that are "open to everything" struggle as a slight difference in your bosses title, dept, or sub industry can have a huge difference on what they need, value, prioritize, and what words resonate with them. You might not care about your industry. But your employer's needs do care as it affects your ability to communicate that your brand matches their needs. If you haven't taken your target audience into account, your brand is not as strong as you think it is.

Additional areas to consider are where companies have a track record of hiring people with your skillset (this can be seen by viewing current employers work history on LinkedIn profiles) for example you might be transitioning from the military to civilian life. Seeing where people have come from can prove powerful in helping identify a target audience.

Different platforms and situations may call for different aspects of your story. Tailor the narrative to fit the needs and expectations of your target audience.

Absolutely, identifying your audience is a pivotal element of crafting a compelling personal brand story. Your audience defines the impact and reach of your narrative. To effectively connect with them, you must intimately understand their needs, desires, challenges, and aspirations. Additionally, gaining insights into their communication preferences, online presence, and values is vital. To pinpoint your audience, conduct thorough market research, build personas that represent your target demographics, and actively seek feedback. This approach ensures your personal brand story resonates authentically and addresses the specific concerns and interests of your intended audience.

Again, step away from the verbiage, which often gets people stuck. Break it down to basics. Who are the people like you or following a similar path, who are a couple steps behind (not too far behind) you that really need your help to "figure it out" faster, better, cheaper? It doesn't truly need to be a business school exercise on Ideal Client Profile, although of course, that can help, too.

It's so common to not be the "perfect fit" for an opportunity. The employer will say "You're great, but..." What is that "but"? Stop seeing this as a weakness. See your difference as a fresh perspective and point of connection. Let's say that your difference is that you're significantly older than the people on the team you want to join at a video game company. What's your advantage? No, not something fluffy like “maturity.” Think about how your "but" actually helps the business. Such as: "My experience as a baby boomer has enabled me to be highly in touch with the largest and most profitable consumer segment in the mobile game space, women over 60."

Highlight your innate strengths. Skills can be taught/learned. But what makes you unique are the innate strengths you bring to the table combined with your experiences. Identify those strengths and tie them to what that means in your career. The result, a unique individual….you!!’

To help you with finding your unique selling point (USP) conduct research into: (1) Your potential customer groups. Can you find evidence that suggests something is missing for them? Can you fill that gap? Social network groups used by your customers can provide a lot of insight. Additionally, customer feedback platforms such as TrustPilot identify where competitors may be falling short, and where you could step in. (2) Other services operating within your space. What do they offer and, more precisely, what do they not? Be mindful that there can be legitimate business reasons for what you perceive as a gap, including cost implications. A thorough and detailed business plan can support the formulation of a viable business solution.

Highlighting the difference between you and others misses an important step. Highlighting your Relevance to your Target audience (aka specific hiring manager job title in your specific department in your specific Company) is critical in what most amateur brand content creators don't understand...Personal Positioning. You can be the most Unique person in the world but if you're not focused on what your ideal employer cares most about you still won't resonate. Who do you think employers want to hire? The unique candidate from the Vatican City who can juggle on a tricycle? Or the Relevant candidate who's an expert in Finance that understands the industry and the major business challenges?

Authenticity is key. Be true to yourself and your experiences. People can usually discern if you're not being genuine. Utilize storytelling techniques like suspense, flashbacks, or anecdotes to make your story more engaging. Use various platforms to tell your story. Websites, LinkedIn profiles, social media channels, podcasts, and traditional media can be effective.

The 'STAR' method is a useful step-by-step technique for demonstrating your knowledge, skills, qualities, and experience in a clear, structured, concise, and persuasive manner. An acronym, it stands for: (1) SITUATION: describe what was happening and when (2) TASK: explain what needed doing (e.g. the problem) (3) ACTION(S): provide evidence of what you did to address the situation and task (e.g. your contributions to solving the problem) (4) RESULT: reveal the outcome and achievements (e.g. positive feedback, increased sales, improved efficiencies etc.; quantify these for added impact) Watch this video for more information and an example of the STAR method being used: https://youtu.be/ojMt2ktJEyQ

Your story is tied to your purpose. For example, your career may be in the medical field. Your story of why you chose the medical field is tied to your purpose. Perhaps, you had to deal with health issues and you overcame them, but feel a sense of purpose in giving back to the community by being involved in the medical field. That’s your story. That’s what makes you unique. Often times, it’s more than credentials and diplomas that give you a competitive edge. It’s your passion and your drive that makes you stand out.

Certainly, sharing your story is the pivotal link that ties together your purpose, audience, and difference within your personal brand narrative. It narrates your journey, detailing how you arrived at your current point. It should encompass the challenges you've surmounted, the lessons you've gleaned, and the outcomes you've accomplished. Your story should be not only compelling but also relatable and relevant, and it should convey your personality, emotions, and values. To effectively share your story, employ storytelling techniques like the hero's journey, the STAR method, or the PAR formula. These frameworks provide structure and resonance to your narrative, allowing your audience to connect with your experiences on a deeper level.

Firstly, zoom out from the usual linear narratives and story arcs. This will help you stop pigeon-holing yourself. Most stories are bumpy, with dead ends and false starts; we just never hear those parts. Trust me on this (I've coached 2000 top execs and very, very few have their "shnitzel" together). For the purposes of this exercise, think how all of your experiences have given you the puzzle pieces and insights that have brought you to this unique opportunity that you're now applying for. And of course, be focused when searching for such opportunities. Take the time to get your own story straight to *yourself* (read that again). It's more than worth it. Once you're not storytelling to retrofit yourself or impress others, the magic happens

Showcase your personal brand through accomplishments by creating an online portfolio by creating a website; use the "Featured" section on LinkedIn. Share relevant content, engage with industry professionals, and participate in online discussions. Creating an accomplishment journal is an excellent way to begin tracking your accomplishments. Take time for yourself at the end of each week and write down ideas, goals, goals, and successes. In time, this will become a habit.

Absolutely, showcasing your proof is a critical aspect of your personal brand story. It substantiates the claims you make, demonstrating your value, skills, and credibility. Tangible outcomes and benefits of working with you or hiring you become apparent through this evidence. Proof may encompass testimonials, endorsements, awards, publications, portfolios, or case studies. To effectively showcase your proof, utilize concrete elements such as numbers, facts, quotes, or visuals that vividly illustrate your impact and success. This compelling evidence reinforces the authenticity and reliability of your personal brand story.

Including a call to action is so important. Your audience needs to know what you want them to do after hearing your personal brand story. If you don't do that, they won't take further action. Unfortunately, not many people include a call to action, and so the audience is unable to engage or relate with them. I find that people engage and relate more with me when I include a call to action. Examples of a call to action could be to encourage your audience to reflect on their own journeys, find similarities on their own journeys, connect, explore a shared interest, or even join a cause.

Absolutely, a well-crafted call to action is the crucial culmination of your personal brand story. It guides your audience on the next steps you want them to take after engaging with your narrative. Whether it's prompting them to make a decision, feel a certain way, or think about your brand in a particular light, your call to action should be clear, concise, and compelling. It can take the form of a request, an offer, a question, or a challenge, but it should always motivate your audience to take action, strengthening the connection between your story and their engagement with your brand.