10 things I learned after working 10 years with Personal Branding.

During my over 10 years of working with content and communication, here are 10 lessons that I learned about Personal Branding:

1.Clear communication doesn't happen effortlessly.

Often, we want people to automatically know who we are, what we do, and why we do it. However, this process is not as simple and noise-free as we would like it to be. It is a fundamental principle of communication theory. Many issues may not be clear to you, let alone to the public. Just like in the process of building a brand, we need to define our communication and make continuous efforts to improve and make it more effective.

What is my mission? What values do I carry? What is my contribution to the world? What is the result of this contribution? How will I tell my story?

This is where Personal Branding comes into play. It brings clarity, consistency, and coherence to the message about who you are and what you communicate. Personal branding management means making an effort to be understood.

2. Personal Branding doesn't restrict for being yourself.

You won't be restricted by working on your brand; on the contrary, brand management will help you express your convictions empathetically and bring much more confidence once you understand how the communication process works. Our personal brand gains purpose and meaning when we strive to create genuine connections.

If, at any point, intentionally working on your personal brand has taken away your naturalness and authenticity, something (very) wrong happened.

3. You are not a product.

You will not be produced; you will construct your communication with clarity. Relationships are the result of a social construction. Often, a brand, to solidify itself, may even go through a deconstruction of stereotypes or established beliefs in a culture.

You are not a product of the market; you are a brand. This process is not mechanical. Personal branding starts with your essence. Unlike personal marketing, which focuses only on promotion.

4. Managing a brand is not simple.

While we always aim to simplify understanding, it is important to emphasize that branding is a complex and non-linear management process. It requires constant and coherent work. Just like a corporate brand, you need to periodically evaluate your actions and communications. It is all based on continuous improvement.

5. Brands are increasingly human.

We are unique. Our singularities form our identity. Our life experiences are our brand. Humanized brands do not communicate in a distant and market-oriented manner. It is necessary to approach your employees, consumers, suppliers, and followers. Therefore, both internal and external communication, whether in person or digitally, is increasingly human. And that's how it should be. After all, a brand is made up of people.

It is also worth noting that having a business is different from having a brand. The focus of a business is the product. The focus of brands is people. Brands are made by people. People are like brands. They are unique, have a unique story, and unique values.

6. Each person is and possesses their own brand.

Each one of us is unique (just like brands) and we all leave an impression on the world around us. The incredible part of understanding the logic of branding for personal brand construction lies, mainly, in reducing noise and misinterpretation. Thus, your projection becomes much closer to who you really are.

If each person is unique, then each person has the potential to project a unique brand. The notion that "each person is and possesses their own brand" is becoming more prevalent every day, especially with the transformations in the job market and new forms of companies nowadays.

7. Personal branding is not only about design.

Literally everyone you admire at some point had the courage to communicate what they believe in. In doing so, they managed to leave their mark on the world. It is worth noting that actions also communicate, often even more than words. Therefore, while having a logo, working on?design elements, colors, and image can assist in this process, these elements do not necessarily define your identity in personal branding.

Your identity is much more than that. It is the result of all your actions. Personal branding goes beyond graphic design and visual identity. Personal branding is closely linked to courage and attitude.

8. Branding is about relationship.

Personal branding is much more than a set of strategically planned analyses and actions. It is connected to behavior and relationships. It is the result of how you engage with your audience.

It's about how you convey your purpose, how you create connections and empathy with those who follow you. Branding is public relations.

9. Personal branding is not synonymous of authority.

Some may claim that personal branding is directly related to authority. However, that's not necessarily true. Personal branding is about positioning and relationships. Positioning is related to manifesting your values. Relationships are about influence. According to author Ken Blanchard, "The key is influence, not authority."

Authority is different from personal branding.

10. Branding is not confined to communication and management books.

To delve deeper into the subject, combine theoretical approaches from communication, administration, and design with studies in psychology, anthropology, sociology, and human behavior analysis, especially interpersonal relationships.

One of the greatest classics on human relationships, Dale Carnegie's book "How to Win Friends and Influence People," includes a notable quote:

"By becoming genuinely interested in others, you can make more friends in two months than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."

Paraphrasing this famous quote, we can affirm:

"In two months, we gain more engaged followers by showing genuine interest in them than in two years of trying to make them interested in us."

After all, followers are not just numbers; they are individuals.

By seeking genuine and human connections, digital branding becomes more meaningful, without constantly choosing words or exposing oneself excessively. It's about aligning with your brand's intention.