The Art of a Personal Brand

We hear a lot about personal branding these days, yet many of us don't really think about our own branding.

If you are in a marketing role, you probably spend a lot of time on company branding. It is important to create a cohesive and consistent image for the company in the market. Everything is considered from fonts and colors in logos, website graphics and swag to the tone of voice the content speaks in.

Outside of the marketing department, employees are encouraged to share content that is "on brand" with the company's look and feel. This helps solidify presence in the marketplace as everyone is using a consistent voice. If you are a highly creative person, you may have had your hand slapped by the branding experts if you deviate from the image the company wants to portray.

It is understandable why a company would want slick branding, but why should you consider a personal brand?

1. Stand Out from the Pack: Please don't lull yourself into complacency with a false sense of belonging. There are no guarantees in life. Change happens often unexpectedly. You may find yourself in need of a new job when you thought you would be with your company for the long term. In today's competitive job market, having a unique personal brand will set you apart from other candidates.
2. Build Trust and Credibility: We spend decades building our "know, like and trust" quotient within our career. We advance through the ranks based on our reputation and proof points of our accomplishments. That is wonderful inside of a company, but what about outside? How well do people really know you? What does your LinkedIn profile look like? How often do you post? Are you a thought leader or a lurker?
3. Create Opportunity: Life is full of surprises. You never know what might come your way. Having a personal brand may open new doors for you to express your knowledge and talents. You might be invited to contribute to an article, share your wisdom on a podcast, or give a keynote speech. Who knows what doors might open for you? They are sure to remain shut if you lack a personal brand.
4. Entrepreneurship: If you have a dream in your heart that "someday" you might want to do your own thing, I encourage you to start building your personal brand now even if that future dream feels a little unclear and far away. I started building my personal brand ten years before I used it in my business.

Now that you know building a personal brand has benefits, how do you get started?

Creating a personal brand that is authentically you, requires personal development work to understand your values and what makes you, well, YOU.

If you are unsure where to start, you might find this article helpful:

Once you understand your values, think about all the things that make you unique. If you have been following my personal brand on social media, you probably know that:

• I love dragonflies,
• I find nature to be a source of inspiration,
• Key West is one of my favorite spots,
• I am a weirdo-level Melissa Etheridge fan, and
• I am passionate about helping people live a life they love.

You might be thinking, so what? What does that have to do with your job?

It makes me a relatable human and hopefully someone you might come to know, like and trust if we share the same values and interests. I also apply many of these principles in my business today because they are authentically who I am.

When it's time to work together, perhaps I will come to mind because you have come to know me as a person. If that time is now, let's connect. I would love to help you Find Your Frolic.

Send me a DM or book a clarity call to get started building your personal brand.

Be well and frolic on.