Let your purpose drive your personal brand
I asked this question in my post last week.
What's your purpose in having a personal brand?
You may say, 'Ella, that’s simple. I want to be able to attract more clients. I want to get better leads. I want to get more business.’
That’s understandable. I'm not so na?ve as to think that you don't want to make money. But when it comes to thinking about why you have a personal brand, there's more to it than that. It's more than the Jeff Bezos' old chestnut of a quote, "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room."?
Some of those who commented on the post shared the thought that personal branding is complex and has many layers.
This comment stood out in particular:?
I agree that the personal brand is a complex concept. If the jacket you want to wear doesn't fit you, you would want to take it off one day. You need to find the best fitting jacket to make it work.?
I think this is such an effective analogy as your personal brand should be like a well fitted jacket, one which sits comfortably and even gives you a boost when you wear it. ?
After all, your personal brand is personal to you. It’s about you highlighting what makes you individual and unique. It isn’t about comparing yourself to someone else, however much you may feel you wish to be like them or even emulate them.??
Allow me to encourage you to think honestly about what your purpose is in creating a personal brand.
Your purpose will be at the core of what defines your personal brand and will drive its success.
How to find your purpose
Grab a piece of paper or open your notes app and write down all the reasons why you believe your personal brand is worth people knowing about.
I'll give you some guidance here. Your purpose could start from any of these.
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This may all sound rather insubstantial and a waste of time but putting in thought and focus now will serve you well in the long run.
Remember personal branding is complex and has many layers.
Once you know your purpose, you will be able to start laying down the foundations of your personal brand with more clarity and readiness.
Keep a note of your purpose somewhere where you can constantly refer to it, as this is going to help keep you steadfast when you feel your personal brand is losing its impact or wavering in some kind of way.?
(This may help you to think of yours)
My purpose is inspired by my experiences over the last five years. Retraining in a new career in social media marketing was amazing, but then I was struck by the feeling of having to start again with building recognition and reputation which made me feel disillusioned.
However there was no way I was going back to teaching!
Although I was sceptical about personal branding to begin with, I researched and developed my understanding of it and benefited from applying what I'd learnt. When it came to thinking about how I wanted to develop my marketing expertise, I looked back on my experiences in starting in this new industry and realised I have a lot to share from my experiences. That's why I'm here now. I have something that I believe will help you to build your personal brand. That's my purpose.
?? Let me know if you give this a try. Drop me a DM and I will happily chat to you about this.
A step by step approach
My aim in this newsletter is to give you building blocks each month so that you can gather all the ideas you need and cultivate the mindset to create an outstanding personal brand. I’ll help you overcome the obstacles and guide you in building a personal brand framework which will accelerate your visibility, both online and in person.
If this has helped you, please let others know by sharing my newsletter not just on LinkedIn but elsewhere. Thank you!
I'll see you next month.
Thank for reading
Ella ?
Attorney At Law at CIVIL COURT CASES
1 年??????
?? People Powered HR Solutions | For Global Brands and Local Enterprises | +25 years of International HR experience working with Tescos, Scania and Bupa | NED | DM me for more information.
2 年Ella Orr you are so incredibly talented in explaining a subject like personal branding in a simple and relatable way. Great article ??
Quirky, Fractional HR Consultant & Transition Magician | Aligning LinkedIn? Training + CliftonStrengths to Amplify Personal Brands | Author FROM SATAN TO SENSATIONAL HR! | Speaker | Fan of Sriracha??? & Herb Alpert????
2 年So much gold in this Ella. I feel understanding and articulating our "why" has become increasingly important in the spirit of standing out from the pack. It's that whole, "people buy from people" and sharing our narrative more often than not leads to our attracting the "right" ones, I always say ?? thanks for sharing!
International Trainer & yes, clappers included! | Employability & Career Coach. ATS CV/Resumé go-to for career success. Creating lightbulb moments through LinkedIn sessions | Managing Partner at Desk Park.
2 年Again, some great advice you shared here Ella Orr !
Brand Studio Owner | Showit Designer | Brand Designer & Strategist
2 年Well said! Figuring the deeper cause to your purpose is so important ?? Very few business actuallly know why they do what they do. The why is not about making money - as silly as it may sound I often say to clients - So when we hit our final stop in life are we going to look back and go “ohhh I’m so glad I made all that money” - NO that’s the result. Your why is your purpose, cause or even a belief you may have. It’s the very reason your brand exists.