Personal Branding From The 'Hood
Jerry Fletcher
Consultant Messaging Master, Int'l Professional Speaker, I find the words and graphics individuals and organizations use to become even more memorable and more profitable
“I grew up in the projects,” MJ said. By the time you hit middle school you had a brand. We just didn’t know that was what it was called. When somebody was called ‘Killer Jack’ you didn’t ask a lot of questions.
You didn’t decide what your handle was going to be. The community did. They would comment on your physique: Fat Albert, Skinnie Minnie, Big head Brown. That sort of thing. And it stuck with you seldom changing as you aged. Except for the behavioral based ones that commonly got pinned on in high school.”
Behavioral Brand You
When you are member of a tight community your behavior becomes the defining trait in the brand you are painted with. Shooter Lincoln emerges on the basketball floor. Jenny the Wrench is the gal who learned to make an engine sing by working in her dad’s garage. Angel is the gal who wants to be a Victoria’s Secret model.
You could wind up having this brand for life because until you leave that tight community you don’t have a big say in your personal brand.
Shifting Brand You
If you go to college there is the possibility of a new brand you. If you are on a sports scholarship you may continue to be "Shooter" or "Blocker" or "Runner." Your major will define you to those studying other subjects. That shift plus new observations of your behavior will brand you yet again. Virginity or the lack thereof will play a huge roll in how the crowd labels you.
You gain more control over your brand as you continue to meet new people. Therein lies the secret of establishing the Brand You that you want to be.
Real World Brand You
“What do you do?” is the most asked question is North America. That stranger is asking, “What is your Brand?” Too often we give them an answer like I’m an accountant, ?letter carrier, copywriter or similar generic answer. We are so used to having other people brand us that we don’t think it through. We don’t give them a description that is memorable. We overlook the fact that they want to know the outcomes we deliver.
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Based on what you tell them they will remember or forget you. They will decide whether or not to build a relationship with you. You can build more powerful connections if you reveal your purpose in life.
Purpose-based Brand You
?Each of us has an operating system, the way we approach life. It is why we do what we do. People that have similar approaches to life are drawn to us and we to them. People prefer to do business with those they know. Like and trust. They feel they KNOW you when they understand your WHY. They LIKE you when they understand HOW you accomplish things. Both of those things make it easier TRUST you and buy into WHAT you deliver.
Learn more about the WHYos at The Why Institute. Contact me here to get a FREE WHYos Discovery.
The Takeaways:
I’m Jerry Fletcher a strategic marketing consultant and professional international keynote speaker. I guide individuals and organizations to become more memorable and more profitable. Learn more at my web sites:
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