What’s your brand? We’re not talking clothes or soda. Your personal brand. If you have not defined your brand, others are doing it for you. How would your associates describe you? Those descriptions are your brand attributes. As best you can, you want to control your brand. If you see yourself as a passionate, motivating sales person and your associates describe you as soft-spoken, cautious, and conscientious. There is a disconnect.

Your actions speak for you and help build or destroy your brand. A brand is also a promise of what someone can expect from you. So, your brand must be sincere and describe the genuine “you.” There are many exercises to help you define and bolster your personal brand. In Tom Peters’ book The Brand You50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an "Employee" into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion!, he shares that, “Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are the CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc.” The book serves as an excellent resource to get you started. Another resource to learn about branding is the Reach 360 program.

With a well-defined brand, you can better promote yourself via social media, participation in professional associations, and on the job. Now more than ever, your brand is on display 24x7x365. Your reputation and brand carries on long after the posting on Facebook, the presentation at the association breakfast, and your latest customer interaction. Pay attention to your brand; it can open doors or close doors for you.