Do you have a personal identity that stimulates perceptions about you? Yes you do, whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not. That’s your personal brand. Always connect with people with the stamp of your personal brand.

It makes you stand out. Only those who actively and consistently create maintain and imprint their personal brands on the people with whom they interact will sizzle. Remember that Mr. Biggs T-shirt, your handbag with the Chanel logo, that Rolex wrist-watch, the blue jeans with Levi inscribed at the hip pocket, and so on.  Let’s look at the web. Anybody can have a website but not all websites are worth visiting. Some are never updated while others are just turn-offs. Why do you prefer a website to another?

The answer is Branding. The sites you visit are trusted sites where the brand names stand out and will be worth the precious time of the visitor. The brand is a promise of the value that will be received.

YOU are the product, because YOU are what people want, and because YOU need to make an UNFORGETTABLE first impression; everything must be stamped with your personal brand. Your website, business cards, marketing materials and promotional items and other overlooked places will benefit from a little more of you.

No one understands the basic principles of branding like the big companies do. They try to exceed the threshold of their categories and become brands surrounded by the big brands; Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Toyota, Mercedes and so on.
Professional service companies also understand the new rules of branding using their business models. At the end of the year, they post astounding profits.They hire smart, motivated, talented people, the soft assets; and almost no hard assets such as rent or lease. The smarter ones learn the ropes, hone their abilities and develop their skills and thereafter branch out to create their own uniquely differentiating strategy.

When you start developing your personal brand:
(1) Assess your personal strength and talents
Learn to really take credit for who you are — to understand what your values are, to apply them to your life, and to make them relevant to the people around you.

(2) Manage your doubts and fears
Sometimes we all engage in self-limiting behaviours that prevent us from getting what we want. And often we go through life acting — adjusting ourselves to whatever self-concept we happen to believe in at that particular moment. Creating an identity that’s consistent with your core, authentic self is what makes your personal brand shine.
(3) How are you perceived by others?

Are you aware of the impact you make on others? This knowledge is essential in recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and in moving towards where you want to be.
(4) Market your brand

The main goal of personal branding is to be known for who you are, what you stand for, and what value you bring. When you communicate your brand, you take the insights you gained in the three previous steps and convey them to create a memorable identity.
(5) Improve your image

In addition to updating your internal self-concept, you need to work on your external appearance. Consult a qualified image expert who can help adopt the ultimate image that will communicate your brand.
(6) Leverage international protocol.

Positive behaviour, good manners, and knowledge of protocol are indispensable in presenting yourself and your brand in the global marketplace.
Let your brand distinguish you!