TRUTH:
You are your brand. You have the choice to create a brand that is mediocre or build an empire that is unforgettable.
Isn't it time to be unforgettable? The journey of building a thriving business is a test of our faith and a testimony to our resilience.
According to Kathleen Palmer, a personal brand is
"the entirety of how you present yourself in the world. It encompasses who you are as a person, as an employee, and as an expert in your chosen field. Creating your personal brand can be the linchpin in achieving your professional goals, by providing a fuller picture of who you are to your potential employer".
What do people say when you leave the room? Are they overwhelmed with your generosity, your flamboyance, your intellect? Or do people simply forget that you were there?
If you are an entrepreneur, author, podcaster, or public figure your brand is your identity. The easy part is to create the vision, write the book, or launch a podcast, the challenge comes in keeping it alive. Without you at the helm of your product or service, you are easily forgettable. If you are not in the trenches curating your brand then everyone else is doing it for you. This is something you need to do every day. This is something you need to distinguish yourself so you become unforgettable.
As a creative, I understand that the idea of being consistent in your brand visibility seems overwhelming. We are fed as a generation, that social media is the end-all-and be-all of marketing. I will attest that this is a falsehood. In fact, social media, while an important element of a marketing plan, is not a place to put all your energy. Putting all our eggs in one basket can lead to disruption. When we focus all of our attention on social media, we give the power to a bigger entity that owns ALL of our content. Social media is working on borrowed land.
Doing the same thing everyone else is doing makes us a part of the white noise. When we start to think outside of the box, we distinguish ourselves from the competition.
Building your brand is born the same way that brands have been built for hundreds of years. It starts with a handshake. It grows into a relationship of knowing, liking, and trust. When a relationship is formed you will garner a true following of readers, clients, and participants in your programs.
“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.” – Jeff Bezos
Establishing yourself as an expert is where you need to start.
Ask yourself these questions:
What Do I Do Differently Than Anyone Else?
How Do I Present My Service or Brand Better Than Anyone Else?
How Can I Distinguish Myself From The White Noise?
How Can I Describe My Brand In One Sentence?
What Do People Say About Me After I leave The Room?
If you are not purposeful in your branding efforts, you will be branded by everyone you come into contact with. When you are serious about growing, scaling, and monetizing your efforts it is imperative you start considering the following tools to leverage yourself as an expert.
Be Unforgettable-
This is the work you need to do. Do it with joy.
The objective of most entrepreneurs and creatives is to get seen (and get clients). This can be a daunting task. The most important aspect of visibility is leveraging yourself as an expert. Leveraging your expertise cannot be expected, it needs to be commanded.
Where do you begin?
How can you present yourself online and in-person as an expert in what you do?
WARNING-- This advice is for visionaries. This guidance is for creatives and entrepreneurs who are purpose-driven and who have the understanding that their mission on earth is to leave their legacy.
Building a multi-dimensional business means leveraging your expertise on a variety of platforms. It means creating a substantial online presence, being consistent, and understanding the audience you serve. I recognized as a newly minted entrepreneur that I had to distinguish myself. I understood that I had to take risks and exercise my due diligence as an explorer of human psychology.
Before you understand the power of your expertise, understand your audience.
Ask yourself:
What is the pain point of your potential client?
What keeps them up at night?
What do they need, want, and desire?
Understanding your audience's pain points is the first step in curating your message. The second is the ability to articulate your solution to their deepest needs.
Understand that you need to do something bigger and bolder than everyone else to demarcate yourself as an expert.
This is how I have found exponential success in building my business.
WRITE THE BOOK- This may seem unattainable. However, with the dawn of Amazon and KDP, the ability to self-publish your book is available to the masses. Be certain to have an editor, understand the ins and outs of the overall layout of your book, and have a supportive community that will give you valuable feedback. Writing and publishing your book commands your expertise.
LAUNCH THE PODCAST- A well-executed podcast is a gateway to conversations and collaborations that you would not have as a non-podcaster. Podcasting is the "leg in the door", giving you the opportunity to court people that are potential clients and collaborators.
START SPEAKING ON STAGES- If you have established your expertise, the stages call for your message. The title of "TEDx" opens doors that do not close. Speaking on stages is a way to monetize your business and grow your confidence as a professional.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS- Dismiss social media. Dismiss the white noise of arbitrary advice from YouTubers, Influencers, and the like. My greatest success is through creating relationships the old-fashioned way. There is no power greater than the handshake.
Remember, it all begins with you. You have the choice to create an influential change in your life and business.
YOU GOT THIS---Jules
