A lot has been written on the topic of personal brand, how to build and maintain one, and how to use it for best effect in order to achieve life and career goals.
It is undeniable that in today's highly competitive and visual society first impressions count for everything. A single look can define your entire life story before you have had an opportunity to utter a single word!
Presenting a strong and memorable personal brand is without a doubt critical, but even more critical is that it is based on an authentic version of yourself.
Projecting an authentic and appropriate personal brand is the essential corner stone of all non-verbal communications, and literally has the ability to transform your personal and professional life.
However, all too often I see people attempt to project a personal brand that is built on a predefined view of what this brand 'should' look like in the context of the environment they are operating in. In order words, replicating visual and behavioral cues they believe best match the result they are trying to achieve.
The danger in building your personal brand based on other people’s view of what a successful personal brand looks like is that like all things that are not based on our true beliefs and values it becomes unsustainable over time.
In order to be strong, credible and sustainable over the long term, a personal brand must first and foremost be built on authentic foundations that are firmly grounded in your own truth.
A personal brand is (or should be) an expression of the self - your self, rather than a vision of an ideal self.
At its most fundamental level, a personal brand is an outward expression of the inner self. An expression that is made up of a combination of a myriad of personal details including; the way you dress, speak, move, interact, react, and show up in your life each and every day.
For this reason anything less than an authentic portrayal of these elements will over time present inconsistencies that have the potential to damage your personal brand.
As with all brands that are built on solid, authentic foundations and replicated consistently over time, a personal brand grounded in your truth is guaranteed to not only stand the test of time, but also attract a loyal following.
Keep an eye out for part 2 of this blog where I will discuss the essential building blocks upon which authentic personal brands are built.