The Most Important Brand

"All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You." // Tom Peters in Fast Money

Who are you? Simple question, but it can be tough to answer. Many reply to this inquiry with who they are in relation to someone/something else. I'm such-and-such's sister; I'm an alumnus of this school; I do this for a living; etc. While these things may be true, they don't do a great job of telling someone who you are.

Pepsi (n.) Coca-Cola's competition

Before you can market any product or service - or do much of anything really - you must define your own personal brand. What internal qualities make you 'you'? How would you like others to see you? What's important to you? What are your dreams/goals?

The answers to these kinds of questions influence every move you make, and can make all the difference in the world.

Personally, I am a woman of integrity, excellence, and individuality. I put forth my best effort in everything and I'm always looking to improve myself. I set very high expectations for myself and I take pride in over-delivering. I don't mind being compared to the greats, but it's important that I remain my own person. I'm a feminist and straight-ally who believes in building up the self-esteem of others. I have a strong interest in social media, marketing, public relations, and advertising, but my overall career goal is to be the best there is at whatever I'm doing.

It's crucial that you define your personal brand (especially if you're a young professional). If you can get the world see you in the same awesome way you see yourself, that opens doors of opportunity faster. Get started by setting aside some time this week to answer that question (Who are you?) and check out Jeff Bullas's Ten Steps To Promote Brand "You" With Social Media.