Lots of graduate pass out every year. They have same degree as yours, same amount of knowledge, same experience and identical in almost every aspect. Why should anyone pick you above all for a job? Even if you are an employed person looking for enhancement in career. You too belong to the same pool. This is why you need to know about self-branding. You need to have a self-brand to stand out from the crowd. In marketplace, people don’t just buy only the commodity, they buy their own or known person’s commodity i.e. people buy people. If people don’t buy you then, how do you expect them to buy your products.
WHY PERSONAL BRANDING:
In business world whenever we approach someone we expect a few things in response. Those things are:
1. Attention. 2. Respect 3. Money
Attention– when we are around, respect– for ourselves, money– for the work we do. Just give it one thought, why would someone give you any of the above three if you are just one among the million others. For entrepreneur this personal branding becomes even more important because:
1. Venture capitalist, Angle Investors and all such personality prefer to work with such people.
2. Your brand can be reused. If your first company closes, you can use your brand again for setting up the next business without starting from the scratch.
3. It becomes easy for others to find you. In a world of huge demand for talent, you stay on top of all the other applicant.
HOW TO DO IT:
It is possible for an individual to actually develop his personal brand the way he/she wants. According to a great book ME 2.0 by Dan Schawbel, four personal branding processes are:
1. Discovering Yourself:
You should find the true self upon introspection. You come to know if you are naturally quiet, logical, humorous, etc.
2. Creating Brand:
You can make a website or a blog about yourself or on your hobby. Else, you can write a book. Writing card, letters, resume will also help you in doing so.
3. Communicate:
Tell the whole world about yourself. Nobody will know about your potential and talent unless you tell them yourself. You may never know that the person next door was looking for a person like you all the time.
4. Maintain:
The most difficult and least importance given aspect of personal branding is maintaining your image just as it was. It’s universally known that building reputation can take ages and just seconds to lose it. Do maintain the brand and possibly enhance it.
EXAMPLE :
People said APPLE and DISNEY almost immediately when we asked them to name the most Innovative and creative company respectively. Richard Branson is known for his passion and risk-taking traits. These are few examples of self-branding. The Best example for this would-be Donald trump. The real-estate mogul used his last name extensively on his buildings and products he endorsed (Trump Tower).
Personal branding assures increased success in the business world. A lot of books, coaches, articles and programs exist to help an individual learn self-branding. A beautiful TED video by Rob Brown would give you a good essence of personal branding.
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