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Getting Personal With Your Brand

Let's face it: it's always personal. Even when it's not. Even in business. Every business owner is first and foremost a person and the way we view the world is through our unique human perspective. We put a lot of ourselves into our businesses and careers, and therefore, by default itpersonal. Enter the personal brand.
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Let's face it: it's always personal. Even when it's not. Even in business. Every business owner is first and foremost a person and the way we view the world is through our unique human perspective. We put a lot of ourselves into our businesses and careers, and therefore, by default it is personal.

Enter the personal brand.

We all know how saturated the digital world is. We also know that many industries are saturated with businesses that are all competing to varying degrees. So if you are an expert, entrepreneur, executive or artist who may be launching a book, film, album or any product/service, how do you get noticed? Having a strong personal brand and presence in the online world helps.

But before you develop -- or upgrade -- your personal brand, there are a few things to consider:

1. Know Your Purpose: If you know your life's purpose, figure out a way to create a business that helps others and is in alignment with your vision. You will have a business that gives you joy and meaning, and it will help carry you through the tough times. Knowing your purpose makes it easier to know what you want to do when you grow up.

2. Be Genuine: It is so important to show-up in the world in a way that is authentically you. It is easy to look around at others who are already successful at doing what you desire and copy them. But being a carbon copy of someone else will only get you so far and then, chances are, it will not last. Being genuine, however, has lasting power.

3. Know Your Values: What are you top three values? What is it that you tend to think about the most, act on the most, and discuss with your family, friends and colleagues more than anything else? When you can identify those, you will get clear on your top values and make quality decisions based on those.

4. Get Creative: You don't need to have a lot of money to develop a personal brand. Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity.

5. Be Well-Defined: With a plethora of businesses and individuals online, and growing everyday, you need to stand out and cut through the noise. How unique are you? What is special about you? How are you different than your competitors? Determine who you want to be and how you want others to perceive you.

6. Stay Current: Keep your website and social media sites fresh with updates, such as new photography, and update your bio and other information periodically.

7. Give Value: Give away some of your knowledge and expertise in the form of articles, blog, newsletters, white papers, and so forth. This is not to say give away everything, but if the world starts to see you offering value, it will return to you two-fold.

8. Become Your Own Brand Ambassador: There is no other person who can be you. Whatever you stand for, be congruent and show-up in the digital space, and world in general, as the person you want to be, and be a strong advocate for what you believe in. Others will take notice.

When you "know thyself" and honour your values, and apply your creativity and stay current, it makes life a lot easier and your personal brand has a better chance of standing out and shining.

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