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The Power of Personal Branding

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As certain as building a super brand is the key to distinguishing a product in the marketplace and thus building a successful business, so also creating a strong personal brand is the key to differentiating yourself from your competitors, thus ensuring your success as well as that of your business. Your personal brand determines, to a large extent, how people respond to you, whether they listen to you, whether they like you, buy from you, how much they buy, what they are willing to pay…

YOU ARE A BRAND

Either you know it or not, believe it or not, you are a distinct brand; you are the MD/CEO of a company by the name ‘YOU’!  Your personal brand makes a promise: “If you buy from me, you will receive a specific value in return.”

This promised value will be born from the virtues, qualities, and attributes by which you become known. For example, you may want to create a personal image, or brand, of a person who always operates at a high level of integrity, consistently walks the talk, is an exemplary leader of integrity, and goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.

Who is your ideal customer? What virtues, qualities, and attributes will he be looking for in a supplier of your product? Do you match this profile? If not, do you have a burning desire to be this kind of person? These are the fundamental questions you must ask yourself as you begin to create and build your personal brand.

YOUR BRAND PROMISE

Unfulfilled expectations are the major enemy of any relationship. This is no less true in the relationship between you and your customers. Your brand as a person is determined in large part by whether you consistently deliver on your promises, regardless of what they are. Do you keep your word? Do you follow up? Do your words and actions match with the image you want to create -that is, with the values, virtues, qualities, and attributes you claim as your own?

Constantly examine your behavior. Of course, no one is perfect; we are all striving towards perfection. Therefore, when you slip on any of your values, resolve to get back on track. To build and sustain a powerful personal brand, your message must be an accurate reflection of you, the messenger.

YOUR TOTAL PACKAGE

You need to pay close attention to your entire image. Of course, your character is of utmost importance. But you make an impact on people in other ways as well. I have come to realize that only God looks at the ‘inward’, but men always look at the ‘outward’! Your appearance, the clothes you wear, your personal grooming, your posture and the likes has an enormous emotional impact on how other people see you, think about you, and relate to you. Your attitude is also vital.

If you are genuinely pleasant and cheerful in your interaction with others, they will enjoy being with you. They will be more inclined to trust you and do business with you.

YOUR COMPLETE CONDUCT

Your general comportment strongly influences the impressions others have on you. Be punctual for meetings and appointments. Be absolutely reliable, always keeping your word and your commitments. Should you fail in this area, communicate with the other person as quickly as possible, offering your apology, explanation, and assurance that it will not happen again.

Pay close attention to the quality of your work. In the long run, there is nothing that will so determine your success in building and sustaining a powerful personal brand as turning out high-quality work, over and over again for a long period of time. Unlimited success!

Isaac Oladipupo

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