Behind Every Great Brand There Is A Story
“Your brand is a gateway to your true work. You know you are here to do something – to create something or help others in some way. The question is, how can you set up your life and work so that you can do it? The answer lies in your brand. When you create a compelling brand you attract people who want the promise of your brand – which you deliver.”
– Dave Buck
Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Carmen. Welcome to Brand Stories The Blog!
My Oprah “aha” moment came after my company reorganized and my position was eliminated. I was left with that nagging question, “ So what now?” Like most job seekers, I freshened up the resume, reached out to my network, and began looking for opportunities. I struggled. I applied for numerous positions with no success. I began to doubt my career in marketing. You see, I’ve had several positions in the marketing field each one offering a different skill set and experience.
This made me a jack of all trades and unfortunately a master of none.
Then I had my “aha” and realized that I wasn’t effectively marketing myself to employers. I did not define myself as a subject matter expert. In today’s job market, companies are looking to hire a specialist, an employee to come in and solve a specific problem. My brand was watered down. This realization motivated me to step back, self-reflect, and gain clarity about my career goals. I needed to define who I was and what I wanted to be known for. I needed to build a personal brand!
Personal branding is the process of people marketing themselves, careers, and businesses as brands.
My brand story is the result of a personal journey through adversity and transformation. Through personal branding I learned to leverage my experiences and package my expertise. I am so excited to share with you in this blog what I’ve learned and how personal branding can help you grow in your career and business.
Why Brand Stories?
There is a lot of competition and noise in the market and a person can get lost in all the chatter. People are looking for a reason to connect with you and stories make you stand out! Brand stories resonate with people and make them interested in you.
Your personal brand IS your brand story.
Brand stories are more than just a narrative. Your story goes far beyond your logo, website, or social media likes. It’s the story you share and the perceptions of those who hear or interact with your story. Your story is made up of all the experiences that makes you unique! Your story tells people what you have to offer. It is the complete picture of who you are.
STILL you may be asking yourself “Do I really need to build a personal brand to be successful?”
I say, “Absolutely yes” and here are
5 Reasons Why Personal Branding is Essential in Your Career and Business
1. Personal branding differentiates you in the job market.
Getting a job doesn’t always depend on your skills and knowledge. Other factors can contribute to a hiring manager’s decision in giving you the job offer. Often the decision comes down to what makes you different than the other job candidates. Personal branding allows you to stand out from the crowd displaying your unique values and strengths.
2. Personal branding can boost your business visibility.
Building a personal brand brings more attention to your business. When you are seen as an expert in your industry, this will naturally attract more interest to your company. Many business leaders and entrepreneurs today make it a point to build their own personal brands and share their thoughts and experiences on a wide variety of platforms.
3. Personal branding creates clarity, focus, and intention.
Being clear about who you are and what you stand for allows you to more clearly define your goals and where to invest in your career or business. You will invest in the classes and programs that teach you the specific skills you’re trying to promote. You will pursue the right opportunities that align with your professional aspirations. You will create and present relevant content that your audience is seeking allowing you to be a problem solver.
4. Personal branding helps expand your professional network.
When you began to build your personal brand, you will produce content around your career, industry, and beliefs. This content attracts an audience that's like minded and interested in what you have to say. This can lead to collaborations with others in your industry which allows you to gain more knowledge and visibility within your industry ultimately growing your business and brand.
5. Personal branding builds your confidence.
Building your personal brand requires you to find your authentic voice. The process of discovering your voice develops who you are. When you share your true voice and realize that it resonates and connects emotionally with your audience your self-confidence and self-esteem grows and allows you to own it.
When done right, investing in building your personal brand can help you get the job you desire, take your business to the next level, and give you the confidence you need to achieve your goals and live a more authentic life!