Personal Branding

Hi all,

Just want to let you in on an activity I did last week and have greatly benefited from. It proved an interesting and confronting experience for me, but one worthwhile.

Personal branding is unavoidable. As others interact with you, they’ll automatically form mental associations that connect you with certain labels, often within the first few seconds. You can’t avoid being labeled, and other people can’t avoid labeling you. It happens automatically because our brains are wired to recognize patterns and form associations. The labels people attach to you become part of your personal brand.

From my reading, it is evident that becoming aware of how others see you helps you identify blind spots within yourself. Then you can work on those blind spots to help you become more internally congruent.

So what I did, was send an email to my family, friends and colleagues. I asked them to reply with only 3 adjectives that described their perception of me. The result was a mix of responses, but the main themes that emerged was that I am determined, focused, committed, dedicated, genuine and sincere, friendly and enthusiastic.

These are all labels or brands, I am comfortable with and I hoped to hear. However, it is expected that your internal brand and your external brand will not completely coincide, and that’s OK. Any incongruencies can create interesting interactions that help you grow in unexpected ways.

For example, I was also branded with terms such as shy, nervous, and naive. Although these may be interpreted positively or negatively, it confirmed what I have been feeling and not totally comfortable with. These are things I will be working on for my personal development. Please feel free to let me know how I am going with these brands at some stage.

I believe personal branding has a lot to teach us about personal growth. It’s a rich place to explore. Although it is daunting, I encourage you to try this exercise with your friends, family, colleagues and coworkers. Ask everyone to describe you with 3 adjectives. I promise you will learn a great deal from it.

Feel free to ask me any questions or let me know about your outcomes if you try this activity.

Cheers,
Nathan