Its Never Too Late For Personal Branding
let me start
with the pause in the next five
seconds close your eyes
and think about what is the one word or
a sentence
that comes to your mind about what
others
think about you
now you may be wondering why i asked you
to do that
you see personal branding is the story
people tell about you
when you are not in the room
personal brand is the intersection of
your authentic self
and people’s perception you’re the heart
of personal brand led by how you show up
in person
online your voice your tone
your passion your interest it’s
mainly the representation of best of you
your flaws as well your trends your
challenges
but your successes as well you know as
dolly parton says find out
who you are and do it on purpose
let me take you back when i was
little i hid under the skin
of my own color loaded with
layers of makeup i hid
under my long braids i hid
under the weight i talked do not get
noticed
for the first 25 or so years in my life
i was trying to be let’s just say it
chameleon of all sorts
i was all over the place i let
life take its course with no
direction of what i really wanted to be
you know as a first gen computer
professional
i got rejected from multiple colleges
from multiple interviews but guess what
i was just one in a million who was
trying to fit in
i was either just same or too different
i was not known i was lost in the
thousands of other hybrid cars in the
world
you know yes it’s a very very common and
unisex name
i could have asked for a unique name for
my from my parents
but that’s another story for another
thing
it was a bit of everything it wasn’t
until i found myself in the last 10
years or so
of what my own personal brand is
and that’s when my personal and
professional trajectory
took off you know today
i proudly and openly say i’m a mom of
two
i’m a wife i’m a first generation woman
of color and tech
with a beautiful crown leadership and a
career coach and a speaker
and oh an abstract artist as well
that’s my multi-dimensional life
i don’t try to box myself i stand out
my brand is why blend in when you’re
born to stand out you know i connect
deeply with where i work microsoft’s
vision
to empower each and every person on this
planet to achieve more
and what i do i want i
try to make sure i’m bringing the best
out of
each and every person you know what i’m
trying to say to you all is
that you don’t have to wait 25
or 30 years for that
in today’s digital world you don’t have
to wait
till you get your first job to tell this
world
who you really are you see when you go
to the stores
for shopping there are multiple brands
but you gently pull the one which is the
most
popular right or what stands out
it’s the perception of the brand which
lets you seek them out
now covet 19 it has created an
unprecedented humanitarian challenge i
understand that
but covet is also the biggest
global digital disruptor in the recent
history as a result of this pandemic
there is a massive jump in internet
usage
42 of the people globally
declare increasing this time which
they’re spending online
above anything the pandemic has
showcased
the power of social media it’s
connecting people
when most of the other forms of the
communication have been taken away
now what does that mean for personal
branding for you
all you know in this context
personal branding is much more critical
than
ever yes it plays a key role in building
that brand
elevating that social reputation of what
you bring to the table
you know when you’re looking for a job
when you get in the market
87 of the recruiters and hiring manager
they’re checking your online presence
according to one of the hr statistics
report
now when i am talking about your
personal branding
i’m referring to establishing
and promoting what you stand for in your
life
and oh well i mean digital life when i
search for your name
what do i get about you i want each and
every one of you
to have a brand being able to find you
online
on what you are known for
try to find me try to search for hydrate
car
microsoft why blend in
you know a personal brand it will help
you
stand out it makes you unique and
relevant
it helps you to send that clear message
of
what you are what you offer
it will help you for opportunities and
achievements ahead
it will let you manage your reputation
yourself
and articulate your value and with that
you can lead more you can win more you
can
earn more remember you know there are
many lisas there are many michelles
there are many heartbeats
this hard wreath is brilliant
but being brilliant but anonymous
it’s no good being the best kept secret
in the world
it’s about what you know but also who
you know
as well you want to cut the noise
and stand out so now
let me tell you how you’re gonna do that
here are the four
blocks for creating your own personal
name dot inc the first
your assets what are your unique
skills what are your unique abilities
your experiences what are your usps
your unique selling points the second
thing
your impact your traits what are those
what are some of the words that come to
your mind what people
think about you this third thing
your values what are the things which
matters to you the most
and the last but not the least your
passions
what excites you out of work
out of home what is that which
brings the best out of you now that we
have
talked about the four building blocks
let me give you five steps
which i want each one of you to take
action on to start building that
personal
brand the first and the foremost
permission to be yourself remember
you’re one of a kind everyone is taken
be genuine you don’t need to act or
pretend
it may not even last you know do the
necessary adjustments in characters
or attitude the second thing
build credibility it’s your ethics
how reliable you are how trustworthy you
are how punctual you are
how respectful you are and then you know
deliver that
what you want to be known for the third
showcase your speciality what is that
x factor in you you know make sure
you’re writing it up in your resume
online on linkedin or wherever you’re
you’re
building that brand speaking
up on what you can contribute to in a
team or what you’re good at
it’s not being proud frankly it’s being
showing that you are a great team member
or
an individual no one will know if you
don’t say it
the fourth thing leaving your mark
attitude to work single-handedly or in a
team
you know that interview where you were
rejected from
that’s another story rejection is
another redirection
every no is gonna take you to a better
yes
but that interview which you didn’t get
you still want to leave a mark
of your brand you still want them to
remember about you
and the last thing connect
with people yes it’s a small world
i will tell you being in the industry
for 20 years
i will tell you it is a really small
world
build those relationships interactions
engage with other members network with
others
with the balance remember
to be the best brand you need to feel
good about your
outer self and your inner self
you know when both of these work
together
i will tell you you project an aura
that attracts people to you that aura
of authentic usefulness
relevant actionable helps you to stand
out
let me close by saying this in less than
20 words or so
now you keeping those four building
blocks
and the five steps write a value led an
action driver impactful personal brand
statement
it can start with i help i spark
i empower i design i
organize i will take on this world
whatever that is why blend in
when you want to stand out don’t lose on
an
interview or any life decision over
something which
you can control which is your personal
brand remember it’s never too late
or never too early to start building
your brand
and once you have it i can’t wait to
connect with you all
thank you