The Importance of the Personal Brand

Oct 30, 2024

Before launching a business, there’s one crucial factor you need to consider: how people perceive you. What image do they form when they think about you? What feelings do they associate with you?

Surely, there are people who bring joy to your life, and you can’t wait to meet them. Conversely, there are those who evoke unpleasant feelings and memories.

This brings me to a fundamental statement:

This is the image or perception that others have formed about you over the years. Like it or not, they’ve already established a certain image of you. If you’re good at telling jokes, people will anticipate the next funny story you’ll share. If you possess charisma, they’ll want to be around you for your appealing status or to hear your words of wisdom.

On the other hand, if you’re a gloomy person who’s not particularly funny or even a tad boring, I have some bad news. Chances are, people might not be too eager to see you.

Do You Have Control Over Your Brand?

You already have a personal brand.

That’s not a revelation; it’s an undeniable fact. The crucial question here is this:

Is That Really Important?

Indeed, it is.

My father, for instance, has been a private tailor all his life. From all the stories he shared with me and my observations, I’ve learned that business isn’t just about the services you provide. It’s also about how you interact with people, how you make them feel, and your perspective on life.

Take note of most famous people. They invest a significant amount of money and effort in maintaining a certain image. A classic example at the time of writing this article is Elon Musk.

Let me share another example. Years ago, when I worked at an IT company, I was one of the first software developers there. I joined because of…well…money…and because I knew the founder. We had worked together before, and I was confident he would do his best to build a successful company, which he did. However, what stands out from that period is observing how he grew the business during the early stages.

We didn’t have a website, and when I asked the founder if we should create one, he responded, “We don’t need one, yet. Something else is important.” He was constantly in touch with his business contacts, updating his LinkedIn profile, and travelling around Europe to meet people. What he was doing was reminding people of his existence.

He already had an impressive background, was quite charismatic, and more importantly, he wasn’t just discussing business with prospects. He talked about hiking, concerts, etc. He used to organise dinners with them and he never forgot to congratulate them on their birthdays, and so forth.

He was building a personal brand.

At the end of the day, people collaborate with people, not companies. He was the owner of an IT company – one among many. However, the difference was that people trusted him, not the impersonal name of the company he founded.

A few months later, we built the website, but before that, he polished his personal brand.

I Don’t Need It

Today, you might not own a business, but what about in 5 or 10 years?

If you’re currently employed and don’t plan to start a business, you can’t predict the future. Maybe in 5 years, you’ll want to start a business. Then, having a personal brand will make a huge difference.

Working on your personal brand now may yield benefits later. And you’ll be thankful for deciding today to take control of your personal brand.

How to Build a Personal Brand?

That’s a complex topic, and it really depends on your goals. Depending on your objectives, you might want to develop your Instagram profile or work on your LinkedIn profile.

I will definitely write more articles about this because there are many details involved. However, at this moment, I would like to list a few key points to consider:

• Take care of your appearance. Yes, that’s right. People appreciate attractive individuals, especially those who are involved in a physical activity. This includes not just maintaining your health but also dressing well. In my home country, there’s a saying: “They greet you by your clothes; they see you off by your mind.”
• Constantly learn new skills and strive to excel in what you do.
• Prepare a portfolio of your work. That could include projects, companies you’ve worked for, achievements, etc.
• Work on your social profile. Present your skills and knowledge.
• Build your personal website.
• Work on your soft skills. Yes, that’s right. People, after all, do business with people. This means that when the business conversation ends, if you can’t make simple small talk on a topic unrelated to work, people may not take to you, and the likelihood of conducting business with you could significantly diminish. Years ago, when I worked for a company based on the Isle of Man, UK, I participated in events and dinners with my boss and our clients. From that experience, I can tell you that 20% of the conversations were about work, and 80% covered life and everything else.

So, roll up your sleeves and think! You already have a personal brand, whether you want it or not. The question is, do you want to take control of it and leverage it for your benefit, now or in the future?