Why Personal Branding is important for you in 2023 ...

Janine Coney

Ever wondered why personal branding is so important? Why so many people are talking about getting it right? As we move into a new year it's time for reflection and the ideal time to re-evaluate where you are right now in your life, career or business and where you want to be in the next year too! What will you take forward with you and what will you leave behind?

One thing is for sure a powerful personal brand which helps you propel and elevate your success is something that cannot be ignored. But somehow it's still something that many people put aside thinking it is unnecessary, aspirational and only for a product or a big business! The truth is everyone has a personal brand - yes even you!

The best part of my job is working with female leaders and entrepreneurs to help them identify what their own personal brand is. What they do, who they do it for and why it matters to them. And when they need to get visible I help them feel and look like the best version of themselves through their image and their style too. But building a trusted personal brand today doesn't happen overnight!

Personal Branding is not new, in fact it's surrounded us for centuries even going back to 1937 in a book called "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. The birth and rise of the internet in the 1980s highlighted the importance of personal branding through the virtual world too. But it was on August 31 1997 when an article titled "The Brand Called You" by Tom Peter's was published in Fast Company magazine that personal branding was really brought to our attention and was fully embraced...

Peter's wrote.

"It’s time for me — and you — to take a lesson from the big brands, a lesson that’s true for anyone who’s interested in what it takes to stand out and prosper in the new world of work. Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You. It’s that simple — and that hard. And that inescapable."

And from then on it has grown. But still, it remains a mystery to many, but quite simply put your brand is what makes you unique, it's what makes you stand out from the crowd!

I love myth busting so let's delve into this subject, uncover and demystify 3 myths and why they are important to your personal brand:

Personal Branding is just for a business not for me!

MYTH

As mentioned above in the Fast Company article Peter's wrote "All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You." So let's break this down here, a name, a logo and a font don't make a personal brand. Everyone has a personal brand whether they like it or not but it becomes really important when either: you are looking to heighten your profile and influence in your career or you are a CEO, Founder, Leader, or Entrepreneur of your own business and you need to consistently connect with your audience, tell your story and build a community of raving fans who go on to follow you or buy into you and what you do for them! Personal branding is for everyone and when done right it's genuine and it's a really powerful tool!

My image and style are my personal brand !

MYTH

Wearing a power suit, dressing for success and having a classic 60-second pitch doesn't make a personal brand. Yes your image and style are an ingredient of your overall personal brand but this is just one part of the recipe to success! A powerful personal brand is much deeper than and it starts with discovery! Discovery of who you are on the inside - what are your values, your likes, dislikes, what you do, how you do it, who you do it for. Your style and image is a reflection of your personality, it should align with you and your lifestyle. It should tell a story before you've spoken a word. In fact your style and image is the first thing people will notice about you when you walk in a room. Your clothes are impactful and your image makes a big impact on your brand. Don't overlook it. Build a powerful personal brand, get visible and let your own personal style and confident image shine through and support you.

Personal Branding is aspirational, not essential!

MYTH

You may ask what the real benefits of personal branding are and whether it is really worth investing the focus and time and money into building a powerful personal brand. It can even feel aspirational. But when you are clear and authentic about being you, delivering your brand promise and focusing on your 'why' you attract more opportunities, you want to show up and get more visible, you become magnetic to others and your success grows. Plus for me as a Coach the most powerful part of building a personal brand with my clients is their increased clarity, self-confidence and self-esteem which is gained throughout the whole process - it's life changing!

You are a total dream to work with! I've had such a huge mindset shift working with you and it feels like growing into who I already am! You peel back layers without pain!

Your personal brand should and will follow you wherever you go. iIt will evolve and grow but ultimately it's your reputation. Will you stand out from the crowd in 2023 ?