ressions are brand touchpoints, and collectively they form your brand image. You need to remain aware of and responsive to how your everyday actions create the impressions others have of you, so you can constantly shape your brand to maximize your value.

Regardless of where you are in the development of your image, there are five areas that you need to focus on:

1. How you look

Whether you like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. The moment you walk into a room, people’s mental checklists come into play. Are you wel

When David was a small boy his father asked him, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” David thought about it for a minute and answered, “I don’t know what I want to be, but I know that I DON’T want to be a salesman.” “That’s too bad,” his father responded. “Because, whatever you WANT to be, you HAVE to be a salesman.”

It is so true. You are always selling. You sell your products, your services, your ideas and most importantly, you sell yourself. No matter what you do for a living, you are a salesperson.

So what will help you succeed in this world of “sales”? Let’s take a look at how branding can help you sell yourself more successfully.

What is a brand? It is simply the emotional reaction and attachment that a customer has to their total experience with a company, product or service. Judgments about brand are created in the hearts and minds of customers.

Corporations understand the importance of branding. In this very competitive marketplace, it is more critical than ever that they differentiate themselves from their competition. Success depends on being visible; standing out and rising above the crowd. Managing their brand allows companies to grab attention and gain a hold on the hearts and minds of their customers.

But, you may be thinking, how can you maximize your brand as an individual? How can you harness the power of brand, to help you stand out from the crowd—to demonstrate the value you add? A personal brand provides you the same benefits as a corporate brand. Your brand is what you represent; what you stand for in the hearts and minds of others. It is not posing, pretending or posturing. It is about who you are every day consistently, and who you are working to become.

As you attempt to manage your personal brand, remember that we all make split second decisions about the world and the people with whom we come in contact. While you are taking in data and forming opinions about the people around you, they are doing the same. The way you dress, what your business card says, your tone of voice, your body language, your work ethic and the words you use, form mini impressions in the hearts and minds of others. These impressions are brand touchpoints, and collectively they form your brand image. You need to remain aware of and responsive to how your everyday actions create the impressions others have of you, so you can constantly shape your brand to maximize your value.

Regardless of where you are in the development of your image, there are five areas that you need to focus on:

1. How you look

Whether you like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. The moment you walk into a room, people’s mental checklists come into play. Are you well

cceed in this world of “sales”? Let’s take a look at how branding can help you sell yourself more successfully.

What is a brand? It is simply the emotional reaction and attachment that a customer has to their total experience with a company, product or service. Judgments about brand are created in the hearts and minds of customers.

Corporations understand the importance of branding. In this very competitive marketplace, it is more critical than ever that they differentiate themselves from their competition. Success depends on being visible; standing out and rising above the crowd. Managing their brand allows companies to grab attention and gain a hold on the hearts and minds of their customers.

But, you may be thinking, how can you maximize your brand as an individual? How can you harness the power of brand, to help you stand out from the crowd—to demonstrate the value you add? A personal brand provides you the same benefits as a corporate brand. Your brand is what you represent; what you stand for in the hearts and minds of others. It is not posing, pretending or posturing. It is about who you are every day consistently, and who you are working to become.

As you attempt to manage your personal brand, remember that we all make split second decisions about the world and the people with whom we come in contact. While you are taking in data and forming opinions about the people around you, they are doing the same. The way you dress, what your business card says, your tone of voice, your body language, your work ethic and the words you use, form mini impressions in the hearts and minds of others. These impressions are brand touchpoints, and collectively they form your brand image. You need to remain aware of and responsive to how your everyday actions create the impressions others have of you, so you can constantly shape your brand to maximize your value.

Regardless of where you are in the development of your image, there are five areas that you need to focus on:

1. How you look

Whether you like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. The moment you walk into a room, people’s mental checklists come into play. Are you wel

isible; standing out and rising above the crowd. Managing their brand allows companies to grab attention and gain a hold on the hearts and minds of their customers.

But, you may be thinking, how can you maximize your brand as an individual? How can you harness the power of brand, to help you stand out from the crowd—to demonstrate the value you add? A personal brand provides you the same benefits as a corporate brand. Your brand is what you represent; what you stand for in the hearts and minds of others. It is not posing, pretending or posturing. It is about who you are every day consistently, and who you are working to become.

As you attempt to manage your personal brand, remember that we all make split second decisions about the world and the people with whom we come in contact. While you are taking in data and forming opinions about the people around you, they are doing the same. The way you dress, what your business card says, your tone of voice, your body language, your work ethic and the words you use, form mini impressions in the hearts and minds of others. These impressions are brand touchpoints, and collectively they form your brand image. You need to remain aware of and responsive to how your everyday actions create the impressions others have of you, so you can constantly shape your brand to maximize your value.

Regardless of where you are in the development of your image, there are five areas that you need to focus on:

1. How you look

Whether you like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. The moment you walk into a room, people’s mental checklists come into play. Are you wel

turing. It is about who you are every day consistently, and who you are working to become.

As you attempt to manage your personal brand, remember that we all make split second decisions about the world and the people with whom we come in contact. While you are taking in data and forming opinions about the people around you, they are doing the same. The way you dress, what your business card says, your tone of voice, your body language, your work ethic and the words you use, form mini impressions in the hearts and minds of others. These impressions are brand touchpoints, and collectively they form your brand image. You need to remain aware of and responsive to how your everyday actions create the impressions others have of you, so you can constantly shape your brand to maximize your value.

Regardless of where you are in the development of your image, there are five areas that you need to focus on:

1. How you look

Whether you like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. The moment you walk into a room, people’s mental checklists come into play. Are you wel

ressions are brand touchpoints, and collectively they form your brand image. You need to remain aware of and responsive to how your everyday actions create the impressions others have of you, so you can constantly shape your brand to maximize your value.

Regardless of where you are in the development of your image, there are five areas that you need to focus on:

1. How you look

Whether you like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. The moment you walk into a room, people’s mental checklists come into play. Are you well dressed? Check. Is your hairstyle both flattering and contemporary? Check. Do you look well groomed? Check. Do you look successful? Check. Many free spirits have said, “I’m not concerned with shallow things like clothes. My clothes express my personality.” Yes, they do. But think about what message you’re sending about yourself. Is your message, “I don’t care what you think.”? The key isn’t having the most extravagant wardrobe, it’s taking the time to look appropriate for the setting and situation. You want to be judged on merit; but if you don’t make a positive physical impression, you may never get a chance to impress others with your knowledge and skill.

2. How you communicate

No matter how wonderful your physical impression, you have to support it with good communication skills. Have you ever watched a presentation given by someone who is slump-shouldered, can’t look you in the eye and bores you to tears with their lack-luster voice? Don’t let that be you. Your body language needs to say that you are confident and relaxed. Good posture and appropriate gestures say that you are sure of what you’re saying and enthusiastic about your topic. Comfortable eye-contact says that you believe what you’re saying. Varying your vocal tone, pitch and pace says you are motivated to keep the person you’re talking to interested and that you are worth listening to. Your vocal skills are even more important when communicating on the phone because the person on the other end doesn’t have the benefit of visual input.

3. What you do

You can promise people the world; but, if you don’t follow through, your promises are meaningless. For example, you can assure someone that you make it a practice to always be on time; but when show up late you are sending quite another message. Your actions don’t match your words. Though people may not notice when you are punctual, every time you are late you leave a negative impression. The message received is that you made the person you are meeting a low priority, whereas showing up on time or a little early indicates that you consider that person and the time you will be spending with him very important.

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