What Is A Personal Brand?
A personal brand is a brand that is built around you.
You are the star of the show.
For the longest time, we have gotten to know plenty of mega brands throughout history.
A few of them include Amazon, Apple, Coca Cola etc.
These were not just businesses…
But rather, their brand took up a life of its own.
If you go to anyone who is a superfan of a brand, you will notice how loyal they are.
Why though?
It’s because brands evoke emotion.
And emotions are the invisible glue that connects humans.
Today, I want to share what is a personal brand so you can apply brand principles to your life.
Personal brands have been growing due to the access of the internet which has allowed more people to take control of their narrative.
Let’s make sure you begin with the correct understanding.
The Types of Personal Brand
I remember growing up, I had a teacher who would always say ‘Armani, you are a brand. Act like it.’
At the time, I had no clue what she meant.
But as I grew up, the lesson began clicking.
She was basically trying to imply that every time I step foot outside the door, I am the person representing my life.
I am the brand ambassador for all things Armani Chowdhury.
And by the way… she made that comment to me because I’d rarely comb my hair and my clothes were always dirty.
That day, I learned that personal branding is very important in the offline world.
You may not want to hear this, but here it goes:
People judge you all the time.
Yes, it is true.
If you look and act like a slob, then you will be perceived as a slob.
If you look and act sharp, then you will be perceived as sharp.
Not rocket science.
So if personal branding is so important in the offline world, can we say the same for online?
And the answer is YES.
Online personal branding allows you to work on your brand, but on a higher level.
The beauty of online is that it is not confined to certain segments of society.
Rather, it is global.
So the 2 types of personal branding are: offline & online.
Why Online Personal Branding is on the Rise
We have been displaying offline personal branding for as long as we can remember.
Even if we did not have a word for it, we were still carrying out the acts consciously/subconsciously.
Ex: Your fear of being judged is due to the fear of your personal brand taking a hit on the offline world.
But as of late, online personal branding has been on the rise.
Why though?
It’s because of the rise of the internet & social media.
The internet serves as nodes (connecting points) which information can fly thru.
The social media are the nodes.
And did I mention that YOU have control over the nodes?
For the longest time, there was a central figure which controlled the spreading of information.
A radio station, a famous newspaper company, local news provider etc.
But with the rise of the internet & social media, the spreading of information has become decentralized.
Decentralizing information has allowed more people to leverage social media rather than being leveraged by it.
Is A Personal Brand Right For You?
I’m going to be very transparent with you homie.
A personal brand is not for everyone.
And if you are someone doing it for the wrong reasons, then you are building a house on a VERY weak foundation.
If you are doing it for fame, then you’re NOT off to a good start.
‘Why?’
Because it hurts your psyche.
In the grand scheme of things, we do not have too much data on social media and the effects it can have on our emotional states.
Therefore, as spooky as it may seem:
“We are the guinea pig generation for social media.”
I say that because when you don’t have too much data to fall back on, you have to level up your awareness.
Since starting my personal brand, ArmaniTalks, I have seen many other personal brands rise & fall.
The people that fell, learned that social media can be VERY addicting.
Not going to lie, I fell in that boat a few times as well.
There were times when I felt the effects of social media on my emotions, concentration levels, and confidence.
When I saw myself falling in that route, I had to REALLY learn who personal brands were right for.
The conclusion I came out with was:
Personal brands are right for the people who use it as a self-improvement tool.
Yep, a self improvement tool to get better at their craft.
Therefore, when you have a:
- Hobby that you’re passionate about
- Product/service that you believe in
- Skill that you want to develop
Then, personal branding is right for you.
You are looking to develop yourself rather than just chasing fame.
The more you chase fame, the more you become addicted to social media.
The more you chase self-improvement, the more social media works for you.
What Is A Personal Brand in the Future?
The main takeaway that I have for personal branding is to just begin & develop the idea.
At first, you are going to want to overthink a lot.
But just choose your social media channel & begin producing content.
What you will learn is that your brand vision does not come out complete at first.
Rather, it comes out as an infant.
You need to give it attention like a parent. You need to grow the idea.
The more that you grow it, the more that it evolves.
For example, ArmaniTalks started off as strictly a public speaking brand.
But within the year, it has gone to become more of a communication skills brand that discusses public speaking and other topics such as social skills, personal branding, content creation, etc.
This is my brand evolving.
But what’s been better is that the topics that I talk about have further enhanced my understanding of the skills.
I have had the opportunity to develop my speaking, writing & presentation skills.
And the fact that I share my progress publicly holds me much more accountable.
If you were to tell me a year ago that this brand would have evolved into a business, I would have laughed at you.
But nowadays, the brand has products & services which serve as my business.
These are just a few examples of enhancements to your idea which begin to take shape once you begin producing.
You will only be able to connect the dots AFTER you begin.
So what is a personal brand mean for your future?
It’s hard to tell.
Only you will be able to have the say once you begin creating.
Choose Your Path
The beauty of starting ArmaniTalks thus far has been the whole creation process.
I still remember when it was just an idea. Nowadays, it is a global brand that helps thousands around the world.
You want to ask yourself whether you have a gift that can help this world.
If so, then record it.
No fame, gimmicks or money.
Just chase leveling up.
Everything else will follow.
Over time, you will notice your creation developing before your very eyes.
You are giving life to something via your mind.
And the more you do it for yourself, the more you will see an authentic tribe forming around you.
That’s how you attract rather than chase.
With the rise of the internet and social media, it has never been easier to take control of your narrative.
Begin leveraging that power & graduate from a consumer to a consumer & producer.
– ArmaniTalks