Clients often ask me how to start the personal branding process. Usually people come to me because they know they would like to change something about their brand, but they don’t know how to get started. There’s no shame in admitting you need some help. In fact, I applaud anyone with enough self-awareness to recognize there is still some work yet to be done. I’m right there with you.
If you’re also wondering where to begin, here are a few simple steps to start today.
What do you want to achieve?
Everyone always has several answers to this question. It’s great to be ambitious, but I want you to prioritize one thing that you want to achieve above everything else. I say this because it is so easy to get overwhelmed by everything that you want to accomplish and get stuck in the minutia of how you will manage everything.
Overwhelm is the enemy of productivity. Take the time to identify the one goal that is most important to you and start there. Don’t over think this step either. Give this question the consideration it deserves, but then commit to your goal and move on to achieving it.
Why do you want this goal?
There are a few important reasons to answer this question. First, there will be times when you will want to give up. The mountain will seem too high, you will feel defeated. During those lows, you need to focus on your why. If your reason for doing something isn’t meaningful enough to you, you’re not going to fight for it. If you want to be successful in achieving your dreams you have to be willing to fight.
How will you achieve this goal?
Now that you have taken the time to clarify your intentions and your motivation, you can get to work on how you will actually pull this thing off. A comprehensive strategy will get you there faster, but if you find yourself going around in circles, pick just one action you will take to get yourself started. This can be one social media channel you will focus on, one aspect of your business you need to understand better, or one sales call you need to make. Whatever you choose, commit to mastering this one thing. Once you’re feeling good about this one action, add another, and another; and eventually you’re working a full plan that once felt overwhelming.
Remember that personal branding is not a “one and done” type of deal, it is a process. Be sure to take time to enjoy your journey and reward yourself along the way.
Still have questions? Contact me for a 20-minute complimentary strategy session.