Whether you’re walking into an interview room, grabbing a quick coffee at your local café, or raising your hand in a lecture – people are left with an impression about you once you’ve left the room.
Your personal brand entails how you show up in the world. It is the values and core choices of your life story, and how these are articulated in the spaces you take up and people you meet. It lets the world know what it is you stand for. So whether you’re a young professional, serial entrepreneur, or recent graduate – personal branding matters in every phase of life you find yourself navigating.
Your personal brand exists whether you’ve curated one or not. When last did you Google yourself? Or rather when last did you look up that prospective employer, inspiring colleague, or a potential hot date? Now think about how often you might have been the subject of someone’s Google search history… the chances are pretty high. These are the results that will give people a first impression of you, and if we know anything about these initial encounters is that they stick.
So why does this matter to you? Well, being the curator of your personal brand can ensure both intrinsic and extrinsic scientific benefits. According to the research and review by Gorbatov, Khapova and Lysova, the building of your brand architecture can lead to remarkable outcomes for both your inherent self and the way the world sees you:
Intrinsic benefits | Motivation, self-realisation, credibility and influence, and self-promotion skills.
Extrinsic benefits | Furthering professional careers, social capital, enhanced visibility, and prestige.
Your personal brand is something that can take on a life of its own, or it is a narrative you can take control of. Taking the means to manage your personal brand makes you the architect of your life story and how others view it. You have the chance to control the narrative and how you show up in the world, so why not grab it? Now, the good news is that you don’t need to be as big a hit as the Nike swoosh or Oprah Winfrey to have a successful personal brand. Even more important is that it is never too late to curate your life experiences and fundamental values into a voice that speaks for you even after you’ve left the room.
What you want to be known for can be a daunting journey, and this is where DAPPER comes in. If you find that this is a process you’re just about ready to commence, or even if you’re just curious, feel free to reach out to us.
I’d like to leave you with these words from a Forbes article dedicated to the art of personal branding,
It’s just a matter of continually crafting and curating your digital presence and most importantly, keep it real! Your honesty, transparency and authenticity are what will differentiate you in the long-run. You never get a second chance to make a first impression—make it one that will set you apart, build trust and reflect who you are.