Whether you’re a barista, a teacher, a freelancer, or a CEO, you need to understand your personal brand. The question isn’t whether you have a brand, because you do. It’s more important to ask, "what does my brand represent?" Is your brand curated with purpose? And if you’re not actively shaping it, chances are it’s being shaped for you, by default.
What Is a Personal Brand, Really?
Let’s clear something up: personal branding isn’t just for influencers or entrepreneurs. It’s not about logos, hashtags, or becoming internet famous. It’s about how people (neighbors, co-workers, teachers) perceive you, including your values, your voice, your vibe.
Your personal brand is the emotional, personal and professional fingerprint you leave behind in every interaction. It’s how colleagues describe you when you’re not in the room. It’s the story your work, words, and presence tell—whether you meant to tell it or not.
Your brand includes:
• Voice: How you communicate—tone, clarity, confidence
• Values: What you stand for—integrity, creativity, empathy
• Visuals: How you present yourself online and in person
• Vibe: The emotional tone you leave behind—trust, warmth, curiosity
• Volition: The intentional impact you have through will or choice
• Vision: The future impact you will have through clarity and imagination
The Risk of the Default Brand
Here’s the catch: if you don’t define your brand, it will be defined for you. Based on fragments. Assumptions. One-off moments that you did not curate. And that brand might not reflect who you are, or who you’re becoming. Even worse, it might be branding you never intended and definitely don’t want.
- Do you shy away from challenges, or do you confront them head-on?
- Do you give more energy than you take during interactions?
- Do you dig into an issue to resolve it, or look for the easiest way to "check a box"?
- Do you constantly say "That's not my job" when issues occur?
- Do you play victim more than advocate?
- What do your social media posts say about you?
These are all part of your brand. And like it or not, people will make decisions about you based on this and more. That is why it's so important to ensure that you are building the brand you want. Everyday. In every interaction.
Real-Life Examples of Purposeful Branding
Many people, including myself, have turned trauma into advocacy, for example. Purposeful branding isn’t just public, it’s personal and very effective. It is a reflection of your core values and your life experience. Here are some real-life examples:
• Maya Moore (WNBA star turned activist): She paused her basketball career to fight wrongful incarceration. Her brand shifted from athlete to justice advocate, now synonymous with courage and systemic change.
• Brandon Stanton (writer, Humans of New York): He started as a photographer. By pairing portraits with intimate stories, he built a brand around empathy, curiosity, and human connection. He then pivoted to activist crowdfunding $2.3million to help end bonded labor in Pakistan. He has also created a fundraising campaign, and raised over $3.8 million for pediatric cancer research
How to Start Building Your Brand Intentionally
You don’t need a marketing degree or a massive following. You just need clarity, consistency, and a little courage.
A Simple Framework to Build (or Rebuild) Your Personal Brand
Whether you're stepping into a new chapter or simply realigning with your truth, your personal brand is a living story. Here's a grounded, flexible framework to help you begin (or begin again):
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Audit Your Current Brand
Start by gathering honest reflections from people who know you in different contexts. Ask:
• What three words would you use to describe me?
• What comes to mind when you hear my name?
These answers reveal how your presence is currently perceived and where it might want to grow.
2. Define Your Brand Pillars
Clarify the foundation of your identity and impact:
• What do you want to be known for?
• What values guide your decisions, collaborations, and boundaries?
These pillars become your compass, especially when the path gets noisy.
3. Review Your Platforms
Every touchpoint tells part of your story. Audit your:
• LinkedIn, Instagram, community bios, email signature, speaker intros, etc.
• Each platform can highlight a different facet of you, but together, they should form a cohesive, authentic whole.
4. Craft Your Narrative
Your story is your superpower. Use it to connect your past, present, and future:
• What’s your “why”? What threads keep showing up?
• Update bios, descriptions, and intros to reflect a unified voice.
• And yes, spelling and grammar matter. They’re leading indicators of quality, so get it right.
5. Stay Consistent But Allow Evolution
Your brand isn’t a box. It’s a garden.
• Stay rooted in your values, but let your tone, goals, and presence evolve.
• Revisit your narrative regularly. Growth is not a rebrand it’s an evolution.
Common Myths About Personal Branding
Let’s bust a few myths:
• “It’s only for extroverts.” → Nope. Introverts often build powerful brands through writing, design, or quiet leadership.
• “It’s fake or manipulative.” → False. It’s about clarity, not spin.
• “I don’t have time.” → Every email, meeting, and post contributes to your brand—make them count.
Your Brand Is Your Legacy
Your personal brand isn’t a logo, a tagline, or a perfectly curated bio.
It’s the lived experience of how you show up—online, in conversation, in community.
It’s the tone of your emails, the way you handle conflict, the stories you choose to tell, and the ones you’re still learning to share.
So instead of chasing a single word or polished identity, start with something more honest:
• What do you care about deeply?
• What patterns keep showing up in your choices, your collaborations, your voice?
• What kind of impact do you want to leave behind?
Let those answers shape your presence.
Let your brand reflect not just who you’ve been but who you’re becoming.
Because your personal brand isn’t just what people say about you.
It’s what they remember.
It’s what they trust.
It’s what they carry forward into their own decisions, stories, and spaces.
So, keep showing up.
Keep refining.
And let your brand be a living reflection of your truth.
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