The 7 C’s of Personal Branding Success
Everything you do is linked directly to your Personal Brand. As entrepreneurs
and small business owners, we have a distinct advantage that larger companies
do not. When it comes to our brands, we have the ability to get very
personal.
Larger companies strive to establish a relationship with their target audience
by making their brand feel more personal or relatable. This is one of the
reasons why spokespeople are such a commodity – larger companies piggy
back off of the relationship an audience has with that spokesperson. Those
experiences are then tied directly to their product or service thanks to the
Personal Brand draw of their spokesperson.
Take Tiger Woods for example. W hen he is hired by Nike to represent their
latest ad campaign, the mere image of him stands for perseverance,
determination and overall excellence. Nike benefits from those perceptions
simply by having Tigers brand lined up with theirs.
You don’t have to take such expensive measures, as a small business owner,
because you have the ideal spokesperson to represent your brand – YOU!
With that said, there are 7 keys (the 7 C’s) your brand must possesses to
establish that personal touch, and ultimate loyal following, with your target
audience. They are:
Character: Everything begins and ends with you. Your character is
at the heart of your brand. As you develop your Personal Brand, if you discover
that your character shows up in a less than favorable way, use this as an
opportunity to grow. Without a strong character, the remaining six success
principles won’t matter to anyone.
Commitment: Not surprisingly, when others see that you are a
committed individual, they will join in helping you achieve your goals. We are
attracted to people that follow-through on their word and have a “no matter
what” attitude. When you are committed, you deliver on your promise and
show the value of your Personal Brand. Great brands are built on this C – make
yours one of those brands.
Confidence: You’ll find confidence at the backbone of self-esteem.
It is our confidence that makes us unstoppable and drives us forward. Let’s
not confuse confidence with arrogance, which is a sign of insecurity or poor
social skills. True confidence knows no limitations and strives for solutions.
How are you acting on this key in your every day life?
Competence: Being competent is more than just knowing a skill.
True competence comes from having failed, dusted yourself off and tried
again. Competence is what separates the amateurs from the professionals.
The more competent you become, the more competence you will project
through your Personal Brand and the more loyal your brand following.
Consistency: We respect those that show us consistency through
their actions. A great idea not followed through on is fleeting. Consistency
takes continuous effort. Without consistency, your efforts are diluted over time
and ineffective. If you are inconsistent in how you communicate your Personal
Brand, your brand will confuse and eventually loose interest in the eyes of your
target audience.
Creativity: Life doesn’t offer us a blueprint for success, which means
we must ignite our creativity to achieve. Those that are creative live out of
their imaginations. As life evolves, and thankfully it does, the creative are in
great demand because they are always seeking out solutions to new
challenges. How about you? Are you seeking out new solutions or are you
stuck in what was?
Courage:
Courage looks fear in the eye and laughs. It sees only what is possible.
Getting clear on your brand attributes means revealing yourself – flaws and all.
It takes courage to recognize that sometimes, you must let go of who you were
in order to become who you were meant to be. Personal power and courage go
hand in hand – I believe they are one in the same.
© 2006 – Liz Pabon. All rights reserved.
About the author: Liz Pabon is a Personal Brand and Image
Management Strategist. Liz publishes a monthly eZine entitled Keys to
Success providing personal brand success strategies that work! Register
for your subscription at http://www.head2toeconsulting.com.
If you’d like to learn how to have a breakthrough in your business by
developing your unique personal brand, contact Liz at 916-788-2962 or email
her at lizp@head2toeconsulting.com.
When not coaching her clients or presenting Small Business Branding
Intensives, Liz enjoys family time with her husband and four “fur kids” in
Rocklin, California.
