The first step when you design your personal brand is knowing what you are moving towards. This creates a map for your journey as a business owner. Assuming your work is your passion, this is also a guide to keep you on your path toward fulfillment.
Most of the time our focus is based on what we need now. We tell others what we do and what we’re offering but not where we’re heading. The problem is this ends up limiting our growth opportunities.
Dean Jackson and Joe Polish in the I Love Marketing podcast. Says that "what you are creating when you market yourself is a canvas for your own existing opportunity." So, if this is the case, then everything you do in regards to how you present your image will open you to opportunity.
"What you are creating when you market yourself is a canvas for your own existing opportunity." Dean Jackson and Joe Polish
Pinpoint your goals for your business
Identifying your goals for your business and what you want to accomplish is a critical step when you're designing your personal brand. The reason for this is so you can develop the brand around those goals. This makes it easier for your audience to understand your role in the business and where you are headed.
If your fans and clients can see your future they can also help you create it. The reason is that they believe in you and see you as someone with a true passion for what they do.
Envision the future when designing your personal brand
It's so important to create a vision of how you want your life to look. We must ask ourselves who do we want to be? How do we want others to see our brand 5, 10, or 20 years from now? What do we want to be known for? When we're big dreamers it's sometimes hard to believe we can get there. If you can envision it though you're more likely to get there.
When you design your personal brand you have to do a lot of soul-searching to discover and accept what makes you unique. This is a good thing because it allows you to become more of who you are inside. This vision goes beyond just having a goal map. Seeing your future brand allows you to quite literally walk into it and become the brand.
How do you showcase your goals and vision in your brand?
There are two ways you can go about doing this. One way might be to simply talk about it. “One day I plan on having a custom 2000sf studio in downtown San Luis Obispo and do personal branding photoshoots all over the world” or “Within 3 years I plan on teaching comedy writers and becoming a stand-up comic”.
The other way to incorporate your vision into your brand might be to showcase yourself as already being there. For example, a massage therapist could tell you she offers massage but what if one day she wants to have a wellness center? Maybe she wants to offer multiple types of services for people to come and relax and also become more focused, mindful and inspired. What she could do now is begin the vision of her wellness center by collaborating with other practitioners. She could share her space or invite an acupuncturist or a life coach into her space for special events.
In conclusion, clearly defining your goals is an important step in making your vision become a reality. I hope this tip starts to give you more ideas. Like and let me know below what your goals are for your business.
And, if you’d like more information on how I can help you with your personal brand please go ahead and set up a complimentary Brand Strategy Session
Don't forget to visualize the future and what your brand looks like.