If your messages were any indication…you did.
I want to thank you all for participating in the voting session on building my brand and designing the cover of my book. It was fun. Please, know that I have been very busy trying to get this book completed and prepared to be uploaded after the new year. Fingers crossed it goes as easily as the voting.
Now, back to building your personal brand. Remember, I am walking us through Personal Branding for Dummies (A Wiley Brand) by Susan Chritton. If you don’t have this book, I highly recommend it.
Today I want to share with you…you. You need to get to know you. What are your strengths, weaknesses? Skills and abilities? Personal attributes? You need to know you to brand you. If you aren’t sure who or what you are then it is time to ask. Ask your friends, family, co-workers, and even your boss what they think when they think of you. I asked my facebook friends a few weeks ago what their first impression of me was, so I know how nerve-wracking it can be to put yourself out there. The list of comments didn’t surprise me too much, but it still stung when a few comments were negative in tone. But, I wanted to know. Think about it this way- you can’t fix what’s broken if you don’t know it’s broken. I can’t change people’s perception of me if I’m not willing to know why they see me the way they do.
Study your strengths. Not sure what your strengths are? Hit up Google and search Strengthfinder by the Gallup Organization. They researched and provided a study on different types of strengths. It will offer up a list of different areas in life to find your strongest attributes. But, you also need to know where you are lacking.
Math. Math is the bane of my existence. But…I try. I do what I can to improve upon my skill level. But I know it will always be my weakness. A weakness is where not a single dash of talent lives. I have little to no talent for numbers mixed with letters- therefore- a weakness. Just because it is a weakness doesn’t mean you can’t improve. You have to be willing to work in all areas of your brand to become a stronger person.
When you build a house you must start with a solid foundation. The foundation is what makes you who you are. Knowing yourself is key. Getting helpful feedback from people you trust to be honest with you helps immensely. If the criticism is coming from a constructive place you can build from it.
These are a few websites to help you find out a bit more about yourself.
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu
I think my next blog will talk about finding your freak factor and how bragging isn’t a crime.
Until next time, my friends,…
Find joy. Be joy. Enjoy.
New Ink. Used Ideas. 