Your brand is your anchor.
Pick any corner of the world, and the ground is moving beneath your feet.
There’s no status quo.
Some believe that fleet-footed and agile wins the race.
It’s true that adaptability is key. But is it the whole enchilada?
“If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?”
This article isn’t about values, so much as it is about IDENTITY.
Let’s say you are employed by an institution. As a senior executive, for example, your professional identity is wrapped up in your job. If things change, and you need or decide to move to another company, what you take with you – in addition to your office supplies, which let’s face it, are probably in your home – is your title.
The institution you leave is no longer the institution it once was. For a million reasons, and I could offer a million examples across the full spectrum of industries.
Better? Worse? That’s irrelevant. It’s different. Its reputation is not reliable in today’s world.
Gen Z knows that the university you walk out of today may not confer upon you the status it did two years ago.
And if you own your business? Success there depends on what you provide, the circumstances under which you provide it, and a host of known unknowns.
What is the one entity that you control, the one thing you can build on, no matter what firmament it stands on? Your Personal Brand.
I’ve said this before: Your Personal Brand is your IP.
To find stability, consistency, and reliability, don’t look to the outside world. Look within.
Some people thrive on chaos. Instability is their happy place. That’s their brand.
Okay. But is there a market for chaos? Are consumers really seeking that?
Most of us want to project fortitude. Resilience. And that individual spark that sets us apart.
In times of constant flux, it makes sense to build on the one foundation that won’t shift beneath you:
Your own two feet.
If you enjoyed this article, you might want to join me on August 21 for a discussion about Maximizing Your Success Without Being Famous!
And of course I’m always happy to chat.
