While I was prepping for tonight’s brand management class, I read something in my textbook that made me think. It was about Paul Newman, his own personal brand and how it carried over to his products and causes that he supports. While that was very interesting, the following hit close to home:
That’s not to say that only the well-known or famous can be thought of as a brand. Certainly, one key for a successful career in almost any area is that co-workers, superiors, or even important people outside the company know who you are and your skills, talents, attitudes, and so forth. By building up a name and reputation in a business context, you are essentially creating your own brand. The right awareness and image can be invaluable in shaping the way people treat you and interpret your words, actions, and deeds.
For years this has been something that I completely ignored. When I was younger, I thought that if you really care about others and do a good job, that people will highly regard you, reward you for being the best and seek to have you around. Additionally, as I got older I developed a deeply entrenched streak of individualism that made me not want to play other’s games or join their cliques because I’m genuine and no-compromise in my focus of doing good.
Maybe commitment and individualism are virtues, but somedays not seeing the rewards makes it hard to see them that way. I find myself constantly questioning my achievement on one hand when I know that I’ve done some really awesome things that a lot of people would never be able to do. I just don’t see the results I’m wanting — whether they be cohesive career security, freedom to choose the projects I want, money, fame, influence, the ability to change things, etc. So it’s just not the fact that I have a particular brand, but I need to sharper about expressing it. Even though I could use some help on getting the word out, failure to see results makes me feel like I need to do develop a better brand. I know myself, but ultimately in a professional sense, my brand needs to be in line with those things that others, such as prospective bosses or team members, want from me.
No one is going to hire me based on who I am. Being myself, even though I’m a pretty okay person, is the worst thing I can do. This has been a bit disappointing to realize, but it will be useful in my future endeavors in a “professional” sense. I guess I’ll just confine myself to being me on my own time.
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