What’s YOUR Brand Identity?
Have you ever asked yourself that question? What’s your brand identity? How do people recognize you? How does people in the industry relate to you? What do they talk about you? This is exactly the point I’m getting at - What’s the brand that represents YOU?
While many may not realize, from the day we begin our career until the day we retire (or even after that), we are often a product manager of one important product - ourselves. If we live by that concept, we will be able to position ourselves and take charge of our career better. We’re always in business for ourselves!I shall break this down into several parts beginning from product development (or research) and go through the entire cycle until it’s “sold”:
- Building the foundation - Just like any organization, a foundation needs to be laid (I.e: knowing the finances, basics of business acumen … etc). That’s why we begin our education by studying a wide range of subjects. This will also help us to understand our “organization capabilities”.
- Market Research - In a business, we analyse to understand business needs and market demands. When we’re in highschool we should begin to “understand the market”. With that, I mean to gauge what’s the profession in demand by the time you graduate. That determines the “product” we might want to build. Many teenagers today failed here - not doing sufficient “market research” and left the decisions to “outdated consultants” (I.e: parents of friends who assume they know better).
- Product Development - This is when an individual finally enrolled into a college or university to pursue knowledge in a given domain. Depending on result of the market research, a course will be selected and the individual begins the journey of development. In a case of university, it’s likely to be 4 years of “product development”. It varies from profession to profession.
- Special Features - During product development, it is important to add on “special features” to make your final product stand out from the rest that came out from the same OEM factory. This is when you start participating in extra-curricular or volutary organizations that gives you an additional skill.
- Product Packaging - How your CV is written is the first packaging. That provides the first impression to the potential “buyer” - your employer. Make sure it’s in standard readable and organized fonts.
- Product Marketing - Participate in networking sessions or career fairs and market yourself as “the finest product available”.
- Product Sales Pitch - If packaging and marketing attracts attention, you’d get an opportunity for a sales pitch - the interview. So if anyone out there says “I will never do sales”, I’m sorry for unless you’re gonna work for your dad’s business you’re likely to need to do selling.
- Product Branding - Now that your product has finally launched, it’s up to you how you’d like to position the brand! So these are some tips of ensuring your “business” continue to grow:
- Protect your brand quality - always do your best and ensure that you do a good job.
- Invest in R&D - continuous education is the key to keeping yourself updated.
- Update packaging - have a proper wardrobe that projects a good corporate image.
- Create brand awareness - keep yourself active in industry events / networking / social media … etc.
- Give yourself an easily remembered identity - This is something that some may disagree - If your name is one that’s hard to pronounce, use a “preferred name” or just give yourself another name in the corporate world. And make sure you use the same name at all times - phone greeting, business cards, website, blog, email … etc.
- Maintain a standard - there’s no point creating brand awareness if there are too many identities. Consolidate them! In simple words - don’t keep changing your “preferred name”! If Starbucks were to change their name to Moonbucks, not matter how great the coffee it’s hard to recognize them right? While some gurus may say it’s good to be unpredictable, we should maintain a “unique style” too. Keep changing our writing styles, wardrobe styles, hairstyles, speaking styles may not be a very good idea as it will give others a hard time remembering us.
So start thinking about this … how do I brand myself?
Hidden message for some “aspiring entrepreneurs”: Everyone is an entrepreneur, develop the product (yourself) well and position its quality (your capability) in the market (employment market). Who says you need capital to start a business? You’re in business for yourself!
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