LOVE your Brand

L-O-V-E is in the air! One of Hallmark's, florists, and “chocolatiers” favorite holiday is just days away…Valentine's Day. As many prepare romantic evenings and heartfelt gifts for the ones we love, we should take the same desire and emotion into promoting ourselves.

As mentioned in previous blogs, UNC Charlotte has an excellent resource when it comes to career development and assessment. Her name is Robin Boswell, Director of Graduate Career Development. One of her themes this year is "Building Your Brand." In today's competitive marketplace building a notable brand is absolutely necessary to stand apart from the competition. When you build YOUR brand, you are not only promoting your skills and abilities but also you are building confidence. Let me tell you that confidence shows.

From interacting with several students, it is apparent when we talk about the job market the confidence levels in each student. When one builds their brand they gain a sense of pride and enthusiasm to share with others. This enthusiasm becomes contagious and his/her audience can feel that the individual is proud at what he/she has accomplished and become an expert on.

Well I would like to alter her theme in light of the holiday to "Love your Brand."  Since the beginning of 2011, I accelerated my assessment and research on the corporate world and the various industries. Some would describe my assessment as a 'soul searching' process which I must agree it is. During this research period, I've uncovered my strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement. Some discoveries were pleasant while others were eye-opening moments. However each discovery has enhanced my brand and confidence level.

Let's put it in a sports perspective. Last night was the UNC vs. Duke Game. Those are two notable brands in NCAA Division I basketball. The fans of the respective universities truly LOVE their brand. They eat live, breathe, and think as a Tar Heel or a Blue Devil. If you walk up to any one of those fans, they can probably regurgitate the team's history, stats, notable players, etc. Long story short, those fans KNOW and LOVE their brand. They are proud fans and are happy to share that with anyone they come into contact with. Now let’s apply this same to business. Why can't you apply the same enthusiasm you have with YOUR brand.  You already know your personal stats, wins, notable achievements etc. So embrace and LOVE your brand. If you aren't sold and passionate about your brand; how do you expect your future employers to be excited about hiring you?

Just some thoughts to ponder. Happy Valentine's Day.