Brand Or BE Branded!

Whether you like it or not, you've got a brand. Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. It's what comes to mind when people think about you, and how people describe you to their friends.

Chances are, you want SOME say in what people say about you. You want to make sure people are perceiving you the way YOU want to be perceived, right?

In order to do that, you need to create a brand for yourself—a brand that represents you, your goals, and your accomplishments. As Work It Daily founder and CEO, J.T. O'Donnell, says, you must "brand or BE branded!"

Be Honest About Your Brand

This is important. Don't build a brand that's not true to you. Not only is it exhausting to try and keep up with something you're not, but everyone can see right through it. Don't strip your brand of its true flavor! Embrace who you are—all of your quirks included.

Strategically Polarize

One of the biggest keys to a strong brand is to strategically polarize—to fully embrace who you are (your brand) with no apologies.

"I think for a lot of us, we want so much to be liked that we boil ourselves down to this grey, watery mush," says Sally Hogshead, author of FASCINATE, in an interview with bestselling author and web TV host Marie Forleo. "If you're trying to create messages for everybody, you end up speaking to nobody."

Yes, there will be people who don't agree with your brand. They may even hate it. But the people who love you will REALLY love you. They will be able to connect with you, engage with you, and trust you because your brand is honest. And, in the end, who else do you need? You can't please everyone, so be selective. Who do you want to associate with your brand?

Style Your Brand

Don't just keep your awesome, quirky, AMAZING brand to yourself—let it shine! Embrace your brand and reinforce it in everything you do. This isn't just limited to your work. Think about your style and behavior, too!

"Develop your personal dress style, appearance, and image that consistently screams what you are about," writes Deborah Shane in her article "How To Be Memorable: Develop Your Unique Brand Style."

Who are you? How can you reinforce your brand through your personal style and behavior? Don't just brand yourself on paper. Live your brand!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.