TRYING TO BE(e) SIMPLE ABOUT BRANDING AND PERSONAL BRANDING

Unlike my other articles where I tried to complicate things, here is an attempt to be simple.

Why am I trying to be simple?

Simply because wordplay [PLAYING WITH WORDS ] can make life and work messy and painful. I pushed its boundaries to learn how to tackle it and my other articles are a reminder of that learning.

Here I want it to be a useful reminder to pursue simplicity i.e. work as a simple anchor amidst the storm of words/wordplay.

I do confess, the approach part is complicated, only with the intention that the rest can be made simple.

MY CONTEXT & APPROACH HERE (a small complicated section):

1) I will go with the common usage of words. Use them as they are, keep it simple. I forgive them for being tools of misuse and harmful use.

2) Within common usage, I shall define them as I please. Simply because I can define them for good use. They are some inputs to how I define myself, not the only inputs. We nurture each other through understanding. IN SIMPLER WORDS, I DEFINE THEM AND THEY DON’T DEFINE ME.

3) These definitions work for me. As a blog post I seek inputs to simplify it further.

4) If there is a disagreement, I will seek utility. Eventually, I will define disagreements for my own use. I hope that we understand each other.

5) Nothing is useless. Every idea has infinite potential. Yet, time is precious and definitions are limiting at first sight. Hence I prioritize.

6) My sincere apologies if you feel neglected. At the end of the day, such neglect is my loss.

PERSONAL BRANDING [MY SIMPLE WAY OF SEEING IT]

This is in Q&A format.

Q1. Why do I need to Brand myself?

Ans. It is a professional requirement because:

a) I compete with Companies that brand themselves.

b) Today people are branding themselves.

c) Clients. / employers/ employees / co-workers will see if I fit their Brand/ Culture/ Ambition/ Comfort etc etc.

d) Hence the majority would see me as a brand at first sight.

Q2. What is a Brand/Good Brand/Great Brand/Bad Brand?

Ans. This is what I think:

BRAND:

a) BRAND= IMPRESSION + RETENTION

b) In other words, how people remember me.

c) In other words, Am I an Imprint on their minds? I think I create a brand to BRAND THEIR "MEMORIES OF ME".

GOOD BRAND:

a) GOOD BRAND = AN IMPRESSION + A GOOD FIT WITH MY EXPRESSION AND DELIVERY

b) In other words the impression is desirable because it fits well with my Expression and Delivery. Desirable is Good.

c) When Impression, Expression and Delivery fit each other, all three are complimentary and I have credibility. Objective achieved.

d) GOOD is the foundation for GREAT.

GREAT BRAND:

a) GREAT BRAND = A SUSTAINABLE AND CONSISTENT GOOD BRAND

b) GREAT is built on the GOOD. Makes me think I have a lot of work to do :).

BAD BRAND:

Impression, expression, offer and delivery are all a bunch of misfits forced to work together.

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Eventually, after a certain threshold, branding will be necessary. It's best I start now and learn to Brand First-hand.

It is a process. I am going for GREAT.

This “FITTING” works for me because I fit all decision making inputs into my area of focus. Currently it is Branding.

Why delay or procrastinate thinking in the name of process. I am not an organization yet :)

When I get to the step of Delivery, I will fit everything into Delivery for better decision making.

Q3. What is Personal Branding?

Ans. This is what I think.

a) It is a concept built of two words “Personal” and “Brand”.

b) It is a Brand only if people remember me.

c) It is Personal only if:

a. I represent myself as I am.

b. I do it my way, with personal and passionate involvement.

c. It has Personal appeal for me and the client. We nurture each other.

d) It is the core of a growing professional platform, hence an opportunity.

e) It motivates me to put my imagination to good use. I simply assume the general usage and focus on the opportunity.

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For simplicity:

a) I might as well live the role of a Bee at Bebee like I lived the role of a manager at office.

b) I won’t compromise:

a. My Personal Brand for “bee-dom”.

b. Myself for my Personal Brand or your opinion of me.

c. My imagination for counter-productive wordplay.

d. My priorities and critical elements for the Desirables.

c) I find Bebee useful; I don’t feel I have to be a social media expert to reap benefits.

d) For now the benefits are far greater than the problems. A new App and proactive management can solve those problems. I have hope and expectations that allow me to wait for improvements.

e) If you think I am a wasp and I see possibilities to connect, I have the time and the capacity to change your opinion. Some will take more time than the others.

While I focus on Branding, I would push the boundaries of my Brand so that everything fits in. It is like team members taking turns to lead the group. For now Branding is the Team Leader.

I will be sensible about pushing my boundaries. I won’t break its construct, I will push it further.

a) I believe that the first step serves as the foundation.

b) Right now, my foundation is the experience on which I shall build my brand.

c) Later, the Brand shall be my foundation on which I build my experience.

d) The foundation must be strong. Strength comes from using the good and learning from the Bad. The so called Wasps or undesirables may learn from me. Question is, whether I learn from them?

To be sensible, I need a constant reminder. So here it is:

That’s about it. I hope that feedback would be helpful to make it simpler. I am not a Branding expert. I am self employed who cannot afford one yet.

Thanks for the time.

Links [To the Complicated]

https://www.bebee.com/producer/@devesh-bhatt/everybody-s-struggling-by-devesh-bhatt

https://www.bebee.com/producer/@devesh-bhatt/the-4-myths-about-innovative-thinking-by-devesh-bhatt