Creating a New Personal Brand Story in 2010

With January 2010 already behind us, it’s wise to ask ourselves – ‘Is the “New Year” already feeling the same as last year?’ 2009 held a lot of challenges for many of us, but it’s time to call up our courage and put the past where it belongs. One of the best ways to move forward in your personal and professional life is to create a new story or personal brand. For the past fifteen years, I have helped my clients re-script their story, find their authentic voice, and transition into a life of greater meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and financial well-being.

A new story can help you eliminate the internal barriers and blocks to success – and crystallize your vision for the future. Also, it will help you achieve your goals, and support you in becoming the person you desire to be. Here are four simple steps to help you create your new story.

1. What is your story now? Identifying your habitual story is the key to creating your new story. Are you rooted in the past? Recycling old storylines of frustration, deprivation, and resentment? Many people change their career, relationship, or financial position – yet still generate the same ‘state of being’ because they continue to identify with their old story. What do you need to let go of?

2. Step into the future. Imagine your story one year, or five years from today. Skipping over the immediate future can eliminate some of the confusion and disorienting feelings that come during a time of change. Start with writing your 2011 story. Next, create a blueprint designed to get you from where you are now – to there.

3. Limited edition. Remember that your story is a limited edition masterpiece, with a print run of only one. Only you can do what you do – the way you do it. Being able to see, appreciate and verbalize your unique skills, talents and abilities does not always come naturally. I’ve helped clients at all stages of their career development – from recent college grads to C-level executives – develop a powerful personal brand story with new scripts through my Your Unique Brand^™ Discovery Process.

To help you get started, here is a brief discovery exercise:

• Write down your current job title or label and describe what it is that you do. Summarize and entitle it: Current Personal Brand Positioning Statement.
• If you conducted a 360° survey, how might your circle of influence describe you?
• How would you like to be perceived? What is your lead strength and how might you script that asset to distinguish yourself within the marketplace?
• Now, write your Ideal Personal Brand Positioning Statement. Again, looking back from the future, write a few paragraphs about your accomplishments, and then summarize your future story in a short statement.
• Think of everything in the past as the prequel. This is ‘page one’ of your new story – and the starting point for your glorious and abundant future!

To find out more about creating a powerful unique personal brand in words, online, and in print, email Deborah at dmadary@youruniquebrand.com