Last week my fifth grader wrapped up all of her school activities and got seven stamps to complete her leadership passport. This passport is an extra, optional activity for students who want to go above and beyond. It involves a workbook, projects, meetings with teachers, and a quiz by the principal. 

We are proud of her for completing the passport challenge but now, she faces a new challenge to close out the final days of school. The reward for completing the leadership passport is that you get to design and paint a ceiling tile to remain behind at the school.

It’s a blank canvas for her to display whatever message she wants to leave behind. Her legacy for all of the elementary school to see. It’s a little overwhelming for her right now.

Last night we did a little brainstorming while driving to and from dance. I asked her what her ideas were and she started getting frustrated. Typical pre-teen response to any parent questions. I was trying to help her generate some ideas. Does she want to use a famous quote, paint a picture or something else? 

The brand challenge

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon once said that your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room. 

That’s an overwhelming thought. And my daughter is overwhelmed by the blank canvas and the task to create a brand statement for herself that isn’t in her words “lame”. 

She is starting to suffer from analysis paralysis. Its happens when you spend so much time thinking about a task or project, that it prevents you from taking any actual action. You get caught up in your head and forget that you need to move forward towards an end goal.

I’m sharing this story because it’s a real-time example of brand building. My 11-year-old is just starting to piece together the components of her brand. The parts of her story she wants to share with others and the positive traits and experiences she wants to become associated with. 

She needs to take action. In this case, it’s as simple as creating a piece of art but her hesitations are ones that are common. She is creating a story in her mind that there is a right way to do this. That what she chooses requires permission or approval. That she won’t be as good as the person next to her.

More than one way to brand

Let go of is this idea that there is only one way to create a personal brand. That there is a right way and a wrong way.

There is no wrong way to build your personal brand.

The key word is your. Your brand is your story and no other person on this earth will have the exact same story as you. 

This barrier could come from fear. Fear of putting yourself out in front for judgement, maybe fear that you aren’t ready for whats next or even fear of rejection. 

Lets flip this script and view your personal brand as an opportunity. Remember, no one has your experiences or stories so your personal brand is the very best way to share all about who you are with the world.

You have the power to influence the beliefs others create about you by taking an active role in what is shared. Find your uniqueness, build a reputation on the things you want to be known for, and allow yourself to be known for them.

Permission guaranteed

The next myth to bust when it comes to your personal brand is that it requires permission or approval to be valid. 

This is something called imposter syndrome keeping you stuck.

It comes from a belief that you aren’t enough of something or lack a certain skill set or perform below some arbitrary standard you have created.

It’s time to channel your inner Elsa and let that go. 

This is your story and you can share it in any way that serves you best. It can be your resume, your social media profile, a blog, your local brick and mortar business and so much more. But holding on to some standard or seeking some level of approval will keep you stuck.

If you can believe that the only approval you need is your own, that you have the power to give the permission and to accept the open invitation, your brand will become instantly more attractive.

Comparison is the thief of joy

The third myth keeping you from embracing your personal brand is comparisonitis. The fear that what you put out into the world won’t be as good as someone else.

That what you share or how you position yourself will not measure up to the next Instagram profile or the next candidate up for the promotion. Or to your competitor business across town. 

In order to embrace your personal brand and tell your story, you have to be willing to put the blinders on, put your head down and get to work. Its one thing to do a bit of research on brands you aspire to be like or women you admire in your profession, but at a certain point you have to finish the research and move into action. 

You can’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. When you scroll social media or linkedIn profiles or business bios, it’s easy to assume that everyone is further along or doing things better than you.

It happens to the best of us, we are only human and we are bombarded by all of the best moments of other humans’ lives on social media. 

Just take action

It might feel a little uncomfortable or a little messy to put yourself out there as a brand. But every single personality or business has to start at the beginning. How quickly you grow and scale is completely up to you based on your own personal goals and objectives. Your brand is your narrative to control. 

All too often I see women worthy of something bigger, getting in their own way. Downplaying knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences instead of embracing them.

Your personal brand is all of those things in one powerful package. I hope talking through some of these myths provides a different perspective. 

And if you are feeling stuck and not sure how to move through the thoughts holding you back, just start with something small. An update to your linked in profile, an application for a new position, a post on social media inviting customers to interact with you online.

Take action, even if its small because creating just a little bit of momentum will propel you forward. 

I tried explaining this to my daughter the other night while we were talking about her ceiling tile project. It’s the very last thing she will do as a student at her elementary school. Only she knows what should go on her tile, and her opinion is the only one that matters.

The same is true for the persona you project to the world. Thats your story to tell and yours alone. So find a way around those roadblocks keeping you from achieving the next big thing.

But then again… what do I know? I’m just the mom and in the words of the pre-teen, moms just don’t get it.