A person’s personal brand lives with him/her for life. Though there are many things in- between that will eventually add up to the full manifestation of the brand. Because established personal brand lives with one forever, calculated step must be taken towards demobilizing the in-between from destroying the lifelong journey. Personal brand must be seen as a life long journey to manage it well. The in- between has capacity to make a person forget that he/she is in a journey. Success is a wild animal, if it is not tamed, it can destroy. Position (that is transient) can make some commit fatal error that will permanently destroy their personal brands. When the title is withdrawn, they will become empty.

Making the vital mistake of thinking that position determines who you are will lead to total destruction. You are not your position; your personal brand is greater than your present position. When you equate your personal brand with your present position- especially when you are the overall boss, you will be digging a grave that will soon consume the brand.

Someone is wondering why is the above important? Yesterday I was billed to see a Director General in one of the government’s agencies here. I must admit he is not a type of all. I got to his office and requested to see him. After signing the visitor’s note, I was allowed to meet with him. I entered the office and greeted him with all enthusiasm, introduced myself and all that. I told him my mission and he started following the official “jargons” instead of being a real person. I did not mind that as I assumed his age is making him lose touch with the reality of time. But this so called DG actually betrayed his personal brand when I was about to leave his office. I appreciated him for his time and just because I thought he forgot to introduce himself while I did that, I asked him for his name again. His answer shocked me ‘please go and I ask my secretary”. I was shocked to the marrow that his position has overwhelmed him so much that he felt telling others his name is out of order for a person of his status.

My advice, be your own brand manager, never destroy your personal brand because of the position you have today. Tomorrow, the position may not be there what you will have left is your personal brand.

Related posts:

1. Personal brand and attitude
2. Is your personal brand profile a danger sign?
3. How to quietly destroy your personal brand
4. Personal branding for Executive/Personal assistants
5. Personal branding: make your efforts count