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What do Rand Fishkin, Charlie Puth, and Martha Stewart all have in common?
They are all killer personal brand examples…
While many equate strong personal branding only to powerful leadership, there’s a lot more that goes into crafting a personal brand statement. In business, your personal brand needs to leave a lasting impression or you risk being ignored. This can be the result of your voice, off-the-wall persona, whacky facial hair, or any other number of unique things.
Establishing a personal brand carries even more weight when you’re responsible for developing and leading others. When you have a team looking up to you for guidance and instruction, it’s important to remain consistent in the way you lead. The only way to establish yourself as a leader is to identify your core values and the impression you want to leave.
But even if you don’t have a team of direct reports, we are all leaders who come from different walks of life with varied experiences that shape our core values. Great leaders often align their leadership values with personal beliefs and ethics of their own . Personal values adopted as professional values translate into our core beliefs that are easy to visibly act on every day in our personal and professional lives.
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What is Personal Branding?
This question can carry a lot of weight, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Let’s start by asking a few simple questions.
- What is your trademark (something that sets you apart)?
- What type of impact do you want to make?
- How do you want to be recognized and what do you want to be remembered for?
Matt Sweetwood, branding expert, defines personal branding as:
Your personal brand is the mark you leave on the world. It’s shown through the actions you take, and the persona you portray. If you’re successful, your brand will leave an impact long after you’re gone.
But it must be memorable to stand out in this cluttered media world.
A strong personal brand is so much more than a memorable name or product. It’s an extension of yourself that lingers even long after that person has left your website, book, show, or other piece of content. It is arguably even more important than a business’ brand, as businesses may come and go, but your personal brand is yours forever.
As you go down the path of creating, perfecting, and evolving your personal brand, be mindful of every action and choice you make. Unlike a business, your personal brand doesn’t have hours of operation, it simply is 24/7/365. While Sheryl Sandberg argues that there is no such thing as a personal brand but only business brands, it’s hard to square that with how many unknown people have gained national or international celebrity status though the power of digital media.
While it takes a ton of hard work and decades to build your personal brand, it can be lost in an instant with a misstep or two if you are not careful. Build and guard your reputation, and the end result is absolutely worth it.
9 Killer Personal Brand Statement Examples
Before we tackle the details of crafting a perfect personal brand, it’s important to look at at some top notch examples already out there. The following personal brand statement examples come from a variety of people across numerous industries and professions.
Crafting a few sentences that distill your career essence and aspirations into something memorable will help you go a long way towards cutting through the noise in the world as well as help you home in on what you are best at.
Note that many of these vary in tone and length, giving the statements even more of a personal touch. There are no hard and fast rules about what a personal brand statement must be, but it’s best to be as specific as possible but not be too verbose.
1. Graham Keen
”As a catalyst for positive change, I have a history of engaging board and staff members to generate new ideas and increase overall performance. I am adept at establishing policies, procedures, and technologies to enhance efficiency, financial health, and service to organize constituents.
I enjoy building and strengthening strategic alliances. My passion is to guide nonprofits, specifically those focused on youth empowerment, to achieve new heights.”
4. Kristi Daeda
”I help individuals and companies make the most of talent. I work as a part of the team. I am a straight shooter who isn’t afraid to have the tough conversations. I also believe that people are more capable and valuable than they often give/get credit for.
My method marries the sublime with the systematic — allowing for creativity and change with a strong focus on foundation and implementation.”
6. John Purkiss
7. Sheri K. Czar
“I rescue troubled companies. I have a documented track record of business development, operational planning, and leadership. My ability to find solutions that lead to success, foster team cohesion, pursue excellence, and work with a high degree of integrity has become my brand.
In one case, I led a company through unparalleled growth and success, increasing revenue from $30 million to $60 million. In another, I managed significant software changeover/upgrade for more accurate and timely processing of accounting functions, inventory reports, and financial statements.”
9. Wendy Enelow
“Recognized for 20+ years of success in linking science-based achievements with decisive market leadership to build high-performance organizations with significant financial rewards.
Led strategic and operational breakthroughs in proactive health informatics and communications technologies, evidence-based prevention and care management products, and cost-effective healthcare delivery systems. Pioneer in wellness and prevention programs, disease management and population health.”
12 Delightful Personal Brand Examples
These 12 influencers listed below come from various backgrounds but all share one common theme: they have established a unique identity that separates them from their competition. As a result, they’re quickly designated as thought leaders within their respective industries.
1. Rand Fishkin – SEO Expert
Rand Fishkin could arguably be dubbed the original SEO expert.
A pioneer in the field, Rand’s personal brand got strapped to a rocket when he started his company, Moz, in 2004. This quickly turned into a massive digital marketing think tank, giving Rand the opportunity to foster a community and share his voice and knowledge. He now has an SEO empire with podcasts and weekly videos that deliver his knowledge and thought leadership to the SEO world.
What made this all possible? His calm demeanor, willingness to help, and desire to make the SEO world a better place.
His unforgettable facial hair is also a plus.
2. Charlie Puth – Singer/Songwriter
Charlie Puth began his rise to personal branding success at an early age. Gifted with the rare trait known as “perfect pitch,” Charlie Puth was born and raised in the music world.
By sixth grade he was going door-to-door, selling a homemade Christmas album. In 2011, he was signed to Ellen DeGeneres’ label, eleveneleven. Four years later, he released his multi-platinum hit, “Marvin Gaye.”
In the oft-controversial world of music, Charlie Puth has crafted his image as a fun, rather innocent singer with a clean past. You sing it, Charlie.
3. Neil Patel – Content Marketing Expert
Neil Patel has become the king of content marketing over the past several years. While his knowledge of content marketing helped him get where he is today, it’s his bold, fun tone of voice that’s helped him carve his niche.
Along with his unique voice, he often has unique, sometimes borderline-counterintuitive ideas that actually work. Lastly, he’s done an incredible job marketing himself. He has a personal site, multiple companies, and does the Marketing School podcast with Eric Siu.
4. Hannah Hart – Food Host, YouTube Personality
5. Jeff Bullas – Entrepreneur
Jeff Bullas started his blog in 2009 for a whopping $10. He had little idea about how to approach blogging, but learned what he could along the way. Now, he receives more than five-million hits a year and travels the world for speaking engagements.
None of this would have happened if it weren’t for his desire to learn, share, and get his hands dirty. He took a gamble and dove headfirst into the blogging world, and it paid off. This brazen willingness to tackle problems head on is exactly what makes him a great teacher, and as a result, a great leader.
6. Ann Handley – Content Marketing Expert
Ann Hadley is a renowned writer about marketing, known for her witty style and killer advice.
She established her place as a thought leader by offering bold and useful advice on writing and creating great content which lead to numerous best-selling books. She’s also the founder of the incredibly successful site, MarketingProfs. She now has a podcast, blog, and continues to create content across numerous additional channels.
Noticing a theme here? All of these leaders dabble in numerous channels and projects with a focus on the long-term, maximizing their brand exposure.
7. Miles Anthony Smith – Leadership & Career Expert
Miles Anthony Smith (Hey, that’s me!) is a leadership, career, and marketing expert and coach. His unique brand, the Why “Stuff” Sucks® Series boldly shares the frustrations and challenges with leadership models, dated career advice, and even the problems with success in his upcoming “Why Success Sucks” book.
With the loss of hair on his head, it has migrated south, creating a fine beard.
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
Top | Why Leadership Sucks™: Fundamentals of Level 5 Leadership and Servant Leadership | Buy on Amazon |
Top | Why Leadership Sucks™ Volume 2: The Pain, Pitfalls, and Challenges of Servant Leadership Fundamentals | Buy on Amazon |
Top | Why Career Advice Sucks™: Join Generation Flux & Build an Agile, Flexible, Adaptable, & Resilient Career | Buy on Amazon |
8. Tanya Burr – Beauty Guru, YouTube Personality
Tanya Burr, another YouTube success story, started making videos in 2009. Nine years later, she has more than 3.6 million subscribers, multiple books, an acting career, and an entire beauty line.
She managed to find success for several reasons, but first and foremost, she found it by connecting with her younger audience and being relatable. Her sincere demeanor is obvious in everything she does, and her audience can’t get enough of it.
9. Seth Godin – Business Expert, Author
Seth Godin’s career took off due to his trailblazing personality…and maybe that iconic bald head and glasses look.
From the founding and eventual sale of his first company, Yoyodyne, in 1998, to being named Yahoo’s VP of direct marketing, to having a blog named “Time’s” Top 25 blog in 2009, Seth Godin has always succeeded at his ventures. Seth’s to-the-point tone and willingness to share free advice have made him a staple in the online world today.
10. Mike Rowe – Television Host, Personality
If you knew Mike Rowe only for his television show, you’d think he came from a background of blue collar work.
In all reality, Mike Rowe, an Eagle Scout, is simply a great actor who found his niche: being the champion of blue collar and trade work. His down-to-Earth attitude and ability to relate to the everyday American, has helped him become the massively successful personality he is today.
While originally famous for the Discovery channel’s “Dirty Jobs,” he leads the renowned podcast, “The Way I Heard It,” and CNN’s “Somebody’s Gotta Do It.”
