Your 2012 Personal Brand

Just because you run a business, are a consultant or haven’t even yet entered the workforce–it doesn’t mean you’re not destined to make an impact on the world at this very moment.

Now is the time to focus on who are you really are, who you want to be, and how you are meant to make a difference.

Steve Jobs said this: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

You are defining your personal brand for 2012. We all are. We all have been. But this year, it’s different somehow. Priorities have changed. The stakes have increased. Many of us have been force to confront past issues and redefine who we are.

If we’re quiet enough, we will see that destiny is right in front of us, and our hearts and intuition are presenting the answers to us this very moment.

Oprah said, “When you don’t know what to do, get still. The answer will come.”

So, get still and ask yourself these questions:

  1. What must you do? (Earn money to pay bills, support a family, prioritize your health…)
  2. What do you wish you could do?
  3. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
  4. What is your burning desire?
  5. What have you always known you were meant to do?
  6. When are you happiest/at peace?
  7. What do you do when you are procrastinating?
  8. What do you want to be known for?
  9. What change do you want to make in the world?
  10. What difference do you know you can make?
  11. How can you change someone’s life?
  12. How can you make someone’s life better?
  13. How–in any way, shape or form–can you combine what you must do with what you know you are meant to do?

The answers to these questions define your real value and purpose in this world–and this is your personal brand. Don’t let the noise drown out your inner voice.