Why Building a Personal Brand Starts With Knowing Who You Are
There are many times when people bring on a creative team, a Brand Director, a photographer, a videographer, basically the whole squad, just to realize there is still something missing. The moment the camera begins to record, they realize their voice isn't theirs, without fully knowing that it's deeper than simply understanding how to speak correctly on camera.
It is essentially a form of comparison that takes place through feeling unsettled when it comes to creating something unique. Searching for validation in people, endless scrolling, constant changes in brand strategy and visual direction, and never fully reaching a level of contentment. To create a personal brand, one must first know and understand who they are and the identity each individual brings.
A person unaware of who they are, building a brand online and putting themselves in a position of exposure, can essentially cause damage to the unveiling of their true identity. Perhaps you are reading this and feel as though we are talking about you, and that in itself is awareness. As a faith-based brand agency, there are a few things that we have noticed actually work, and one of them is understanding the importance of a relationship with God.
In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 1, it talks about God knowing you before you entered your mother's womb.
For many of our Rise members who choose to opt into a faith-based approach, we begin in a blank strategy room, where we remind them of the important decision they have made to build not just a brand, but a life built on the Word of God.
Who does God say you are, and what is God's will for each of us as we contribute to His ultimate purpose?
Throughout the years, and almost seven years of building brands, I have noticed that there are many clients and projects that we didn't see succeed due to a lack of identity in who they are and what they are building.
How Do We Know We Are Struggling With Identity?
Perhaps you keep struggling with changing your visual identity, your approach, and your messaging. If a post didn't bring you new followers or enough engagement, you automatically disregard it.
Perhaps you came across this blog post at midnight after a three-hour-plus session of scrolling through other people's accounts, making sure you don't like any of their posts so you won't be traced.
Hmm, perhaps we have all been there before.
Maybe you doubt too much about the gift you were entrusted with by God.
You search for validation, and when you don't receive it, perhaps you begin to believe that what you created isn't good enough, so you give up!
Whether you believe in Jesus or not, here is a verse to meditate on this week before you begin to create content, build, or continue building your personal brand.
Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."