Managing Brand YOU: Seven Steps to Creating Your Most Successful Self

Who Am I and How Did I Get Here?

she was not involved in any activities and felt isolated from most

other kids. Ironically, one day, a teacher suggested she consider join-

ing the drama club, which was seeking another actor for the spring

play. To her amazement, she was selected and played an important

secondary role in the performance. She loved it. This was just the

tonic she had hoped for throughout high school. While an outcast

in class, Julie was now important—now a “somebody” on stage—and

she was as happy as she had ever been in her life.

Julie graduated from high school and decided to skip college in

order to work for a large department store as a retail sales clerk. The

money was good, and she was now free from the grading system,

pressures, and ...