Personal Branding For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Introduction

Imagine that you can step outside your body and observe yourself. Picture yourself walking into a job interview and shaking hands with people you’re meeting for the first time. How do you look? Are you smiling confidently and making eye contact or are your eyes darting nervously around the room? Does your handshake seem firm or limp? Is your clothing neatly pressed and closely fitted or is it a bit rumpled and frumpy? Do you look like you’re in control of the situation or do you seem overwhelmed?

Now picture yourself walking into your neighborhood grocery store. Are you dressed in a way that shows you pay attention to yourself or have you thrown on stained sweats and an oversized T-shirt? Are you interacting with the store workers or avoiding eye contact? If you run into a neighbor or coworker, do you seem excited to see this person or anxious to get away from her?

One more: Picture yourself at your computer, checking your Facebook page. A friend has sent you an off-color joke. How do you respond? Do you type a raunchy response and send it immediately with the hope of making someone laugh? Or do you opt not to respond in case someone would take offense?

Many people would say that they pull themselves together nicely for a job interview but don’t pay much attention to how they look and act at the grocery store or how their social media comments come across. After all, who are you trying to impress in the produce section? And the people who interact with you on Facebook ...