The Value of Understanding You as a Brand Through Mentorship
In today’s fast-moving world, personal branding isn’t just for influencers or entrepreneurs—it’s for everyone. Whether you’re growing your career, starting a business, or simply wanting to present yourself with clarity and confidence, in any situation. Understanding yourself as a brand helps you communicate who you are and what makes you unique.
A great way to uncover your personal brand is through a mentoring conversation. By exploring the words you use to describe yourself, how others perceive you, and the values that drive you, you can create a strong, authentic personal brand that aligns with your true self and allows you to embrace what’s important.
Step 1: Define How You See Yourself
The first step in personal branding is self-awareness. How do you describe yourself? What words naturally come to mind when you think about your skills, personality, or strengths? Words that define you.
Ask yourself:
What three to five words best describe me?
How do I introduce myself in professional or personal settings?
If I had to create a short tagline about who I am, what would it be?
For example, you might see yourself as “creative, strategic, and empathetic” or “driven, disciplined, and adventurous.” These words give insight into how you naturally perceive yourself and how you present yourself to others.
Step 2: Discover How Others See You
Your personal brand isn’t just about how you view yourself—it’s also about how others perceive you. Asking for feedback from friends, colleagues, and mentors can provide valuable insights into whether your self-perception aligns with how you are actually seen.
Try asking:
What three words would you use to describe me?
What stands out about my personality, work ethic, or leadership style?
If you had to introduce me to someone else, how would you describe me?
Often, patterns will emerge. If multiple people describe you as “dependable,” “innovative,” or “charismatic,” “caring," “resilient," these are key aspects of your personal brand. This step helps you ensure that the image you want to project aligns with reality.
Step 3: Identify Your Core Values
At the heart of your personal brand are your values—the guiding principles that influence your decisions, relationships, and career. Identifying your core values ensures that your brand is not just about image but about what truly matters to you.
Reflect on these questions:
What principles guide my decisions?
What qualities do I admire most in others?
What am I most passionate about?
Common values include integrity, creativity, growth, connection, freedom, and integrity . Defining your values helps you shape your brand in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you and act as a benchmark for what you expect from friends, colleagues and a working culture.
Step 4: Bringing It All Together
Once you understand how you see yourself, how others see you, and what values drive you, you can craft a clear and compelling personal brand. This gives you clarity and focus.
For example, if you describe yourself as “curious and innovative,” others see you as “insightful and inspiring,” and your core values include “growth and creativity,” your personal brand might centre around being a forward-thinking leader who helps others see new possibilities.
From here, you can create boundaries , support career choices to align with this brand identity and your truth.
Final Thoughts: Live Your Brand
Your personal brand isn’t a fixed label—it evolves as you grow. By having a mentoring conversation to explore your unique qualities, you gain clarity and confidence in your identity. Building confidence , direction and belief .
So, what’s your personal brand? Start the conversation today and discover the words that define you.
