Unpopular Opinion on Personal Branding

When I started out in the world of fashion and personal branding, I promise I had no background education, no formal training but I had a deep yearning and desire to help individuals not only look but feel like the best version of themselves. I had been on my journey to discover myself and create a version of myself that I would love and God willing be proud of. It wasn’t about getting the approval of other people because I already had that. Everyone around me was always so proud of the things that I had accomplished, but I know that there was so much more to me than that. I was good, but something was missing. I was never satisfied, it felt like I was living in the shadow of the people around me, I was living in their reflection, I was living up to their expectations of me, but my question was

Lenora what are your expectations of yourself, are you content with yourself, are you really doing the best you can, my bare minimum seemed like the most to everyone around me and even though they did not think much of it, it bothered me, I was not ok with myself being so mediocre

There is a quote that says, “ the moment you realize you are the smartest in the room its time for you to leave

Some may think that is being boastful and un appreciative, but in reality me living under my potential is an insult to God and myself. I was living in the shadow of myself

I have learnt that we must each know and come to terms with our individual realities and be ok with it, not the reality everyone has created for you, but the reality that you create and know for yourself.

I have zero desire to be associated with the world average because I am not average, nothing about me average, not of my experiences are average and none will ever. Am I a normal human being Yes I am , but am I an average person, absolutely not. My calling is simple, I am in a mission to take those who know that their current reality is below their full potential and are looking to excel beyond that, I am here to not only show you but walk with you on your journey to becoming a better you, to feeling like a better you, so that the world can truly see you, hear you and feel your impact.

THIS IS NOT THE MISSION AND GOAL OF THE AVERAGE PERSON AND THAT OK. I am seeking out the chosen few who have ben called transcend beyond their current realities, those who are seeking the “ more” those who know that they are meant for greatness, those who know that they are not average and never want to be

Branding yourself is not really about changing your go and all, its really about taking the story and narrative into your own hands, its about discovering and showcasing the things that feel authentic to you. Its about showing up in a way that even when you look back 5, 10 years from now you will be proud that you did you, you were truly living an authentic life

The art of branding yourself involves a few things

First finding out who you are, how you want to show up in the world and intentionally showing up as that person, It plays out in your language, your dressing , your overall presence and everything that is perceivable or visible to the world .

believe it or not, your brand image is paramount to building credibility and loyalty among potential and existing customers. If you consistently work at maintaining a stable brand image, be it the freshness of your social media, a new closet update, a brand new photoshoot, you need to be intentional about curating and catering for your brand image.

Branding is more than colors, logo and all the other fluff most entrepreneurs and business owners spend so much time figuring out. It’s also how how people connect with you, your personality, your message and everything that you stand for and represent.

Here’s why your most rewarding investment you should make is hiring an image consultant.

• First impression is a real game changer: “Research has shown that you have about eight seconds to capture people’s attention. That’s the length of the average attention span, and if you fail to capture the audience in that time, you’ve lost your chance to convert a potential customer.” Like Cynthia Ozick said, “ two things remain irretrievable: time and a first impression. With all the competition, you only stand a chance when you make a remarkably lasting impression. Like Chris J Reed. From a career point of view your personal brand could define whether you succeed or whether you die. If I google you and nothing comes up that’s a red flag”
• Consistency and instant recognition: “Show me the you are Coca cola without saying you are Coca cola.” Apple, Gucci, Prada, you name it. With all these brands, all you need to do it look around and you will see a consistent brand image that is easily recognizable. Now of course its more challenging to brand a person, but it is totally doable. You want your clients and potential audience to instantly think about you and what you stand for even when you are not in the room. Think about Steve Harvey, Oprah, Mel Robbins. Your brand image carries visual, emotional and psychological interactions . So be sure to put in thought into every little details
• Building credibility, authenticity and authority: If you want to stand out as the best in your niche, then you must establish yourself as an authority figure in your niche. Your brand image is what differentiates you from the competition. If you put in efforts into building your own personal brand , you could rise above somebody else who spend years and money getting multiple certificates . Some might argue that personal branding is controlling and deceitful. But I think it can instead be looked upon as inspiring and empowering , it’s about how you see yourself, your thought processes, your leadership ability , your interest, values and how you share them with the world

Remember people aren’t just buying a product or service; they’re buying what your brand stands for they are buying the feeling and emotion attached to it too.. That’s why it’s so important to design your brand image to convey exactly what you want it to say.

Be intentional about it, its all about value, storytelling and authenticity

The most important thing about your career is to actually have a personal brand , your brand differentiates you in terms of how you go forward , how you succeed , how you raise investment, how you Winn clients and everything in between . Everything about you is about your personal brand.

I hope you found value in this

All my love,

Lenora