Who Do You Think You Are?

Could personal branding help you not only nail that job interview or start your own business, but also better understand yourself? Ali Roffembarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery...

 

Who are you? Are you your name, your job, your home? Do these things define who you are inside? In my meditation class, we often discuss this idea; my teacher posing that we are not defined by our material possessions or what we do for work. Yet, we love to put each other into boxes – it’s how we understand the world. For example, my teacher is a lawyer (super-intelligent), she owns a Rolex (successful) and she runs marathons (fitness bunny).

It can feel uncomfortable and restrictive to be placed in a box, but when we are starting our own business, applying for a promotion or even entering a new relationship, could identifying the ‘box’ we authentically and naturally fit into help others see us more clearly? And, moreover, could it help us improve our self-awareness and understanding?

Personal branding expert Salma Shah believes that by recognising our ‘deeper psychological archetype’, we can create a brand that is rooted to who we truly are. She explains that the best personal brands are the ones whose archetypes we can pick out immediately. Take Oprah Winfrey – the ‘Healer’; the wise woman. We immediately know her as that person – it’s concise and it’s credible. It’s also why Oprah is such a great brand – her archetype helps us understand who she is and what she has to offer us.

Essential essence