What is your brand?

Most people don't spend any amount of time comparing themselves to brands. When we can spare the time, branding for most individuals centers around other people's perception of them. For some people, creating a brand image can be an uphill battle because they did not make a good impression the first time around - hence the saying that "you never get a second chance to make a good impression." What does this mean for all of us in this global climate of people "dying to look good?" If you take care of what you have been blessed with naturally, you will have very little use for extreme measures.

Historically, females have been portrayed as the gender most preoccupied with appearances. One of the arguments advanced to support this theory include the instant aging privileges that child bearing confers on females who bear children. At the same time, very little is said to detract from the comportment of a male at any age. Although not as a direct consequence, there has been a tendency over time for women to be more conscious of their images, but not necessarily conscious of their brand. A brand includes both image and identity. Whereas image is an intangible abstract concept in the sense that it has everything to do with other people's perception of you, your identity is a tad more tangible, and you have the power to influence the identity you project. Some of the ways you can influence your identity are tied to your grooming and how you package yourself.

Packaging is another concept that is intricately linked to branding. The reason most people will reach out for the branded item in the store instead of the generic rendition
is packaging. Invariably, the buyer may be aware that both the generic and brand name version of the product do the same thing and have the same ingredients, most will opt for the brand name version. Whether you choose an Infinity or a Nissan, may largely depend on your visual plateau. How then do you know why another candidate for a job interview was picked over you? Do you know if it was based on how they packaged themselves for the interview? Probably not. Next time I will go into how we can best capitalize on the identity we project.