From Influence To Income: How To Start Building Your Personal Brand

An established international entrepreneur & expert marketer who has successfully built multimillion-dollar businesses. CEO of Mawer Capital.

Fifty years ago, most self-made millionaires followed the same paths. They were either attorneys or doctors, invested in real estate, or had to come up with a unique invention. The barrier to becoming rich was much higher, and it was rare for a newcomer to amass a huge amount of wealth in a few years. Today, thanks to the Age of Information Technology, things have changed drastically.

With the power of the internet, anyone with a connection can reach millions of people around the world in an instant. But what’s even more exceptional is the possibility of building a fortune by using something that can never be taken away from you—your unique personal brand.

Consider what many celebrities and pro athletes are doing nowadays. Kanye West, The Rock and Rihanna are leveraging their fan bases and their unique personas to build billion-dollar brands—and in the process are probably making much more than they used to make as singers or athletes.

And if you’re thinking that this is something reserved for people who attend premieres and walk red carpets, you’d be surprised. Countless people are building up huge empires from nothing. And they all started from just an interest and the willingness to share with other people what they love doing.

I’m a good example of this. Less than a decade ago, I was a personal trainer who came to the U.S. as a foreign student to study for a master’s degree. No one knew who I was. I arrived knowing no one and without any connections. All I had was the desire to become successful and the willingness to be different in order to create a better life and wealth for myself and my family. During the time when I had been working long hours in gyms and with my private clients, I started to see the potential in sharing what I knew with the millions of people who browsed the internet every day. I began growing my fitness group and social media page to a million people using Facebook ads and other marketing tactics. On top of that, I launched several offers that allowed me to go from a decently paid freelancer to setting the foundations of my business.

But it wasn’t until I put a lot of effort into building my brand that I started to see serious results. The switch happened when I realized how many people were interested in the unique combination of my own story, skills and bold personality—something that gave me a significant advantage. Before I knew it, I started getting featured in magazines, invited on TV and podcasts, and began partnering with people who had a larger audience than mine.

To find success with your personal brand, you need to let go and fully embrace your uniqueness. And the best part is, no one can take this away from you. So, how can you begin building your own personal brand?

You should start by developing your unique persona. Here are three tips that can help you get there:

First, ask yourself: What do I want to be known for? How do I want to present my brand? For example, maybe you want to be known for your environmental efforts. You could use that mission to create a sustainable outdoor clothing company that donates to conservation and defending nature. Figure out what it is that people will recognize you for first and foremost. Then, figure out how to communicate this in a way that is authentic to who you are, and how you want others to perceive you as a business owner.

When I think of a sustainable outdoor clothing brand, I immediately think of Patagonia. Its owner, Yvon Chouinard, just recently made headlines after he gave up his billionaire status to donate his earnings to a nonprofit that fights for the environmental crisis. Patagonia reflects these same values. His brand is extremely environmentally conscious, loud about its beliefs, and actively donates to conservation efforts. This is why so many consumers see Patagonia as one of the most environmentally friendly brands around—giving them a persona one can easily recognize.

Second, start small. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the idea of developing your own unique persona—and then feel stuck as a result. That’s why starting small is important. Start by focusing on one thing at a time. Whether it’s creating an elevator pitch or figuring out how to position yourself as an expert in your field, or whatever else comes up. Once you’ve nailed down one thing, then move on to the next.

For example, that next step could be a website. A strong website will help introduce yourself to potential clients and establish credibility. Then, you could move on to social media. Utilizing social media channels appropriately can expand your reach while maintaining control over how you present yourself. Additionally, creating content related to your area of expertise helps demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the industry. Soon enough, you’ll create a personal brand powerhouse.

Third, remember that everyone has their own “brand”—even if they don’t know what it is yet. So take some time and really think about what makes YOU different from everyone else.

By implementing these three tips, you’ll be on your way to developing a well-rounded personal brand in no time—one that helps gain the attention your business truly desires.