The beauty of brand

We all have a brand. I have a brand, you have a brand, your business has a brand. As individuals, we’ve been building our personal brand since we were old enough to dress ourselves. There was a short stint in my childhood where I wore nothing but pajama pants (sometimes matching sets) everywhere I went. I vividly remember a Superman (?) set with a matching shirt that had a sparkly red “S” on it. I was…unique. But I was unapologetically and confidently being my authentic self, and I think people resonated with that before I even knew I was building my personal brand. Over the years, I didn’t pay much attention to how I was “supposed” to look. Yes, I tried to wear as many Abercrombie shirts as I could (so expensive) in an attempt to be on par with the popular girls, but I was also a tomboy. I showed up to high school social events in mens (literally) basketball shorts because I was an #athlete and DIY muscle shirts I made from oversized cotton T’s.

I remember walking over to watch a softball game and a girlfriend of mine said something like, “Guys think you’re pretty even when you dress like that.” First of all, offensive. Or maybe thank you? Second, what? I was just…being myself and wearing what felt natural to me. I had no idea people were paying attention. It was in that moment I realized my outfits were making a statement about me. That my aesthetic had been forming my personal brand all along and I had no idea. Between that and my three consecutive years in pajamas, I realized I’ve always been unapologetic in who I am. So much so, that I didn’t think twice about what people would think of me. I was being my own brand — and owning it.

And that’s the beauty of brand. There are no rules. There’s no right or wrong — no playbook to tell you how to look or sound. Brand is something that’s built on a feeling. If it feels good and right to you, then that’s what you should put out into the world. If you’re just starting a business and struggling with “how you should show up” in the market, take a step back and think about what feeling you want your business to emote. For me, I want my clients to feel empowered, creative, supported and understood. I want them to know, just by looking at my brand, that I do things differently.

Dare to stand out. You shouldn’t look like everyone else because you’re not everyone else. And I can help you do that.