At the risk of bringing up a topic that’s been discussed ad nauseum, I want to meditate a bit about personal branding.
According to Patty Azzarello, who recently spoke at a professional woman’s group I belong to, it’s about two things: behavior and consistency. Showing your best self at all times and being mindful of how you say what you say are clearly part of that mix.
Recently, we’ve seen an example of these elements of personal branding in the behavior of Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it has been impossible to mistake her dignity and, for lack of a better word, “class” during a personal crisis.
Of course, some folks have commented on her pain, but more, probably, have spoken of her ability to rise from the ashes, a phoenix of calm and self-possession. Ms. Shriver’s triumph under difficult circumstances has, I think, everything to do with the personal brand she’s established over the years. Yep, she’s got a great professional brand that will stand her in good stead as she figures out her next big thing. But she’s also got what so many of us need to work on—identity that emanates from her core and manifests itself in her public behavior every day. That’s rooted in self-discipline and, I think, bona fide self-esteem. Would that we could all model it.
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