Are you creating a personal brand?
Or polishing a new version?

I recently spoke to a group of women business leaders about a topic that seems to be resonating a lot today. "Creating your own personal brand."

I know you don’t have a lot of time to read what took me a half-hour to deliver, so let me share the highlights. The important point about branding is that you decide who you are and who you want to be. Only one person can determine what kind of human being you will become, and that is you.

Why do you need a personal brand??

Your brand defines your unique abilities and style. It sends a message about what you stand for and what matters in your life. It’s the talent you bring to the table—for example maybe people rely on you to help get projects done on time and under budget. Maybe you are the peacemaker in the office. Maybe you inspire others, or bring a realistic perspective to the group.

What ever your abilities may be, you have a personal brand. Not only is your brand an outward communication of you, it also offers you an identifying personal message. It provides you a clarified sense of self as you make decisions about future endeavors. You can utilize that personal brand to keep you grounded with a type of inner compass, embracing your core values and passions.

My hope for you in 2013 is that you can enjoy a life being happy, healthy and wise. Here are the questions I asked my audience members to consider. You may find these helpful as well.

Being Happy
• Are you fully expressed in using your abilities and talents? Ask others if there are attributes they notice about you that you are not using.
• Are you embracing a sense of purpose in your life? The greatest sense of achievement for humans is a sense of fulfillment and embracing things that make a difference for others.

Being Healthy
• How are you taking care of yourself with healthy habits? What habits do you have in place that protect your physical and mental wellbeing—exercise, nutritious eating, time to regenerate?
• Are you finding ways for ending conflicting intentions? Stress increases, not only when we are overwhelmed, but when we are out of alignment with our core values and life goals.

Being Wise
• What are your personal and professional growth plans? With each new year, goals need to be re-evaluated to maintain relevance.
• What are you currently learning both cognitively and emotionally? Learning is an ongoing process that keeps us innovative, fresh and able to align with different chapters of our lives.