My Life : My Personal Brand

MY LIFE; MY PERSONAL BRAND

What comes to your mind when you think of the term “personal branding”? well it can be defined by certain questions that one asks self about. when people think of your name, what do you wish they associate it with? are there any general qualities that are linked to your brand or is there a certain subject matter in which you'd like to be perceived. my dear friend,when you start to get these answers, you'll then be able to define your brand. what makes you unique? what makes you relevant? what makes you compel to reach your goals? when you start to identify and communicate the answers to these questions, you'll be able to market the brand called “you”. 

Personal branding will help you understand why you're unique, what makes you valuable and powerful. once you know it, you can use that information to create visibility to those well wishers who will help you reach your goals.

You may not be celebrity but you are a brand. You're one brand thats always in touch with the outside world and thats one major reason why you must future and establish yourself as a brand. just because you're not endorsing noodles and pens like Amitabh Bachchan or promoting beauty products like Sonam Kapoor or Deepika Padukone- doesn't mean you're not being associated with unique values by your friends, clients, relatives etc.

Often we find it easier to comprehend celebrities as brands because they tend to invest a lot to make think so, you know. also, its not just in their outward appearance of perfectly toned bodies, glowing skin and well maintained hair but solely because of the causes that are associated with it. their stand on certain issues, brands that they choose to endorse , their online presence and how they make choices in their career. a good example to put forward is of Kangana Ranaut- why she refused to endorse a fairness product is very much an extension of her personal brand. she has now crafted herself as an identity of a no-nonsense , straight talking and powerhouse actor. This really helps her get roles and other endorsements that are a fit with her personal brand values. 

Its often said, and I completely agree thats ones personal brand then becomes ones calling card that identifies you with certain qualities , associates you with a cause or pegs you in a bracket.

Just a reminder : You're a whole without someone else. You are not a fraction. You're a complete master piece all by yourself and you do not need anyone else to validate your existence. And if you doubt any of this, try and be alone! yes. You read that right. Eat alone, sleep alone, work alone and take yourself on dates. And i promise you, that i the midst of this you will learn more about yourself- your personal brand. You will grow, you will figure out your inspirations, your own dreams, your beliefs and disbeliefs, your OWN stunning clarity.

“And when you do meet the person who makes your cells dance, you will be sure of it, because you'll be sure of yourself”

My Key To Happiness

   MY KEY TO HAPPINESS

                                        -Failed at something? Rejoice. 

You heard that right. Failure as we all know is the stepping stone to success. You must learn from yours and take on the world.

REFRAME YOUR FAILURE:

Did you choose to step out of your comfort zone and then dare to do something out of the ordinary? Did you reject the status quo and refuse to play safe? Did you try to expand your horizons? If your answers are a straight forward ‘yes’ then that alone should make you proud of yourself. Every risk you take in life carries an inherent possibility of failing. But remember my dear friend; you are not a failure until and unless you simply give up. Learn to be optimistic and keep moving.

-Create a mood board: note down a list of things that make you happy. Keep updating lists of your short-term goals using positive images and pictures.

-Get up and dance: music, it’s said, can do wonders to your mood and moving your body keeps you in the present. 

-Unplug social media: looking at various posts from your friends may seem to you as if they’re having a better time than you right now. Log out and do something that makes you feel good about yourself. 

YOU FAILED BECAUSE YOU TRIED.

REMEMBER YOUR LESSON:

Failure offers learning. It helps us avoid mistakes and approach situations and problems differently. It’s a part of our growth, not loss. Every time one fails, the fear of failure decreases which in turn eggs us on to take bigger challenges. A different way to look at it is to realise that every time you fail, you have more tools than before to succeed. Understand what led to it and don’t let the lesson go in vain. 

-Tackle something scary: it need not be something too big. Speak up in a group, make a phone call you’ve been missing, or simply ask for something even if you know you might be rejected.

-Find your community: getting out there as well as giving back to the community can help spark a new way to move on from the defeats of the past. 

-Ace small talks: you'd be surprised about where a conversation can lead to. Be receptive to ideas from every quarter. 

-Learn a skill: acquiring a new set of skills sharpens the mind and improves concentration. Also, smaller challenges will give you the confidence to graduate the big ones.

YOU FAILED TO LEARN.

FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE:

Its only when you fail that you truly know yourself. Failure helps you to keep your ego in check and also keeps you in touch with reality as it makes you more humble and grounded.

-Call an old friend: connect with someone who used to know you during a different time altogether. You'll gain insights into what used to drive you.

-Throw a party: call people from different areas of your life. Just looking around your room will let you know your interests and will shape your personality.

-Detox: Diet, spa routine or just cleansing – decluttering will help your mind and body relax, rest and recharge.

YOU ARE A BETTER PERSON FOR HAVING FAILED.

Travel once a year: Why its important

TRAVEL ONCE A YEAR: Why Its Important

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

Do you look back on your past and regret the chances you didn’t take? Like quitting a job or not telling someone you love them? According to Forbes, not traveling more was number 11 on the list of 25 most things people regret. Why is this? Because traveling is fun!

Here are a few reasons why you should travel, AT LEAST once a year:

           YOU EXPERIENCE NEW CULTURES:

You get to know other peoples culture very easily through this tool called “travelling”. All of us want to see and discover new things everyday.. well its human nature. And without travelling, this is obviously not possible. You NEED to travel outside your city, state or even your country to know their culture, what they eat, what they wear, how they enjoy their festivals and so on.

FOR THE ENJOYMENT AND PLEASURE OF OURSELVES:

Just to know new cultures is not the only reason for travelling. The main reason as to why we travel is to make some fun with our friends and family at some exquisite locations around the world and make memories of the same. It provides us with great energy to be positive and live happily. Without travelling, life is boring- literally. 

TASTE NEW FOOD ITEMS:

Keeping our essential food items aside, most of us would love to taste new food dishes during  our visit to a new destination. One of the things that I’ve noted as a traveller is that a lot of peoples aim is to search and eat popular food items in the host city/state/country as its unique in its own way. Therefore travelling becomes one of the most important ways to taste your favourite food.

MAKE NEW FRIENDS:

Personally, I’ve made a lot of friends while travelling. Be it vacations with my family or even school educational trips. It is said that making friends is the art of any human. Well I completely agree but you must have good communication skills to communicate with stranger to make him or her your friend. 

FINDING NEW WAYS OF LIFE:

One of the most important reasons why you should travel is to find and explore ‘yourself’! are you not tired of your routine life? Are you not looking for good enough reasons to live a better life? Don’t you want a break from your fast paced life? Do you not want to expand your awareness and introduce yourself to diversity? Do you not want time to heal, reduce stress, and know yourself better and just DISCOVER THE TRUE YOU?

Wake up!! Come on, plan a trip now. GO!

Work Success Mantra's

WORK SUCCESS MANTRAS FOR YOUR 20S, 30S & 40S

EXPLORE WITH CAUTION:

There are many opportunities waiting out there in your 20’s and its that time where you explore different options. Career seems to be the top most priority and while its tempting to take the first job that comes your way, its important to understand your passions and talents. You must  then try to craft your career aligned with them.

DON’T GIVE UP EASILY:

While its highly useful to explore at this age, one must not opt out at the first sign of boredom, discomfort or lack of interest- ask not what your company can do for you, but what you can do for your company. “persist and give each opportunity your best shot before moving on to a different one. Be open to constructive criticism and feedback, and give impetus to your growth and learning”- advices Anuradha Das Mathur, founding dean, Vedica Scholars Programme for Women.

SAVE SMART:

In the early years, just because you may not have kids, ageing parents to look after or an EMI doesn’t mean you needn’t start saving. One great idea is to sock away three to six months of living expenses in a savings account for emergencies.

REACH OUT AND NETWORK:

Before your 20’s, your network is mostly various people who are students, teachers, relatives or people that you come across in school and college. Its that time in your life where you start getting to know people at your work place and start to gain clarity for the next few decades of your life. One must attend industry events and reach out to various professionals or mentors who can guide an individual through life choices.

CONSCIOUSLY ADD TO YOUR SKILLS:

This is exactly when you should set aside a few hours every week to add to your skills- it may be learning to speak a new language or getting a new degree or even trying new kinds of assignments at work. 

BE ASSERTIVE AT WORK:

You must always voice what you're thinking and demand what you think you deserve at your work place. It is always advisable to do only what you are required to do because at this stage your tome is not just important but extremely valuable too. One shall not waste it on things that will not add value to ones profile.

SET A SYSTEM AT HOME:

Most women usually tend to take full responsibility and control over everything and anything that happens at home. “while your family and children will require time and attention, do not be afraid to prioritise your professional life” advises Mohini Gupta, program lead, VSPW. Establish such a system at work that it divides responsibility equally. 

NOT TOO LATE TO SWITCH:

Do not be afraid to change to something you feel deeply passionate about, you know. Whether its starting your own company, taking last minute decisions or even changing your field.

BE OPEN TO CHANGE:

With the rapid change in technology, things may not be working the same way as they used to earlier, in the industry a few years ago. For example- you may have a younger boss. Just imagine! You must not be rigid. Instead, be open to learning new techniques and ways of learning.

CLEAR YOUR DEBTS AND LOANS:

As you'll be focused on saving for your retirement and family, it is advisable you knock-out any in debtness.

PLAN YOUR RETIREMENT IN ADVANCE:

This is a right time for consultations. With a surge in salary, everyone thinks they deserve a posh house and a fancy car. But be conscious of this psychological side effect- do not splurge more than you can afford.

SHARE AND INSPIRE:

Now that you have great organisational experience and contacts, you must share them with a platform where you can easily get like minded people together and also add value at a larger level. The goal is to motivate – mentor – inspire .

GIVE YOURSELF TIME:

Start devoting more time to yourself. Introspect. Start ticking off things from your bucket list, my friend.