How CEOs Can Use Storytelling to Build a Personal Brand
By Stanley Meytin
Self-branding helps you bring people into your world while inspiring theirs.
We’ve all heard the of people like Tim Ferris, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Paris Hilton because they are masters at personal branding. While it’s not always wise to chase down the success levels of a company like Walmart or Google, it is always wise to follow the branding strategies of personalities who have made a name for themselves with a consistent presence, an authentic voice, and a video camera. As a CEO of a medium-sized company, your personal story is an important part of your brand’s story. A lot of professionals try to separate their personal and professional lives, but in a world where we are so connected, yet disconnected from people, it’s important to remember the human element of business and share the vulnerability, authenticity, vision and dreams of yourself and your company.
Crafting Your Personal Branding Story
Self-branding starts where you started. It might seem strange to talk about where you grew up, places you’ve lived, and things you’ve done, but the truth is that the more people know about you, the more they want to know. And the more they want to know, the more interest they will have in your company. As CEO, it’s easy to stay buttoned-up and tight-lipped about your experiences, but some of the most successful people have found a balance between sharing and showing off, between creating a personal brand and lending it to a professional brand. And it all starts with where you come from.
Trace Your Beliefs
Think about how where you came from helped to shape your beliefs. Think about what you saw and experienced helped you to become the person you are today. All too often, people turn a cold shoulder to their past, especially if it is not something they are proud of, but as a CEO trying to create a personal brand, you want to share your struggles – and triumphs – with the world. Companies are exposed by nature: people will see through the facade if the brand of the company is poorly constructed. But when it comes to a personal brand, the developing years of a CEO shouldn’t be brushed under the rug. Part of a great self-branding strategy is to examine what was learned from the experiences you’ve had. Self-reflection is not easy, but it is worth it to help shape the story you want to tell. Tracing your beliefs to your past will help you understand why you do the things you do now.
Future Value
While it might not seem that important to tell your personal story as you are ramping up your business, a lot of CEOs, especially successful ones, go on to write about themselves in a book or feature article. Whether you publicize your story now or in the future, it is worth sitting down and drawing out the details of what helped to make you, you. Consider how the story will play on the ears of people who hear it. Is the intent to inspire, motivate, share a struggle, share a win? Crafting a personal brand starts with a story. It’s the driving force behind everything you do, whether you realize it or not. And if you are resistant to creating such a story, you are losing out on opportunities to connect with your customers, staff, and investors – people buy from and invest in people they like.
Your Personal Brand Story is Worth Something
It’s impossible to think about your personal brand without thinking about your story. Who are you? What do you bring to the table? What is it about you that makes you, you? What is it about you that showcases your authenticity? How have you connected with your audience in the past? What is it you want people to know about you? Don’t sell yourself short: nobody’s past is standard. There is a gem-of-a-story in there somewhere, it just needs to be brought to life. The paths we walk in life help us to become the people we are today. It’s important to share that path, and what you’ve learned with your audience. It’s why employees will follow you into the fire, and why customers will stay loyal even during down times. Your personal story is worth so much more than you think and it will impact people in ways you can never know.
Work With Professionals to Craft Your Story
The crew at True Film Production can help you bring out that story and bring it to life. Personal branding stories evolve and change over time, it’s not a one-and-done situation. Because you change, your company changes, your vision changes, your mission changes, your story can change with it, and we can help you share your story with the world.
Reading Time: 4 minutes
By Stanley Meytin
Self-branding helps you bring people into your world while inspiring theirs.
We’ve all heard the of people like Tim Ferris, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Paris Hilton because they are masters at personal branding. While it’s not always wise to chase down the success levels of a company like Walmart or Google, it is always wise to follow the branding strategies of personalities who have made a name for themselves with a consistent presence, an authentic voice, and a video camera. As a CEO of a medium-sized company, your personal story is an important part of your brand’s story. A lot of professionals try to separate their personal and professional lives, but in a world where we are so connected, yet disconnected from people, it’s important to remember the human element of business and share the vulnerability, authenticity, vision and dreams of yourself and your company.
Crafting Your Personal Branding Story
Self-branding starts where you started. It might seem strange to talk about where you grew up, places you’ve lived, and things you’ve done, but the truth is that the more people know about you, the more they want to know. And the more they want to know, the more interest they will have in your company. As CEO, it’s easy to stay buttoned-up and tight-lipped about your experiences, but some of the most successful people have found a balance between sharing and showing off, between creating a personal brand and lending it to a professional brand. And it all starts with where you come from.
Trace Your Beliefs
Think about how where you came from helped to shape your beliefs. Think about what you saw and experienced helped you to become the person you are today. All too often, people turn a cold shoulder to their past, especially if it is not something they are proud of, but as a CEO trying to create a personal brand, you want to share your struggles – and triumphs – with the world. Companies are exposed by nature: people will see through the facade if the brand of the company is poorly constructed. But when it comes to a personal brand, the developing years of a CEO shouldn’t be brushed under the rug. Part of a great self-branding strategy is to examine what was learned from the experiences you’ve had. Self-reflection is not easy, but it is worth it to help shape the story you want to tell. Tracing your beliefs to your past will help you understand why you do the things you do now.
Future Value
While it might not seem that important to tell your personal story as you are ramping up your business, a lot of CEOs, especially successful ones, go on to write about themselves in a book or feature article. Whether you publicize your story now or in the future, it is worth sitting down and drawing out the details of what helped to make you, you. Consider how the story will play on the ears of people who hear it. Is the intent to inspire, motivate, share a struggle, share a win? Crafting a personal brand starts with a story. It’s the driving force behind everything you do, whether you realize it or not. And if you are resistant to creating such a story, you are losing out on opportunities to connect with your customers, staff, and investors – people buy from and invest in people they like.
Your Personal Brand Story is Worth Something
It’s impossible to think about your personal brand without thinking about your story. Who are you? What do you bring to the table? What is it about you that makes you, you? What is it about you that showcases your authenticity? How have you connected with your audience in the past? What is it you want people to know about you? Don’t sell yourself short: nobody’s past is standard. There is a gem-of-a-story in there somewhere, it just needs to be brought to life. The paths we walk in life help us to become the people we are today. It’s important to share that path, and what you’ve learned with your audience. It’s why employees will follow you into the fire, and why customers will stay loyal even during down times. Your personal story is worth so much more than you think and it will impact people in ways you can never know.
Work With Professionals to Craft Your Story
The crew at True Film Production can help you bring out that story and bring it to life. Personal branding stories evolve and change over time, it’s not a one-and-done situation. Because you change, your company changes, your vision changes, your mission changes, your story can change with it, and we can help you share your story with the world.
What story would you like to share?
Whether you want to launch an idea, spark a movement or simply get people talking about what you do, you have one shot
at delivering your message in a way that matters. Let’s make sure you do it right.
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