If you’ve ever felt held back from reaching your ideal professional audience or from effectively communicating your strengths, it could very well be that your personal brand needs your attention.  Even though there is a lot of buzz surrounding the concept of personal branding, I realize there is skepticism about it.  But if the Kardashian sisters can connect with millions and make zillions on their brand, you can become wildly successful, too.

The bottom line benefit of developing or strengthening your personal brand is that you create demand for your thought leadership and expertise while getting clear about how you are perceived.

Studying your personal brand helps you get clear about your strengths, and makes it easier to abundantly communicate what’s most important to you in personal and meaningful ways.  Your brand serves as a platform to showcase your thought leadership, whether you’re a corporate executive, entrepreneur, or even a passionate volunteer.  Your personal brand infuses your online and personal presence with authenticity that attracts people to what makes you unique.

Are you fully aware of your core strengths and what makes you most enthusiastic?  These are personal attributes that you can’t turn off.  What do others in your professional and personal circles say that they admire most about you?  Is there consistency between the way others see you at your best and how you think of yourself?  These questions are not always easy to answer, but knowing the answers will help you create demand for your brand.

A personal branding assessment answers these questions for you by encouraging people who like you to openly and anonymously contribute to your future success.  Without this evaluation, it’s atypical to openly receive compliments and feedback from others.  If you’re a confident person, it’s unlikely that you ask for feedback, or that praise comes your way because your confidence suggests to others that you are secure in knowing your strengths.  If your life has been wrought with challenges, these questions could leave you stumped, as it is common to wonder why you’re experiencing such difficulties.  In any case, these answers serve as a foundation to help you determine how to promote yourself in business and socially.

These days, it’s more important than ever to show your value, especially in business, where corporate loyalty is fleeting.  Living up to corporate expectations without regard for your individuality and personal growth goals won’t help you expand your horizons and create new opportunities.

Have you been seriously impressed by someone’s blog, LinkedIn page, or Twitter stream?  The consistency of the person’s communication creates a highly favorable impression.  When you are drawn to a person this way, it’s because their personal brand is very clear.  This is not an accident because that person is consistently showcasing expertise and thought leadership.

Such a person continues to maintain your attention by their behavior, appearance, and even how they maintain their workspace.  Essentially, this person infuses their environment with qualities that are aligned with their developed personal brand.

What I’m suggesting is that your personal brand is not about marketing; it’s a philosophy.  It’s not about strategizing to ensnare people into some web of attraction; it’s a way of life.  You have a personal brand.  Everyone does.  Not everyone is in touch with what their brand is, but everyone – including you – ought to be, because people who are live more fulfilling lives.

As an image consultant, I needed to reach further and gain a deeper understanding of what makes my clients tick. This need to know more about people from the inside out is what led me to become interested in personal branding, and the process helped me see myself more clearly.  Becoming totally clear about my brand helped galvanize everything that’s important to me and now I’m doing the work I’m meant to do, and am living a more fulfilling life.

What would harnessing the power of your personal brand make you do differently and better?

Joseph Rosenfeld helps high-profile individuals revitalize, manage, and be secure in their personal visual brand. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.