with Mark de Roo

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Are you as memorable as this troupe of trick-or-treaters?

November 1 in the office. What’s the Number One topic for discussion around the water cooler? It’s all about what happened at your house and in your neighborhood on Halloween. This topic arose with a group of fellow caffeine addicts at JP’s, our local coffee shop in Holland. Within no time, one of my coffee cohorts shared one cool tale. He told us about a group of six women (he guessed that they were college age) who came to the door all dressed in Raggedy Ann costumes.

Your brand: Raggedy or ragged?

OK, this doesn’t project the fear of the devil in you on Halloween night. But what really made the difference was the standard pronouncement of “Trick or Treat.” This ensemble conveyed their desire in song. And not just with one voice but in harmony.  My friend said they were so terrific, he wished they would have stayed till Christmas.

So much for those other tricksters.  Their Superman or President Obama costumes didn’t hold a candle to this entourage.

This begs the question:  how do YOU stand out? 

Lately, the concept of “personal branding” has become popular.  On one hand, one’s “brand” can be so distinctive that it’s almost kind of weird. Too extreme. On the other hand, it can be something highly regarded and consistently appreciated.
Martin Lindstrom, a PR expert, offers this prescription for personal branding:

  • Define who you are and who you aren’t, such as on-time, fun, resourceful
  • Be known for one thing
  • Create an air of mystery
  • Create a signature look
  • Leave a personal mark behind, such as a unique business card

So, how would you respond to these five items?  How do you feel about your current “brand?” Are you intentional about it. Do you create an “air of mystery?”  Where or what is your true area of expertise? If you haven’t ever thought about your personal brand, there’s nothing like the group of six co-eds at Halloween to cause you to stop and take notice.

Who knows? By following Lindstrom’s prescription, you just might end up with the really “good candy.”

photo by eschipul

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