Personal Branding

At the start of our intensive exercise in branding, we were each asked to speak our personal brand.

"I am a tech-savvy conservationist and business developer.  I manage projects and facilitate teams that excel.  I am looking for the next great idea in clean technology."

As our branding exercise began, I was eager to offer others words to help them brand themselves.  It turned out that others were ready and willing to brand me as well.  Although only six or seven students in class knew me at all before before this class began, I was gifted with no less than fifteen branding words during our exercise.

Words that came back to me from classmates...
skilled, insightful communicator
integrates ideas
deep design background
chooses words well
well spoken
combining
intelligent
care
You are a Rock

I especially appreciated that last one.  Thanks, whoever you are.

What I noticed in this exercise is that while emphasizing skills I want people to know about may be the professional introduction people expect, what others remember are more personal impressions.  Perhaps my next challenge is to introduce myself to professional colleagues in a way that invites a more personal impression, and connection.