Post by Ismail Auwal Garba (@ismail_auwal_garba)

For me, one of the most important lessons about personal branding is; whether we are conscious of it or not, we already have a brand.

Personal branding can be divided into two broad categories: lived branding and projected branding. Of the two, I believe lived branding is the more important because it reflects who we truly are in our everyday interactions with people.

Lived branding is the impression people are left with after dealing with us. It is reflected in how we deliver on responsibilities, how we manage time, whether we are reliable, how effectively we communicate, how we dress and how we respond to opinions that are different from ours.

It is also found in the small things we sometimes ignore. Do people trust your word? Do you respect appointments? Do you treat people well even when there is nothing to gain from them? These everyday actions shape how people see us more than any carefully written biography.

The other side is projected branding. This is the part that receives the most attention because it includes the stories we tell about ourselves on social media, at public events and on other platforms.

Projected branding matters, but it should not be mistaken for the whole of personal branding. A strong online image cannot permanently cover poor character, unreliability or disrespect for others.

Personal branding, therefore, goes beyond the stories we tell about ourselves. It is also about the experiences people have with us, the values we demonstrate and the memories we leave behind after every interaction.

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