The Direct Selling industry is laser-dependent on relationships. That’s why personal branding—your unique personal ability to stand out among your 14 million direct selling colleagues—is hyper-essential! There’s no magic formula! Branding is your total reputation—earned by you, not bought or demanded—that makes everyone want to be in your presence, and to stay there.
Your personal brand is the enthusiasm that makes you choose a company, product, or service that truly appeals to others instead of just leveraging their efforts to earn you an income. It’s what inspires you to learn the products and compensation plan inside and out. It’s the continuous application of personality and prowess that makes your retail and recruitment prospects say “yes.” It motivates your team. It defuses your prospects’ objections—even before they think of them. And it permeates your entire home-based business experience with better-designed e?mails, stationery, and Web sites; a consistently proud and capable voice in those business-overview calls, and heightened credibility in those one-on-ones. In short, it shows the world that you avoided the path of least resistance and invited business in effortlessly. In the end, you’ll enjoy a far better living.
In the corporate world, branding is about the customer, not about the company—and it’s far more than just a logo. It’s the feeling, memory, and emotion that “impulse” the customer to do business with you in the first place. So why should it be any different with personal branding? And what does that mean to you—the direct seller? By now, that’s obvious: Everything!
Personal branding is more of an attitude than a checklist of action items. But it’s an attitude that leads to action. Here are my top six personal branding criteria. Use them enthusiastically!
Be enthusiastic in every possible way: People love being around enthusiastic people! It influences everything from your general optimism, to your business card design, to your willingness to do just one more three-way call. Real enthusiasm is obvious—and it permeates your entire direct-selling experience. Over time, it will be the one aspect of your business life that makes you—and keeps you—more successful than anyone else. Be brief: People “get” things quicker than you think. Get in, get out. Enthusiastically say what you came to say and stop there. Be expectant: This is tried and true. When you enthusiastically expect the best, it happens. So expect it. Be known for expecting it! Be visible: Success comes from showing up. So be there. Be visible. Show up…enthusiastically! Be fearless: Okay, you don’t have to actually be fearless, but if you take action in spite of your fears, you’ll wind up fearless. And it’s easier to be fearless if you’re enthusiastic. Be consistent: Finally, when it’s all said and done, keep doing it. Then do it again! Then again. Enthusiastic consistency is the mark of a true pro. A personally branded one!
Today’s Actions for Building Your Personal Brand
Review how you express your enthusiasm—on the phone, in your presentations, while networking, in your personal life. Imagine how you might express more enthusiasm, then do it!
Mike Russell
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