On Thursday morning I woke up with an inclination to do something out of the ordinary. I looked at Crystal and said, "Let's go to Canada." "Are you serious?" she asked.
​

I strongly resisted going to work at the beginning of summer. I suppose it’s hard for most people to work during the summer, but it really affected me. Mostly because I work in a beautiful office and felt guilty for not wanting to be there. No matter how guilty I felt, I couldn’t shake the resistance. I wanted it to be a place I looked forward to walking to each morning, a place where people enjoyed spending time. Right around this time, Michelle Mercado with Carr Workplaces, gave us the opportunity to decorate our office space.

As many benefits as there are to building your personal brand, there are myths that often inhibit people from sharing what they know online. I’m here to tell you that these myths are exactly that… myths. Let’s debunk some of the main fallacies I hear and why you shouldn't let them get in the way of your personal branding goals.

I remember when I first started working in the office again after almost a year at home. As much as I was excited for the change of pace and scenery, it was a tough transition. I had almost forgotten how much effort and energy it takes to get yourself prepared for a day at the office. This is the article I needed to read 6 months ago. I hope it will serve as a good reminder to prioritize what’s most important to you during this season of transition.

I know the look all too well. The feeling of overwhelmingness written all over my students’ faces when they tell me their frustrations with social media. I empathize with them. Creating valuable content regularly will push you beyond what you are comfortable with. It is hard. And hard things require that we take breaks. So how does one take an intentional break from social media while still remaining aligned with the goals they have for their personal brand? Take it from someone who knows.

This week on my Instagram stories I asked you what you’re struggling with. A majority of people said they had a hard time posting consistently on social media. In response to this, I’m sharing my four tricks for being more consistent.

I created a personal website years ago. I remember loving the process. I’m an entrepreneur by trade and a creative at heart. I love my little ‘projects,’ and creating my personal website was the most fun of all. My personal website has continued to evolve as I’ve evolved. It’s always changing as I am always changing. I love that I have a place to share my knowledge, connect with my audience, and let others know how they can work with me. A personal website makes it real. Here are three main reasons you should start yours sooner rather than later.

To write well is one of the greatest challenges people face while building their personal brand. Everything you do for your personal brand involves the practice of writing; i.e, creating Instagram captions, voice over scripts, blog posts, emails, and most importantly, the copy on your personal website. If I had a nickel for everytime I heard, “But Anna, I’m just not a good writer, can I hire someone to do it for me?” I would be a very wealthy woman and I still wouldn’t hire anyone to do it for you. Here’s why.

What is a visual identity? We define it as a cohesive collection of graphical elements that are chosen intentionally to bring your personal brand to life. The purpose of a visual identity is to create an emotional impression on your audience and inform your Ideal Brand Adopter about the essence of who you are and the many different aspects of your personality and professional expertise.

Simply put, a Personal Brand Statement is an outward-facing statement that tells people what you do. That’s it. No need to overcomplicate it. If you do something they care about, they’ll follow you. That’s how it works. It’s also important to note the difference between a Personal Brand Statement and a Personal Mission Statement. A mission statement explains why your personal brand exists. What’s the purpose of your brand? What are you trying to accomplish by having a personal brand and sharing your content with others?

If you don’t have any real level of professional expertise, is it pointless to build a personal brand? Absolutely not. Take heart in knowing you don’t have to share educational content on social media to have a credible personal brand. Everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re a person who wants to serve others, share what’s true for you, and tap that creativity muscle, you will find immense joy and satisfaction from creating content consistently and engaging with an audience who is interested in who you are and what you do.

As an entrepreneur, you’re in the business of communicating the importance of your company to anyone who will listen. You may share educational information, valuable insights, and facts about your products and services so people have a deeper understanding of what it is you’re selling. This is important. However, the best and most effective way of garnering a deep interest and understanding of your mission as an entrepreneur is to convey the importance of your business through a (personal) story.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know me better than some of my family members. Seriously, there’s not much I won’t share. Everything from the last Bumble date I went on, to what I think about Instagram removing likes, to what I’m wearing to dinner this Friday night--is all out there for people to see.

I walked up to the reception desk and asked to speak to the nurse who had been helping me. As she came around the corner, I caught her attention. “I’m so sorry,” I said, “I think I’ve made a mistake here.”

After working from home these last few years, I’ve finally found what works best for me. These tips are tried and true: I hope they help you as they’ve helped me.

If you’re just starting to think about what having a personal brand might look like for you, you’re not alone. These are the 4 things you must identify before you start building your personal brand:

A personal website (along with a personal marketing plan) allowed me to mold the perception that my colleagues and superiors had of me. It gave me the clarity, credibility, and recognition I needed to succeed as a young professional. Now, I’ve become the #1 personal brand strategist on Google, and I get to work at my absolute dream job (the very job and title I’ve created for myself).

Alright, guys. This topic has come up so frequently I think it's high time I address it. Let's talk about Instagram captions. Now, if you want to learn how to write them--you can do that here. However, this article is geared more towards the length of the caption. I often get asked the question: "Anna, why are your Instagram captions so long?"

When I found Interact, I knew I had struck gold. It was the perfect platform to help me start building my email list and offer my audience something fun in return.

I’m curious, how do you think about your own personal brand? What comes to your mind?