“Thanks, everybody, for my treats! I will miss you, but I will see you on grocery shopping days!”
“Is this your last day?” a man asked, ahead of me in the grocery line.
“Yes, I have a new job at the health facility and then will be working in my hometown for my family doctor.”
“Really, I work there too. Maybe we will see each other. I am Ben.”
“Maybe, we will. I am Brenda.”
The man finished his transaction and left. I know the entire time I spoke to him, I had a puzzled look on my face. He had torn up clothing, messed up hair, and did not look like an individual in the health profession. I did not ask him what he did. Was I branding him? He was very nice but did not dress the part as a professional. Did he work there?
Personal branding is influencing others’ perceptions of an individual with a defined purpose. I was judging, making an assumption based on looks. Our society is placing personal branding on individuals, but I was doing it in my mind. I did not share or express my thoughts. Today, people are taking steps to even “cancel” individuals based on various reasons.
Sure enough, I ran into the man again I saw at the grocery store. I was at my assigned spot in the reception area, and I heard my name from the back area. “Is Brenda working today?”
From the back area, I see Ben coming in his white lab coat with Dr. B. Welch embroidered on it. “Hi Brenda, it is good to see you. I told you I worked here too. You didn’t think I was telling you the truth, did you?”
I was not sure what to say. His hair still looked a mess. “I was not sure; you are right. I thought maybe you lived over at the VA and had just come over to shop. Sometimes people come over and are confused. I thought you were nice, though!”
“I work in the emergency room most of the time but come once a week to help out here. I think you will love it here.”
My medical field career began with a great lesson. He was right; I loved working with him and the other doctors. I got to know him, his wife, and their boys. My original assessment was a little off, but Dr. Welch was very frugal and even went with me to my mother’s house to learn how to do some jelly canning.
In a previous post on my blog, I spoke about how politicians like to use branding to sell a political message. I cannot think of any area branding is not done. We go to restaurants based on the quality and taste of their food based on the brand. What about the device you are using to read this post? You purchased it based on the brand or maybe the cost. Most likely the brand so you can have the “ latest and best available.”
My question to you is, do you have a brand? Can people identify who you are by a symbol, phrase, or name? Could you give me your thoughts on the importance of branding? Does branding influence you? Why/Why not?
RESOURCE
Learn more about branding at this link: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/branding#