How to craft a personal brand that opens doors

Olive Gachara and Jacque Maribe during a fashion launch in Karen on January 10, 2021 [David Gichuru,Standard]

Personal branding is the impact and impression you leave with people after an interaction, no matter how small, and the perception people who have not met you have about you. Whether in business or career, your personal branding is so important. Ninety five per cent of the people who know you do not get a chance to interact with you one-on-one. All they have to go on is the perceptions and biases they have and hear about you from others, from the press and from your social media activity.

Most people know not to judge a book by its cover. However, the fact of life is that we live in a superficial world where people will judge a book by its cover, just like you do too. I like to say, ‘your clothes speak so loud that they cannot hear what you say’. Based on how you are dressed, people will already start judging you, even before you speak and create a split-second first impression that will create a bias on how they will listen to you and internalise the information you are giving them. This does not mean you have to be dressed to the nines everyday, but every day, you have to be aware about the message your outer appearance is sending and ensure it is aligned with the way you want to be perceived that day and the message you want to send.