A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. Prov. 22:1
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Matt. 16:15
What this article is about
What everybody wants in life is to have a great reputation. When that happens, you command lots of respect and are able to leverage that respect for lots of things. It is out of this respect or great name that People build their empires from. Sometimes you might think that People have respect after they have made it; but they built that respect and it helped them to become great. People are going to give you their ears and their resources only when you are trust worthy in a certain way.
There is one fact in life that the Lord has been showing me; and it is the People are most important. If they think that you are a good person and you offer the service or solutions that they want, then they are going to beat their way to your door step.
You can’t cajole People for long. At the beginning you might create a sort of flimsy image but soon they will see through it; People are not stupid. People are community thinkers; when you claim to be somebody, one or two People will come and test you and the others will hear about it because they will deliberately enquire about you.
Jesus was concerned about his image, about how People think about him, their perceptions about him in their minds. When Peter mentioned to Jesus the right perception as revealed to the disciple by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said that is the rock or ground on which he was going to build his ministry upon. Jesus was true to his word, today all of us who did not know him have come to see him as respected and solution to our problems, no wonder we identify ourselves with him. Jesus was a master Class branding tactician. What are the words that you will use to describe Jesus? What are People describing you with? Is that description powerful enough to make People commit to your ministry and services?
What is this personal branding?
It is a good name; when scripture says a good name is better than riches it is very true. Some People have money yet they cannot enter places nor would People let them get nearer. They are seen to be con men.’ However, if People say your name with awe, when you organize programmes they will come. When you decide to raise funds to build a school they will contribute their money and give you the necessary support.
Personal branding is a perception about your work or ministry; we are all brands. One way or the other People think about us in certain way. Whether we like it or not we are branding ourselves daily. Being perceived by People is a qualitative thing and so it exists in People hearts and minds. For instance if you preach very good message that helped somebody, you will always be remembered for it. Now that deed remains in their hearts and minds till you add more to it or reduce it. Metaphorically, we all have seat in People’s hearts and minds. If they see as to powerful People then we have something to cash in on.
How will branding yourself benefit you?
1. Self-confidence and a superiority complex
A great man once said that what we achieve or what we do greatly depend on our self-image. People with great self-image believe in themselves and because of that, they think big and do big things and this result in great achievements. Your achievements in life are commensurate to how you see yourself. I want you to know that People will always see you like the way you see yourself. If you see yourself as small it will show in your preparations and when they see it, they will know that this person is doing a small programme and maybe he is not that big. Inferiority complex will harm you anytime. Building yourself to be a great brand will add more to yourself confidence and turn your life around.
2. Open Doors
When you are a great brand doors open to you. Ever since I positioned myself as a life coach and preacher, doors of opportunity are been opened to me every day. People read my articles and see what I have to offer and they relate to me based on that. People I think don’t care about me or have me in mind will often surprise by saying, ‘I saw that your award on facebook’. The truth is that we are been monitored all the time.
If you will brand yourself decisively, People that you have never met will be willing to offer you services you never dreamed. Doors of opportunity will be opened to you and it will take a lesser effort to reach where you are going in life. I have had People do me countless favors that I never asked for because they say ‘he is a good person’ or ‘he is very intelligent’. Wherever I go, People I don’t know within a few moments want to be my friend forever; this is what personal branding can do for you.
3. Decides your market
Your market represents the People who patronize your ministry or ventures. You have a particular kind of People surrounding you all the time. This is a result of the kind of image you have built for yourself. Jesus had great men look for him in his time. Nicodemus in his time was an important person and so does Joseph of Arimathea. Paul hand very influential People support him in his ministry.
Whoever you are, you cannot achieve that vision alone. For instance if you are a musician you will need big companies to sign you as brand ambassador and this will take you to a different level and accelerate your achievements. You need money and favors and cars and auditoriums and great personalities to help you. How you brand yourself at the end of the day will determining whether these People will show up.
Please don’t say God will do it so you don’t care. A lot of things that we pray for are done through People that God direct our way. When Saul became Paul it was hard for God to convince Ananias the great servant of God at that time to help him. Don’t make things difficult for yourself and God, position yourself well.
4. Outstanding
This is one area I consider very important in branding, it helps commercial wise. Whatever you are doing there are hundreds of People doing the same thing. When you go to the market you will see lots of People crowded in one place who sell the same thing. Now how do you stand out? How do People differentiate you from the pack? It is how you position yourself.
When am watching television and I see some adverts I don’t even give attention to but there are some that sends me to the internet to find more details. There are some posters in town no matter how well designed they are, they will only draw an appreciation from that ‘this design is nice’. However, there are some that I stop and copy the dates or whatever details they have on them.
Branding is so powerful it will make you stand tall in the park. When you are a preacher, you can’t force People to listen to the word of God from you, they will first look at who is standing in front of them. They look at how neat the cook is before they eat the food. Position yourself well and you will get that sponsorship to your programme. Sometimes prayer alone is not enough.
Possible Ways of Positioning Yourself
Branding and positioning go hand in hand, they are complementary. If you want People to perceive and treat you in a certain way you have to ‘position’ yourself to command that result. To position yourself implies that you decide how you want to be seen and live by it. You first have to pick the words out of which you will work to be seen as such.
Let me also tell you that what you do determines the kind of positioning that will resonate best with the People. For instance, if your ministry is helping the needed it means you will be raising funds most of the time. This implies that you have to position yourself as a trustworthy person and one that has passion for the needy. When People have this perception about you then they will give you their money and whatever you ask them for. They will know your trust worthiness from the way your conduct your help programme. Are you transparent with how you manage the finances they give you or you are very secretive with it? What have you done in the previously to help People? Is the society having an impact from you? If you answer positively to these questions then it is because you have positioned yourself.
Let me also say that whatever you are known for should be relevant to the Peoples. If you brand yourself with something that doesn’t resonate with the People, no matter how good you are at it, it will do you know good because you will have little or no audience.
Preachers and Teachers
You should position yourself as knowledgeable on your subject. You should know more about the topic of your discourse than your audience. One man strong in this area is Pastor Otabil. He has People from all class, chiefs, politicians; professionals and so on come to listen to him. When I go to places and mention his name People always say ‘ooh that man is a great teacher’.
Ministers can also position themselves as visionaries.
When the Roman Catholic’s came to Ghana they built schools and did other wonderful things. It is hard for People not to notice good things done for the society. Naturally they will like to partner with you. I have listened to pastors whose message do not impress me because I looked at their other side, they are making impact therefore they will have my ears. If you are not a great speaker let your works speak for you.
Position yourself with your gifts
Ministers with gifts of healing and miracles are doing well. They are fast food, they draw the crowds easily. I believe every evangelist needs miracle gifts because when People don’t know you, they will be attracted to you because of your miracles. When Jesus got to towns, People would run after him. He was healing People everywhere. The prophetic is also very powerful but that one too should solve Peoples’ problems. When you prophecy deliver, he reveals to redeem.
Gifts are so powerful that sometimes People don’t care about character. For instance some of our young musicians in Ghana cut their hair anyhow or are known to smoke certain herbs. Though People will listen to your music, that impetuses would have effect on you finally as you lose your mind because those drugs.
Titles
Tittles are good for the first time. People will say ‘wow’ when they hear you are a Reverend or Bishop. But after that, they will want you to ‘do’ for them to see. And when it comes to the doing, you title cannot save you. The People who listen to you may not be in your field but they know what the real thing tastes like, People cannot be fooled for long.
Musicians, writers and etc.
Develop your own uniqueness; build your image from where your strength is. At least let People identify you with something that make you differ from all of them. Remember, that even in the church there is competition so stand out. Moreover, what makes you different should be something that appeals to the People. If you are known for something that is irrelevant to the People then it means you are not going to be popular with them.
Tools for building a great name / reputation
Scripture says that ‘by their fruits you shall know them. When People don’t know you it will be hard for them to give you the platform you need. Therefore, the first principle in building a great name is by doing. This way People can ‘sample’ you. If you want somebody to invest in what you do, they need a ‘demo’. This is why I blog and write articles for People to read free. I want them to know what I have inside me, this way I don’t have to beg them to come to my conferences or give me preaching appointments or support me in other ways. Everybody must have ‘tasted’ my talent.
Therefore you need tools of expression that will make People sample you.
1. Writing tools; Books /website pages/blogs etc.
When you write something and put it in print or on a website People will have access to read and assess you. Your articles on a website will go places and enter rooms that People won’t allow you to. Remember that it will be available to People in their convenience 24/7.
People will not give you the opportunity you need till they have assessed you, therefore make yourself accessible easily.
Moreover, when you write build a thought leadership. Be known to be a guru by picking one topic or theme and demonstrate your mastery over it so that when People mention that subject they mention your name.
You can also talk on a variety of themes. But please, know that whatever you write today is an ‘audition’ for you. It is your ‘demo’ that you are showing to that producer who will support you with your music and so on.
2. Artists; musicians, actors and etc.
Provide samples of what you do. Do free shows to make a name. Carry your work on a CD and give it to People for free. Perform at People’s birthday parties. Make a name first! The bible says ‘their deeds followed them’. You must have a history of accomplishment and if you have to offer it for free to have one then you should!
3. Business/ Professional People.
My dear business people, if you want your project to be sponsored show a previous one that you did. Investors worked hard for their money and so they will not part with it unless they know what they are getting into. Business plans alone don’t work these days; ‘show me’ is now the order of the day.
4. Records/ digital.
Keep records for whatever you do, they are tools for branding. Pictures for instance, say thousand words at a go. There are times when I show The Claus Org. (http://clausotoo.blogspot.com and http://Peoplebuildcities.blogspot.com ) to People and they will not get the full impact till I show them the photo gallery and them say ‘wow!’ They believe me instantly.
Therefore I strive to keep a digital foot print. Now a day People won’t to Google everything and when they don’t find you they think you are not important or serious.
When you have a conference, take a video and use it the next time when you go to invite People or seek for sponsorship. People don’t have time for guess work anymore I repeat, always have something to show.
Provide full details about what you do and who you are. You can also see this on my website and I have titled it ‘who is Claus?’ I fear People not knowing more about what I can do than identity theft.
5. Character is branding
Look on People’s facebook page and you will see that some of them are not real. The person says that she is a university graduate and yet has not even passed her SHS. They put pictures of People who don’t even resemble them. When People discover that you are not who you say you are, you are done for.
If you are a liar and a cheat your fake reputation building will take you there, but your bad character or incompetency will send you back home immediately! Develop your character and your competence it is the solid foundation that you need to support your image building.
Correct Negative Publicity
1. Develop consistency of character along the image you build
You have to understand that if you are a public figure your life is an open book, you are a public property. You have influence on People and they will verify from time to time whether you are still consistent. Therefore, your character and that image that you show to the world should run parallel or else one day you will wake up and all your efforts have disappear into thin air.
My word to the rising star is that you should put your life in order. Because the more you rise the more People try to get into your private life to see what they can find. The journalists are also there and some unfair ones will like sensational stories that will sell their paper and not bother what such actions will do to your career or family.
2. Correct structural errors in your life with hard work
Sometimes you find yourself in situations you cannot pray away. For instance, if you a person do a job that takes care of him and he has now repented and will have to quit, but if quitting now would not help him take care of your family what should he do? So here too it is hard work. As you pray ask God to help you while you find a better job. Some situations are like sharp objects that have punctured a very significant part of the body like the heart, if you don’t know how to remove them you might die. You need time, wisdom and hard work.
3. Determination is the key
Someone said tough times never last but tough People do. Moreover, that mountain in your life has reached its peak and cannot go beyond. When you are determined to win, sure you can.
Determination is deciding not quit but staying through till you get what you want. You need an iron will to persevere in the face of uncertainties, difficulties and disappointments. But in all, if you stand you will be glad you did.
4. Finally, pray and study the word because there is nothing God cannot do.
I know that it is not all the fight that I can fight. I live some to God. The bible says cast all your anxieties on him for he cares for you. Jesus said ‘my yoke is easy and my burden is light’. If you will stay in the Lord he will help you to build a good image and it will affect every aspect of your life and you will truly believe as the bible says, ‘a good name is better than riches’.
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