If you don’t already have a Personal Brand, you better take a minute to step back and figure it out.

Blunt? Yes. Why? Because it’s the absolute truth. And it’s 100% necessary.

Think about it, do you know how to answer these questions: “What do you like to do in your spare time? What’s your favorite food? Do you have pets? What is your favorite TV Show?” Of course you do! You know these because you live them, day-in and day-out. You are passionate about them. They comprise what makes you you.

These are all a part of your Personal Brand. But they are not your whole brand. The Wikipedia says that a brand is, “The identity of a specific product, service, or business. A brand can take many forms, including a name, sign, symbol, color combination or slogan.” And while it may seem fitting that, “fitness, chocolate, dogs and Will & Grace” make for a great Personal Brand, the reality is that they are just a portion of this brand, the “Personal,” perhaps, not the “Brand.”

It is the sum of these parts – Personal + Brand that is important. Don’t get me wrong. My “identity” is important, but the person I want people to “identify” with on both the personal and professional levels mean more to me. And in tough economic times (like many people out there have found themselves struggling through), I believe this Personal Branding is more important than ever.

You owe yourself the time to figure out what is you want to do, who it is you want to show the world you are and how you are going to merge the two through a differentiation approach.

Differentiation through our Personal Branding is critical. Here is the beginning video found in the PowerPoint Presentation from my Campaign #HireHoff.

Through Campaign #HireHoff I have defined – Personal Brand: Sarah Kay Hoffman.

Tune in tomorrow for my special Personal Branding #FollowFriday! Can you guess who it is?