WHERE BUSINESS AND LIFE CONVERGE: MY JOURNEY TO DEFINE MY PERSONAL BRAND

If you've been following my blog throughout 2023, you know that this year has been quite a transformational ride for me. I've emerged from nearly a two-year sabbatical from my former major business ventures, including almost two decades as a Dermatology PA in Los Angeles and the successful launch of the world's first natural, medical-grade skincare line with global distribution.

Over the past two years, I've taken a turn down a new path, one filled with curiosity and discovery. I've dipped my toes into the world of digital marketing, marveled at the power of social media, ventured into the realm of creating digital online courses, orchestrated live product launches, nurtured evergreen product lines, and formed creative partnerships. I've even built an entirely new management team and embarked on the exhilarating journey of running not one but two coaching and consulting businesses. And all the while, I've kept a watchful eye on potential real estate investments.

In January 2023, I made a heartfelt decision: it was time to explore the art of crafting a personal brand.

STEP ONE: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF PERSONAL BRANDING

I began by pondering a fundamental question: what is a personal brand, really? Wikipedia provided an insightful answer:

Personal branding is the deliberate and purposeful effort to shape and influence the way the public sees an individual. It involves positioning oneself as an authority in a particular field, elevating one's credibility, and setting oneself apart from the competition. The ultimate goal is to advance one's career, broaden one's sphere of influence, and make a lasting impact. Building a personal brand starts with the quest to uncover your uniqueness, establish a reputation for the qualities you wish to be known for, and allow yourself to be recognized for those attributes.

STEP TWO: THE POWER OF PERSONAL BRANDING

To gain further insight, I turned to Forbes:

Your personal brand is how others perceive you. As entrepreneur extraordinaire Gary Vaynerchuk aptly put it in a 2019 article on personal branding, "Your personal brand is your reputation, and your reputation is the foundation of your career." The catch? Unless people know you personally, their opinions and thoughts about you are predominantly based on what they discover about you online. And these days, people are actively searching.

In 2023, my primary questions revolved around what makes me unique and what I want to be known for. My approach? True to my Type-A personality, I dove headfirst into the journey. I enrolled in an online seminar, committed to a weekend retreat, and immersed myself in a six-month mastermind—all in pursuit of understanding what sets me apart and what I aspire to be known for.

My journey began in early 2023 with a blog titled "This Is 45." The initial plan was to share light-hearted anecdotes about my travels, stories from my relationships, insights from my business endeavors, and the eternal quest for a harmonious work-life balance. I cherished the blog style and concept, but something was missing—human interaction. As I continued to engage in seminars, retreats, and mastermind groups, my conversations naturally gravitated toward business concepts. I discovered a profound passion for discussing growth strategies with budding small business owners. I reveled in conversations about leadership, team building, partnership strategies, and the audacity to dream big. But amidst it all, I realized that my focus had become predominantly business-centric.

Fast forward to mid-Q4, after ten months invested in trainers, coaches, mastermind groups, and countless hours of introspection, I finally believe I've cracked the code. I yearn for more than what "This Is 45" represents. I aspire to infuse compassion into my journey and make a more substantial impact, transcending the confines of an exclusive "all business, all the time" branding.

I long to leave behind a legacy—not measured in financial terms but in the creation of a life, a business, and a career that not only affords personal freedom but also ignites a movement, inspiring and empowering others to do the same. My brand is an embodiment of confidence, clarity, resilience, and, above all, making a meaningful impact.

Recently, I had the privilege to speak at an entrepreneur conference in Dallas. The title of my talk was "Creating Your Legacy: Empowerment, Conviction, and the Intersection of Business and Life." After months of soul-searching and brand exploration, I believe I've finally unearthed the essence of what I was searching for.

I want to be recognized as the go-to business & life strategist who empowers and elevates others to discover the perfect equilibrium between business and life. I want to help elevate those who desire to “go big or go home” and I want to nurture those who simply want to re-asses, re-balance, and re-prioritize everything in their world to find more fulfillment and satisfaction without the pressure to go big. I want to meet people where they are at in business, and life, and make their life easier and better. It’s that simple. 

Now it's your turn—what's your personal brand story? I'm eager to hear from you. Please connect with me on IG, FB, or LI.