Ep.82 Why Personal Branding is No Longer Optional

00:00:00: Hello and welcome back to another episode of the online business by design podcast.

00:00:04: It's your host Ivana Ivonek, I'm so excited you are listening today!

00:00:10: it has been a while for me since i was sitting in front of a mic and recording For The Online Business By Design Podcast.

00:00:16: Since winter twenty-five ,I've spent some time In Europe And I Was planning To Immigrate Fully To Curious Out Of The Caribbean The Place I Call My Home Right Now And I Recorded So much content ahead of time, which was so important because I'm telling you no matter how often You move countries.

00:00:37: Which i have done so often since two thousand eighteen?

00:00:41: I always underestimated and I Was incredibly grateful to have had content to have Had interviewed incredible guests so I could take my time To settle in.

00:00:55: I wanted to say to furnish my apartment, but it's not furnished yet because i was dealing for two months straight with bureaucracy running My business serving my client and also enjoying the island.

00:01:06: It is first time in my life where personally And this is a reminder For you no matter Where You are at what stage of your Business?

00:01:15: But we're just starting In the midst Of The messiness.

00:01:21: if you Are very successful You want to scale.

00:01:26: Whatever that is you are currently working on, remind yourself first of all how far you've come and secondly enjoy what it's!

00:01:44: Get older that yes, it's good to have goals.

00:01:48: If you are a high achiever like me You will always have goals.

00:01:52: they'll always get bigger wilder messier crazier riskier.

00:01:58: but That one moment in time where you lean back and which is for me Going dead thirty minutes if only thirty minutes To the beach putting my toes under refreshing water an enjoying where I am, because my dream always was to live by the ocean.

00:02:17: so now i'm living it and there is no way of skipping that pleasure.

00:02:23: just because we are busy settling establishing a brand new life and running a business.

00:02:30: And as I was all these weeks sitting in my empty apartment... ...I did serve clients!

00:02:41: There were conversations came up.

00:02:44: All of them follow one theme.

00:02:49: We all have a dream and most of the people coming to me have a Dream, And...to keep along story short it is about either financial freedom or time-freedom.

00:03:07: The question then is how?

00:03:10: I've got an idea!

00:03:12: know I'm good at XYZ but how do i get in front of people?

00:03:18: How can I build something on my own and leave the corporate world that will become, at some point for so many just stagnant.

00:03:28: Stagnant in time freedom and stagnant in financial growth.

00:03:34: One client specifically came to me last few months asking You know what, I do have this idea.

00:03:42: Do you see the gap in my industry?

00:03:54: And how to go about it?

00:03:56: How to establish something on their market which is by before creating that service ask your community first.

00:04:06: Ask people where they even needed a penny or second of your time in creating service for the product.

00:04:15: This is rule number one, that also means you have to have community network and places where people are the ideal client.

00:04:29: so now we made it.

00:04:32: he came back very quickly with results.

00:04:35: this always makes me know that these are the people who will succeed.

00:04:41: It is getting as quick possible from idea to action, because everything's moving so fast currently in their online space on the market That we don't have time sit with one idea for six months Because by then someone else has done it and successfully selling.

00:04:59: I guarantee you Established what I'm gonna sell, how am going to sell it.

00:05:09: How do people find me?

00:05:11: And of course my answer is personal branding.

00:05:17: Give your name and you face a global stage.

00:05:22: That's It!

00:05:24: And there are so many benefits to this, as markets getting more and more saturated.

00:05:29: As more people are establishing businesses practically selling the same or similar service for the same price in that area you live then personal branding your face & name will be THE difference.

00:05:48: And I just wanna give you a few numbers that they're established by data to Nielsen IBM and Brand Builders Group.

00:05:56: They say, overall likelihoods of purchase is sixty-three percent more likely to buy from the person with an established brand.

00:06:08: That's because people connect emotionally And not just to a logo and brand, because how often have you said someone?

00:06:24: Oh my God!

00:06:25: I know what could help.

00:06:27: There is this person who does it very well….

00:06:30: I don't know her name but let me look up on Instagram.

00:06:33: How often is that happening?

00:06:35: This more becoming our new normal.

00:06:41: Then of course there's the seven percent higher conversion rate than standard corporate channels.

00:06:47: And now hold on, the willingness to pay more increases by sixty-seven percent.

00:06:55: Sixty seven percent more consumers will spend more if a founder's value aligns with theirs.

00:07:04: so people need to know who we are what we stand for why we're here and build that trust the moment you put out your face out there, your real voice.

00:07:18: You as a person in your real environment will reach five hundred six to one percent more people than company profiles and I can guarantee that because i have companies working for here on the island who are operating behind a logo In tourism industry.

00:07:42: however Every time we put faces, meaning stuff or clients that are on their properties or in businesses consuming the service of a product.

00:07:58: The reach and engagement increases drastically up to viral moments.

00:08:06: So, the world wants faces.

00:08:09: The world want to see real people in their real environment and they wanna see our values who we really are which also requires vulnerability.

00:08:23: so personal branding is not trying to appear a certain target market.

00:08:32: this what we call an niche.

00:08:37: But it is more being the person who you are by sharing your expertise, The way only YOU can do it which requires to take us along on an entire journey of how you got there telling a new story.

00:08:56: so people find YOU.

00:09:00: And this one hand is much easier and in other hands so much harder than I will speak about.

00:09:06: The reason why people connect so much easier to personal brands is because We are all longing for Belonging and that means we all want to belong to a group, to a movement to something happening in the world that we fully align with, and this can be sometimes one person with a cause within intention to make these worlds better place.

00:09:33: Now you have to know while building your personal brand not every person on social media channels or database will become a buyer.

00:09:45: it's only becoming actual consumers.

00:09:50: But your personal brand has not only one goal to make money, which is essential but also to make global impact.

00:10:02: You will speak To so many people who never buy from you?

00:10:06: These people are becoming your raving fan club and that fan club you need Number One.

00:10:14: if you build a company and want to exit the company by selling You can sell that company in the next day as to accomplish a new one because you already have an audience.

00:10:26: If something goes astray, you fail your business and start again which I hope is well because failure needs improvement but not that you suck at it!

00:10:42: If you today sell a drink and tomorrow decide to sell shoes, You will have an audience because people decided to follow you.

00:10:52: To be in your world Because they damn like you.

00:10:55: They liked the way you think The way you move,the way talk for who are And how make them thing differently.

00:11:02: This is what personal branding can do For you.

00:11:06: It's business on its own, and it's so sustainable.

00:11:12: And it allows you for pivots bigger or smaller?

00:11:17: Now let me get straight to the problem.

00:11:19: what I see... There is almost no conversation where i can somehow Get past a topic or avoid a topic of What will people think?

00:11:35: So everyone who is working with me or has made the research, or has read books Or have gathered information elsewhere on how to build a personal brand.

00:11:46: every one of you Has a strategic plan How to go about it.

00:11:53: and Ninety-nine point nine reasons why people don't do.

00:11:55: It's not because they don't know how They don't what to say but the moment you switch on that front camera to record something.

00:12:06: A real YouTube video, a podcast whatever you are recording their piece of content your creating... You become that weirdo.

00:12:19: YOU yourself you're embarrassed about.

00:12:22: and I made an observation myself only yesterday when i was standing at viewpoint with a person that is very close to me, so it's not a stranger.

00:12:35: And he says let me make a photo of you and You might think I'm the most confident person in the world because i do create content Because I do Speak publicly because I do have my own podcast because I don't mind speaking in public Not at all.

00:12:52: but that moment suddenly Someone asks you to step in front of camera I became so self-conscious.

00:13:03: And this is then where even I started behaving weirdly, highly uncomfortable standing there like a weirdo at his viewpoint and i looked at the photos later and was like oh my god Ivano that's not how you look!

00:13:16: And I become very judgmental of myself because What I saw in this picture, it's not so much the position i was standing.

00:13:24: Not So Much how I looked.

00:13:26: It Was like after a full beach day messy Salty hair sweaty but what?

00:13:32: I saw In these photos.

00:13:34: is that This comfort That I felt?

00:13:37: and at moment when our somebody make A picture of me then person made Me so self-aware.

00:13:43: And we have that.

00:13:44: The Moment We switch on that front camera We become Virgos We start acting differently, suddenly we sound scripted.

00:13:54: Suddenly they sound... I don't know as it would be somehow coming from a different planet.

00:14:03: If you can relate to this please listen because This has nothing do with your skill Although the industry will come in and say You need to be more authentic, and then you will ask yourself this question.

00:14:16: What does that mean being authentic?

00:14:18: Because the front camera is still giving me the ick!

00:14:21: I feel like a weirdo doing what i'm doing.

00:14:26: Authenticity isn't always something which drives your brand forward because we are different people in different situations.

00:14:43: Like, I'm a different person with my friends than on Instagram and thank god i am because my brand is not about talking silly!

00:14:52: My brand... it's not about dance..my brand is NOT about hanging out with friends or being social.

00:15:00: so honestly ,i'ma different person but my friend that im on social media and thats okay.

00:15:04: I'm a different person with my partner on social media and that's okay.

00:15:07: So authenticity is something, yes it needs but i want to define as such the way you need to be authentic while building your personal brand is taking people in process of creating or doing something in real environment While sharing message this world needs to hear.

00:15:29: This is authentic enough.

00:15:31: And if you want to go a little bit deeper into authenticity, I wanna invite you try and forget that camera is filming for the moment.

00:15:49: your mimics, your gestures.

00:15:50: If you're a person talking with your hands keep on talking with their hands.

00:15:53: You don't have to be suddenly this super stiff person With your shoulders high and speaking straight To the camera.

00:15:59: if there is someone who loves to express with Your body do that!

00:16:07: I don't know...if you are wearing colorful clothes And funny hats and big sunglasses..If thats YOU then Please do that, this is authentic.

00:16:20: This is authentic to you.

00:16:21: We don't have to expose ourselves more than we did anyways.

00:16:28: You don't need to expose situations that are not relevant for your brand.

00:16:32: No one asks you about it.

00:16:33: So I am very careful with authenticity And the weirdo in front of camera how to get best past That Is to practice.

00:16:43: looking at you you glance yourself in that front camera before even recording, before doing anything.

00:16:50: And I'm not saying do it again in front of a mirror because It has different effect Because i have given speeches under the shower and infront of the mirror so many in my life.

00:17:01: There were all dope and incredibly good but at moment everything changes.

00:17:08: So practice needs to happen.

00:17:10: with your Smartphone facing your face and you looking at yourself press the record button even if you never post it And, You know what?

00:17:18: Just look at yourself.

00:17:20: Let's observe while doing so The person sitting right in front of you without judgment Without looking at wrinkles, pimples Eyebrows, lips Hair Whatever you are judging most about yourselves.

00:17:37: let go And the moment we are comfortable with our looks and accept what you see on your other side, everything will shift.

00:17:45: but it'll take that practice.

00:17:47: Never bypass getting comfortable being in front of camera before saying a word.

00:17:53: I know!

00:17:54: It's an extra skill to be built, adding onto content creation.

00:18:00: But honestly...it is gold.

00:18:03: One day you won't need anymore.

00:18:06: The second thing as well fear of being judged by others, the people who don't understand our industry.

00:18:13: And I have realized something recently and this is something that always happens when we move countries into the person we are meant to be, so every time something shifts a small shift in our identity happens.

00:18:32: Suddenly things become clearer.

00:18:34: suddenly we become the bird.

00:18:36: and what?

00:18:36: viewing everything from the bird view... And we're seeing all of these things meaning where they come form who you really are!

00:18:44: We need to establish new becomings.

00:18:47: let's say In Our World Let us think to us people, it literally fucks with your confidence.

00:18:56: I'm saying this the way is because i've realized something.

00:19:02: The moment that was able To say That I wanted to travel the world Live by the ocean Do meaningful work as someone who helps People and Work from the comfort of my own home With no proper pants on While becoming rich and famous Sounds wild doesn't The moment I was able to say that and not feel the fear of judgment, everything has changed for me in content creation.

00:19:29: In saying what i need to say.

00:19:31: And That fear yes it comes partly from you know What are gonna people think?

00:19:39: Of me kind-of thing like You know all these strangers...I don't know which.

00:19:43: honestly there is no point in giving energy To them but It comes mainly From the point I knew that growing up as a Slavic woman.

00:19:56: Women in my culture get married early, they have children and cook.

00:20:00: but also it is still very modern lifestyle is a specific societal structure of how you have to live your life.

00:20:12: And I'm thirty-eight, i am not married and don't have children!

00:20:37: there was a fear to be judged and this fear came from my personal deepest guilt.

00:20:47: Guilty or feeling guilty for wanting more that was, I put it under bracket meant for me.

00:20:59: so the moment I decided what is meant for me and not let my culture identity, my old cultural identity define it.

00:21:09: Everything has changed!

00:21:11: The moment i said...I can value the women that I grew up with because they have taught so

00:21:17: much!!!

00:21:19: I CAN

00:21:19: COOK!!!

00:21:20: Oh my god..i'm so

00:21:20: grateful!!

00:21:21: I can cook honestly and love doing it.

00:21:23: I can sustain myself , i can cook from friends .

00:21:25: I can host parties.... Love cooking because it's also a form of meditation.

00:21:31: I love nourishing my body.

00:21:33: Thank you upbringing, but that doesn't mean just because i can do It...I have to do it on the daily!

00:21:40: I don't Have To Do For Anyone Unless I want to and I Can Still Live in The Caribbean.

00:21:48: So the moment You Start Taking Apart Your Upbringing And That Identity That Is Keeping You from your success, and you start breaking it down into pieces of gratitude for what you've learned.

00:22:01: For the takeaways or cultural experiences which is part of your identity And then bringing them in to your vision You can say wow this I'm gonna use and let go.

00:22:17: everything will change And we cannot deny where you come from.

00:22:23: We truly can not deny who are essentially, and we shouldn't!

00:22:31: I also believe that... ...we should keep our accents like when i decided to speak English.

00:22:37: it was so terrified.

00:22:38: people will not understand me.. ..and I was judged when they said You said this wrong.

00:22:43: there wasn´t a mistake.

00:22:44: your grammar sucks.

00:22:46: People have never commented on this publicly but I got DMs messages from my friends,

00:22:51: etc.,

00:22:53: also about my accent.

00:22:54: And I was like you know what?

00:22:56: Screw you!

00:22:57: Because...I don't even know what accent i have.

00:22:59: is it Austrian or Slavic?

00:23:01: sometimes yes and sometimes no..and that depends on who I talk to which accent actually comes through.

00:23:09: But I am fine with that because it's such a part of me and i'm so proud to speak five languages.

00:23:16: And probably in every language, including my mother thing... ...I have an accent!

00:23:21: Because you can't just be perfect in everything and it's no longer my attention either.

00:23:26: So the question is for you today What are your roadblocks?

00:23:34: That are part of your identity That you need to take apart like a little puzzle and putting that puzzle together into A new picture.

00:23:44: That represents who You are today without having To neglect where you come from?

00:23:49: And Having Bad Nailed, this is the internal work we Need to do.

00:23:55: everybody tries to skip by Finding better templates to create content on social media.

00:24:01: everyone tries to bypass finding even a better script or a better editing format, or simply ignoring it?

00:24:11: Believe me.

00:24:12: It won't work.

00:24:14: You will experience setback after set back in consistency In confidence and mostly in fun because honestly make content creation the lifestyle.

00:24:23: you Will have fun every single day Because you should be obsessed with what your bringing to the world.

00:24:30: And one last word on momentum.

00:24:33: I'm embarrassed that i've been acting like an amateur over the last three weeks, four weeks not creating content regularly but it was because of a new identity shift.

00:24:45: It was because I am highly distracted.

00:24:48: there is no routine in my life ,because I was moving continents .I was emigrating and immigrating countries which become so complicated when you're an adult, like having a company.

00:24:59: You need to move and have insurance all kinds of things we adults have.

00:25:03: it's honestly ridiculous.

00:25:05: I don't know who invented this but then momentum dies.

00:25:11: what stays?

00:25:12: is your vision?

00:25:16: And your vision so long term that nothing in the world will keep from starting over Continuing to build what you came, To make that impact.

00:25:33: You are here for...to make the money you're here For..To create an extraordinary life you always wanted.

00:25:38: Because honestly whatever happens in between because Life will keep happening I believe In you a thousand percent That you can achieve anything you set out for.