People once said that women couldn’t have it all. But the soaring success rate among female professionals in recent decades has proven this notion dead wrong. Women are doing everything these days, and still managing to raise happy families at the same time.

Working moms should find a way to define themselves. Tell the world what they are all about. Figuring out your personal brand can be incredibly empowering, and it can make you more successful in everything you do, both at home and out on the job. 

What is personal branding?

You might be wondering what this concept even means. Personal branding is the same thing as professional branding; the only difference is that you do it for yourself. It can involve all the same things – defining your style, creating your perfect business cards, etc (you can, by the way, get a business card mockup online easily). 

Think about your audience

While your personal brand is certainly also for your own benefit, if you’re a professional then it pays to think about your audience. If you work in a white collar job (and certainly if you are in an executive or other high position), you should speak to your audience.

What does this mean? Several things:

  • Dressing for success, so that people know you mean business
  • Acting the part. No messing around on TikTok at the office, or even in other places where you might see colleagues. Unless, of course, you work for TikTok.
  • Speaking and carrying yourself in such a way that commands respect. This doesn’t mean you have to talk down to people, but be professional both at work and out at the park.

Create a story

Just as big companies have a compelling story that made them what they are, so too should people have a story that defines them. If you look at the “history” page on many corporate websites, you will read how one lone young man (or perhaps woman!) from small-town Oklahoma had the courage to leave home and start small. And how through hard work and perseverance he or she managed to build a massive empire. 

Now, your story doesn’t have to be as dramatic as this. And you certainly don’t want to embellish it artificially. But each person has their own story that defines who they are and how they got where they are today. Take the time to craft yours into a bite-sized narrative. It will solidify your personal brand in people’s minds.

Remember brand purpose

Having a distinct look and narrative is great, but it won’t mean much unless you have a clearly-defined brand purpose. Just as sports apparel companies work hard to create a brand that looks and speaks fitness in every way, so too should you figure out what your ultimate purpose is and make an effort to exhibit it in everything you do.

Your brand purpose could be related to who you work for. For example, if you work for an environmental organization, you could see to it that this idea pervades your look and activities. This could include wearing clothing whose brands support sustainable causes, eating organic food, and making your home more sustainable through energy-efficient upgrades. Whatever your purpose is, hone in on it and use it widely.

Be yourself!

All of this might sound a bit exhausting, but the point is that you should create the best “you” that you can. Whatever this might mean for you individually. If your love for the environment is what drove you to take that job at Greenpeace, show that love in everything you do. Show it to your kids by teaching them your values. The world will respect you for it, and you will feel the consistency in everything you do.