Rooting For Growth with Fiona DaCosta

In January, I wrote here, my key take-aways from Michelle Obama’s: “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.” I’m excited to share in this book series, which books I’ve read in February and March This is especially because, these authors are local, yes – Jamaicans! In this article, I’ll share key points that resonated with me, from the book “My Brand Compass: The 13 Cs To Building Your Personal Brand” authored by Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid. This personal branding book was my February read. Let’s go.

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The Crux of “My Brand Compass”

This book is about strategic and authentic personal brand building. It appeals to persons who seek to establish themselves and their goals, in a way that builds a positive public perception, in a sustainable, genuine way.

Here’s How she Explains the Matter of Personal Branding

“Your reputation is the basis of your personal brand.” In the age of social media and digital footprints, Terri-Karelle points out the significance of having our online and offline presence in alignment. In addition, she clarifies, that one’s personal brand is a combination of their “values, interactions, attitudes, experiences and competencies seen, felt or heard by others over a consistent period of time.”

Not only that, but as the pages build up to the 13 C’s to building your personal brand, she highlights the benefits of building a personal brand:

1. It attracts the right opportunities

2. It builds community and trust

3. Good branding is good business

4. Good branding attracts greater PR and visibility

Personal Branding: The 13 Cs

Here’s a quick glimpse of the 13 Cs coined by Terri-Karelle, to help with navigating personal branding:

My Key Take-Aways & Why

Having read “My Brand Compass: The 13 Cs To Building Your Personal Brand” cover to cover, here are my key take-aways (in no particular order).

1. Instead of Being the Consumer, Become the Creator

This is a stand-out, since I constantly encourage my friends and those who will listen to trust in their abilities to create. I’m always so disheartened when good skills go to waste – not because of a lack of opportunity, but a lack of initiative on the part of the ‘skilled’. This new digital age and passive income era has presented us with so many opportunities to not only consume information, but to utilize that information and ultimately create.

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Terri-Karelle urges her readers to think beyond the regular ‘9-5’ where we trade our time and labour for our salaries/wages. She encourages passive income streams such as: creating e-books, merchandising and even creating courses.

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2. Protect Your Brand Assets

Back in 2021, when I created my website, the thought of owning a piece of the world wide web made me swell with pride. At the time, I thought it would display a sense of ‘seriousness’ about my blog and the commitment I have toward it. Additionally, I had learnt earlier on, in my legal studies that battles in relation to intellectual property are often lost by those who failed to protect their intellectual assets – and cringed at the thought of my hard work being claimed unscrupulously. .

Terri-Karelle’s advice to “protect your brand assets” stands out and deserves to be echoed because so many creators get complacent when it comes down to investing in the security of their business. Not only that, but many creators don’t take their brand seriously enough to invest in it.

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Not only does she raises this alarm, she also suggests avenues that creators can take in the bid to protecting their brand assets for example: owning your domain; registering your business and trademark.

3. Finding Your Why in Personal Branding

“My Brand Compass” highlights the essence and also the simple complexity of our ‘why’.

It’s essence is that, in it’s authentic state, it can help us overcome anything. It’s the fuel for the fire. One has to be introspective, resilient and also willing to keep going in the face of odds to really execute their ‘why’.

Terri-Karelle notes, that our ‘why’ can be discovered through a plethora of ways. To each his own really.

Some may find their ‘why’ through problems they love to solve. Others may stumble upon their why when faced with an obstacle that redirects. Our ‘why’ may change too! This, I absolutely agree with. She mentions, that the ‘why’ we start with, may not be the ‘why’ we end with.

This is the simple, yet complex tale of life – and living an original life, staying true to one’s values and being intentional about our every breath.

Life is full of ‘whys’ and I surely believe, that each leg of our journey adds adds a little more dynamic to our why.

That’s a wrap:

There you have it. While there are other salient points shared in this book, these were my key take aways. Keep a look out for the next article in this book series. Next, I’ll share my March read, also written by a Jamaican author. Themes such as hardships, resilience, and triple success awaits!

Until the next one, keep rooting for growth!