5 books to guide your personal and professional branding

As William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet (I, 5), "We know what we are, but we do not know what we can be."

We live in a world where image and reputation are paramount, especially if you're a business owner. It starts early in your career, where social media gradually builds to define our personal brand, in the best and worst ways. Then, as you transform into a successful entrepreneur, your brand becomes everything. It defines your work, your leadership, your partnerships and your client relationships from every angle.

In fact, Harvard Business Review and PR Newswire found that customers who feel fully connected to your brand are over 50% more valuable than satisfied customers, and emotionally connected customers have lifetime value. 306% higher.

No matter where you are in your career, these essential and engaging books will help you reassess and redefine your personal brand for the new year.

1. Anthony Butler - Primordial Narrative

Humans, by nature, are drawn to the primitive imagery of storytelling. The visuals transmitted through social media and the poignant words read in a good book naturally capture human attention.

The Primal Storytelling by Anthony Butler uses gripping stories of a fire in Montana, roaming the streets of Fallujah, Iraq, and the history of global competition in its digital content with 1.5 billion other websites.

Butler uses these stories and its state-of-the-art Primal Storytelling content system to teach readers how to create high-quality digital content that outshines competitors and allows you to connect authentically with your audience. Finding a voice that penetrates the vastness of our digital realm and will allow your messages to capture their target audience is an essential skill in building your brand.

2. Mila Grigg - Forged by Fire

Each has an enduring story to tell and incomparable value to share with the world. The question is, “How will you share your story — and your value — with the world? When everyone tries to separate personal passion from professional motivation, how do you demonstrate that your brand doesn't represent you? »

As a nationally recognized brand consultant and author of Forged by Fire, Mila Grigg tells her own story of resilience and restoration, and how to create an unshakeable foundation of core values, goals, and comparable experiences that help set you apart from the crowd.

Whether you're just starting out in your career or a Fortune 100 entrepreneur, consider this book your branding bible and your definitive resource for showing the world...