When I start the personal branding process with a new client, I spend time uncovering and discovering their values, beliefs, skills, goals and feelings. In order to help my client position themselves authentically and in a targeted way, these questions provide a foundation to drive success in their career and in their life. My clients then use these lists as a filter through which they can make decisions going forward.

Whether you work with a coach or answer these prompts yourself, take some time to reflect on these critical questions to understand what motivates you and crystalize your transition and career game plan:

1. What do I need?

• Emotional: Do I need validation, affirmation and praise to feel confident?
• Financial: How much money do I need to feel safe?
• Professional: What do I need to accomplish to feel professionally confident?
• Physical: How much activity or exercise do I need to feel fit?
• Spiritual: What do I need to feel grounded?

2. What do I want?

• Emotional: What do I want in order to feel complete? Do I want a mate or partner?
• Financial: What is my ideal financial picture? How do I define financial happiness?
• Professional: What would I do for a living if money were no object?
• Physical: How would I like to feel in my body? Do I wish I had more energy?
• Spiritual: How would I like my spiritual life to look? What would feed my soul if I didn’t put any restrictions on my passion?

3. What do I value?

• Emotional: What is at the core of my moral compass? What are my values?
• Financial: Is financial success playing a disproportionately important role in my life? Do I feel that I have a healthy relationship with money?
• Professional: How far would I go for professional success? What choices have I made that impact my values?
• Physical: Am I willing to work hard to achieve the physical fitness I desire?
• Spiritual: How do I live my most authentic life?

Next Steps

These are, no doubt, tough questions to answer. While you might not get through all the questions in one sitting, I encourage you to keep at it. Once you have your answers written down, take a moment and step back from your lists. Ask yourself:

• What patterns emerge?
• Are there consistent words, phrases or examples?
• Does anything on the lists seem out of character or inconsistent?
• Do the lists reveal new opportunities?

As you build your personal brand, these lists will serve as a check in to remind you what you need, want and value. Personal branding is about creating a sustainable and authentic reputation that delivers to you opportunities, clarity and results.  The closer these lists and goals grow together the more successful your personal brand becomes!

By: Lida Citroën