I really hope it doesn’t happen too soon, but the day will come when they write my obituary. It won’t take long. It will take 10 words, exactly.
Gerry with a G. The hay is in the barn.
Simple as that.
And the reason for it is simple too.
That’s what a lot of people think and feel when they think about me. If they’ve attended one of my communications seminars, they’ve heard the Gerry with a G story. If they’ve heard me on a Ravens broadcast that ends with a win, they’ve heard me say my signature line, “The hay is in the barn.”
And if you want to know about the origins of the phrase “The hay is in the barn,” you can find it by clicking here.
What people think and feel when they think about you is your brand.
Yes, I am a husband and a father and a brother and a neighbor and a member of my community and a fountain pen collector (true story) and a lot of other things. But what comes to mind right off the top for most people is those 10 words: Gerry with a G. The hay is in the barn.
Let me state this clearly: I am not unique. People will think and feel something when they think about you as a professional too. As a matter of fact, they already do. But until you take control of what you want them to think and feel, your brand will come across as diluted, confusing, or even negative.
No one ever said, “I love that diluted, confusing, negative brand.”
What do you want people to think and feel when they think about you as a professional?
If you are like most professionals your initial answer is “I don’t know.” Well, I can promise you this: If you don’t know what you want them to think, they probably won’t think very much of you when they do think about you.
Creating an intentional brand is one of the great power tools to grow your career. It will help you stand out and become one of one. Getting clear on your brand will also help you find your target audience and make it easier for your target audience to find you.
