You are not your resume. You are not what other people think of you. You ARE your own Personal Brand and until you figure out what that is … you’re not even coming close to realizing the potential you have to influence and inspire. According to a study done by the Ford Foundation, 90% of the people in this world have not taken the time to figure out and determine who they are and what they want out of life. Your Personal Brand outlines exactly that. It is a vivid display of your values, your personality, your expertise and the qualities that make you unique. Most people skip or avoid this process because it requires searching, learning and understanding. When a person throws a pebble into a pond, he will see a splash and possibly hear the resounding plunk of the pebble. He might notice concentric circles rippling out from the locus point of where the pebble hit the water. The thrown pebble might also have other effects: it might frighten a nearby duck that leaps out of the water, hit another rock and bounce off, or scare a bunch of fish as it sinks into the pond. The person who throws the rock is connected to the pebble, the water and, by his actions, to the duck and the fish. He has caused change through a single and simple act. In education, this concept is known as the ripple effect. A classwork management theorist named Jacob Kounin coined the term "ripple effect" in 1970 to describe the positive effect teachers may exert on students. According to Kounin, the effect occurs when a teacher asks a student to stop a distracting or destructive behavior. He observed that, when a teacher asked a student to stop a behavior in front of the rest of the class, this affected on all other students in the class. This engagement made other students who might not be paying careful attention to also stop distracting behaviors, promoting better class control. In the context of personal branding, the value of a personal brand is directly proportionate to its ability to create and will influence. Discovering your brand is not for you per say. Many have said personal branding is some sort of self-aggrandizement, or egocentrism,. Far from that. Discovering what you really are tailored for and realizing the extent to which you as an individual, can affect positively your environment or sphere of influence by one action, is what personal branding is all about.The Dalai Lama puts it better “just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Do not underestimate what a strong personal brand can do to your business, company and most importantly, the change it can bring to your life and your world. Strong brands are well managed intentional outcomes. Meg Guiseppi in her article titled Ripple Effect of Personal Branding said “Since branding is all about what differentiates you and defines your authenticity, it makes sense that when you get to these core issues, you’ll have a better understanding of who you are, what makes you unique and therefore valuable, how you operate, and, ultimately, the best you have to offer your next employer. Aside from all the great things branding does for a resume, it can do wonders for boosting self-esteem.” Do not settle for less, don’t be a copy, and strive to be the original. YOU are unique and YOU matter!!!