Have an honest conversation with yourself about what your personal assets and liabilities are. If you want to construct an authentic brand, you need to be realistic about what you are good at and where you struggle. Once you come up with your list, get input from friends, mentors, or coaches to ensure you're on track.

Meeting expectations is fine, but "fine" is a four letter "F" word. You want to exceed expectations, every single time. That's the key to building a personal brand and reputation that you can monetize throughout your career. If you know you can get the work done by Thursday, promise to deliver it on Friday. If you know they want five, plan to give them six. Manage expectations in a way that will position you for success.

Proactively seek out projects that will enhance your brand internally and externally. Yes, that means you want to associate yourself with the hot deals that everyone else is pursuing. But remember, sometimes the more effective approach will be to dive in and tackle projects that others have struggled with. It can be a risky strategy, but if you can turn a tough project around and get it across the finish line, it can take your brand and reputation to an entirely new level.

Don't let networking happen, make it happen. Surround yourself with people who will enhance your brand rather than diminish it. Also, it can be very uncomfortable to self-promote and you need to be tactful about it. That said, if you don't promote your personal brand, no one else is going to do it for you. If you find yourself in the elevator with someone who can have an impact on your life and career, don't squander the opportunity. Connect! And remember, networking is a process that needs to be defined, executed, and tracked consistently. Use a free CRM, set networking goals, and hold yourself accountable for hitting them.

Many of the people who have embraced work from home (which certainly has benefits) already have the luxury of having an established personal brand and reputation. Many of you don't have that yet! The single best way to nurture and build your personal brand is to engage with your boss, your peers, your prospects, and your clients, face-to-face. Do it safely, respect the rules and regulations, but make it happen. It will pay off in the long run.

That goofy story you don't always like to talk about may be the difference between you getting the job or not. It may help you get over the finish line with an important prospect. People embrace great stories. They listen and connect on an emotional level. Your stories are what makes your personal brand unique. Embrace them and don't be shy about sharing them.

Your goal is to become a trusted advisor to your clients. You need to "Know and Show" if you're going to make that happen. Invest the time and effort to learn as much as you can about your industry, company, products, and processes. And then be sure to show what you know! Social media provides you with terrific opportunities to share your knowledge and expertise with a broad audience. Use it effectively, consistently, and professionally to build your brand and become recognized as a true subject matter expert.

People want to work with people they like and connect with. Well, the best way to build those kinds of relationships is to engage and add value whenever you can. Seek out people in other groups and functional areas throughout your company and introduce yourself. Broadening your relationships will help generate more awareness of your personal brand. Then, help them in ways that will make their jobs easier and they will likely reciprocate. Make a point of helping others who don't expect it. It will pay off in a lot of positive ways.

EVERY SINGLE INTERACTION you have is a branding event. Every. Single. One. Be it a video call, a text message, or a coffee meeting at Starbucks, the way you engage will either help or hurt your personal brand. Always proof read your work. Hand check your financial analyses. Dress for success. Speak professionally. All of these things matter and will have a big impact on the way you are perceived by others.

A company's brand is simply an agglomeration of the personal brands of everyone who works there. Understand that the way you conduct yourself and engage with others will impact the value of your personal brand and, by extension, the company's brand as a whole. Conversely, you will benefit from a strong company brand by association, so it's in your interest to ensure it remains strong. You invest a huge percentage of your life in your work. Be sure to spend it with a company that aligns with the personal brand you have and want to cultivate.