Taco Bell

Each product you buy has a brand associated with it. 

There are going to be personal experiences that impact the way you perceive that brand and there will be components that intersect with how other people perceive it. 

When I think of McDonald’s, I think of happy meals from my childhood, going there for birthday parties, M&M McFlurries, the ice cream machine being broken, the oddly satisfying taste of their mystery meats, and how the price to value ratio has dropped substantially over the last few years. 

When I think of Burberry, I think of England, the Burberry trench coat, a trip to Italy my wife and I went on a couple of years ago, the Burberry Hero fragrance I was wearing when I proposed to and married my wife, and I think of a higher than reasonable cost where you pay for status and likely not the highest quality garment. 

When I think of Taco Bell, I think of Baja blast and frequent trips to the restroom. Okay okay, and Doritos Locos Tacos… And Cinnabon Delights… And the notorious late night trip there as the only option and it is 11:30 PM and I am now hungry… I’ve only had water, I swear. 

When I think of Disney, I think of family friendly cartoons with great plot lines and underlying storytelling, I then remember that they acquired Marvel which may make them slightly less family friendly but significantly better in every way, I think of the convenience of Disney Plus, I think of Disney World and DisneyLand, and last but certainly not least, I think of Mickey Mouse and company. 

The mental collage that you just experienced? That’s branding. It’s not just a logo-it’s a feeling, a memory, a reputation. 

It is a collection of what comes to mind when hearing a name. 

That same experience happens with humans. 

We all carry brands. 

Some more positive than others. Some more widely known than others. 

But we all have one. 

With our friends. 

Our families. 

Our coworkers. 

The internet *shrieks in horror*. 

You even have a brand with yourself. 

This brand is influenced by literally everything that you do. 

Everything?

Everything. 

What you do impacts how you feel about yourself and can alter your behavior if you are not mindful of how you perceive your brand and how you want your brand to be perceived. 

When you ignore your brand, you allow the world to shape it for you. 

When you are intentional in understanding both your strengths and your faults—along with how you want the world to receive you—you get to refine your brand daily. 

Not just with others, but most importantly…

With yourself.