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Saunya M. Williams, Ph.D.

inspired by the material possessions that are popular in current culture, and some people are enamored by brand name.

When looking at an item, the item is often qualified and categorized by the reputation of its brand name. For example, certain brands are classified as having high quality and financial esteem while some brands are classified as having inferior quality and less incentive. The brand name is commonly used to make a statement about class and prestige. Personally, I agree that the brand name has the ability to make a particular item more or less attractive to a consumer. I also recognize that presumptions, whether positive or negative, are often made about an item based upon its brand.

Many of us are guilty of assessing other people or even ourselves with criteria that is similar to how we assess a brand. Do you feel that you are more qualified because of the brand of your material possessions? I have discovered that a lot of people will have a highly decorated exterior, but they have an extremely deteriorated interior. In addition, I believe that a lot of people spend too much time trying to imitate a brand instead of creating their own brand.

By creating your own brand, I am not suggesting that you should ever be for sale. I am referring to how you utilize your genuine characteristics and gifts to represent yourself. What are you using to build your personal brand? You cannot allow your personal brand to be dependent on external factors or material possessions because such things can change. Whether you are sitting on the curb of a street or flying 30,000 feet above ground in your private jet, your personal brand should remain the same.

Not long ago, I met a man that intentionally stated his residential zip code as a part of his introduction to ensure that I knew his financial status. During my first conversation with that man, he chose to boast about what he owned, where he vacationed, and how much spending money he would give me. I developed the impression that he was a bit self-absorbed because he talked as if the mere square footage of his home was his personal brand. I began to think that the direction of that man’s worship was toward his material possessions, or better yet, himself. When I mentioned that I was in a complicated relationship, he said, “You two need to figure it out because