Why is personal branding so important? If you want to increase sales or efficiencies at work, to add value to your life, and add value to your community, or even if you are looking to become a better parent, then you need to have a better understanding of your personal brand and how it connects you to the world and your community.

People who have a better understanding of their personal brand and how it is communicated are often the people we admire; they can be celebrities, sport heroes, politicians, teachers, friends and family members. Personal branding is not about creating a facade for others to like you or want to work with you, the true power of a real personal brand is how authentic you are and who you are connecting to.

It is never easy to connect with other people. Most of us spend the bulk of our time trying to avoid public gatherings or even more intimate events with people other than our immediate family and friends. Without a doubt, Networking is considered, even by some of the best business leaders, as one of the hardest events in which to take part and receive true value.

Networking is not about heading into a ballroom of a hotel and trying to secure your next sale. It is also not about joining a local club to meet your next mate. Both of those may be awesome outcomes of networking, but it would be better and reframe networking into these two powerful concepts:

1. It's all about human beings connecting. 2.It's not networking, it's one to one conversations.

All of us need to be able to go to any event, this could be a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon or your annual family dinner, and have the ability to connect with others, while also being engaging during the many one on one conversation that will take place. It is not easy, but if you simplify the reasons behind it, it can be not only tolerable, but one of the more pleasurable activities in your busy day.

Instead of looking at any sort of one to one conversation as a way to add more sales in your life, take a moment to reframe the whole event. Don't think about what the people can do for you, but focus on what you can do for them. When you meet someone, listen actively to what they are saying as they will drop many clues as to what they are looking for. Let it sink in as you begin to thumb your way through your mental rolodex. Is there anyone in your current network that can help them out? Have you recently read an article that you could forward them that could help that person out? How can you add value to their life to help them?

The one to one conversations will be one of the most powerful parts of understanding your personal brand. Find groups, organizations, associations or potential business partners that are aligned with your personal brand. If you are shy and introverted, there are groups for you. If you are interested in the stock market, there are groups for you as well.

Build your image, by being a consistent positive performer. By associating with quality people. By delivering what you promise and you will be talked about in a positive way. Enjoy the process of discovering and re-connecting to your personal brand by having as many one to one conversations as you can.

Remember the following, People will forget what you say. People will forget what you do. But people will never forget how you make them feel.