When we think of branding, it is often that a company, business, or institution comes into our mind. However, another especially important aspect that we often do not talk much about is personal branding. Just think of Lionel Messi. Do you only know him as a player in the Argentine football team? I do not think so. For too many, he is regarded as the best footballer in the world. He is a brand all by himself.

Let us look at some other examples. I am sure many of you have heard someone or the other say 'I want to be the next Ratan Tata or Steve Jobs.' These individuals have managed to build a personal brand so strong that they have become synonymous with intelligence, innovation, and success. They have built a legacy that goes well beyond just their corporate identity, and it also encompasses who they are and what kind of leaders/teachers/people they are.

Now, let's think about Bill Gates. Innovator, philanthropist, genius, extremely rich; these are some words that we associate with his name. But how many of us have thought 'divorced'? Some people may debate that his personal brand has taken a hit after his divorce. Others may not really care about Bill Gates' personal life and place more focus on his business and philanthropic efforts.

Similarly in the case of Barack Obama, many people might say that his highly visible image of being a happily married family-oriented person is what played a great role behind him gaining the favour of millions of people. Others may place greater emphasis on his political views and actions.

Personal branding is an intentional and strategic practice in which you define and express your own value proposition. Whether we realize it or not, our actions, words, and even online presence shape our personal brand.

Your professional and personal success, to a great extent depends on persuading others to recognise your value and your personal brand directly contributes to your legacy and your reputation. You can transform yourself from being indistinguishable to unforgettable. Your brand can control how people perceive you and building your own narrative is important to reconcile any difference between what you want people to think and what they actually believe.

The first step in building your personal brand is defining your end goal. Understand what difference you want to make and what values you want to embody. Think about what makes you unique, as it's the uniqueness that endures.

You also need to communicate your brand consistently. Building a personal brand is like creating a reputation. Be consistent in your actions, communication, and values as authenticity shines through consistency.

Building a personal brand requires you to network with purpose, and I believe that your network is directly connected to your branding net worth. Connect, collaborate and learn from others and offer value in return. I am a big believer in building bilateral relationships. Your personal interactions with the people around you have a significant impact on how people perceive you, how people talk about you in your absence and how they remember you. The people around you should feel empowered, and their confidence should be nurtured from coexisting with you.

Remember, building your brand is a journey, not a destination. Use tools like LinkedIn to help you get your brand message across and create brand recognition. You should learn to capture the attention of your audience in a way that will engage them and make them think of you in your absence. However, you must also make sure not to contribute to information overload. Your personal brand is your legacy. It's what people will remember you for long after you're gone.

The writer is an economic analyst.