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branding yourself

I've attended my fair share of professional and academic conferences and workshops, and I can tell you that the most common theme I've witnessed tends to be the art of branding yourself. 

Every college senior seeking an entry-level PR position knows the drill: present yourself as a professional, polished yet unique package of knowledge, experience and wonder. Make business cards, unify and censor your social media channels, design a flawless and well-rounded resume (preferably in InDesign, because it MUST stand out!), spend countless hours perfecting your online portfolio, fill your schedule with challenging yet rewarding extracurriculars but don't forget a part-time job and full load of classes, mention your love of people/organization/coffee/collaboration/lists/iPhone apps/did I say coffee, and please for the love of God get a manicure before shaking any hands in an interview. 

Recently, I had a wonderfully (brutally?) honest professor tell me that although I am smart and have huge potential (thank you, thank you), I'm lacking in "presence." Because I am secretly a sensitive flower who pretends to have a thick skin, these words cut me to the core and I over-analyzed them for days on end. "BUT I KNOW ABOUT PERSONAL BRANDING AND I HAVE PRESENCE, DAMMIT" - my general thoughts. However, when I really considered how my professor sees me for the two hours a week that we share class together, I realized that she would have no idea that I have much of a presence at all. 

For starters, on most days I come to class like the typical 20-something college student who has given up on life Monday through Thursday from 11:15 - 5:00 PM...black American Apparel leggings, Nike sneakers or if I'm feeling ambitious maybe a pair of scuffed combat boots, a flannel or an over-sized sweater, rumpled hair that hasn't seen a brush since the day before. And because I am nothing if not graceful, I typically have a coffee stain somewhere in eyesight. I'm tired and drained from the 50 other things on my plate that day, so I only speak up the minimal amount to scrape by and get those crucial participation points. Basically, I realized that I abandon any sense of a personal brand when I'm not in a professional setting, and therefore it's not really a personal brand at all. 

My New Year's Resolution (aside from finding a challenging and rewarding entry-level position or internship at a dream company, please hire me) is to truly take all of the knowledge and advice about the importance of a "personal brand" (still kind of cringing) to heart. I have the business cards, the censored yet still "me" social media, the beautiful and full to the brim resume, the online portfolio, the insane schedule, the love of people/organization/coffee/collaboration/lists/iPhone apps/and yes again coffee, and the occasional manicure when I have 35 bucks to spare. While I still appreciate my downtime on the evenings watching Netflix in three-sizes-too-large sweats, it's time that I start really living my personal brand rather than thinking about it. This means dressing like a fashionable and somewhat-polished professional, showing off what can be an outgoing and charming personality, working a room, and commanding respect from teachers and peers alike. 

I can't make any promises about the coffee stains.

october favorites

1. Rimmel Stay Matte Primer. To combat the dry and cold weather outside, my skin has been producing excess oil and I find that my makeup wears off after a few hours. I normally just wear a light moisturizer under my foundation in lieu of a primer, but I decided to shop around for an extra step. This lightweight, affordable primer has done the trick and my makeup doesn't budge. I definitely recommend it for anyone with combination skin.  

2. The Wet Brush. McKenna recently dropped a pink Wet Brush off at my parent's house for my mom to try, and I snatched it up for a trial run. My mom may not be seeing this brush for a while now (oops) because I love it. I don't know how this brush works so well, but the super thin bristles comb through my hair in seconds. My normal post-shower routine involves muscle cramps and arm spasms from spending what seems like forever detangling my naturally curly and wavy hair with a wide-tooth comb. My hair is a little deceiving because it is much thicker than it looks (I've been told this by tired, exasperated hair stylists for years). This brush majorly cuts down on the time I spend brushing and detangling my hair, and both my arms and scalp are grateful.

3. Benefit They're Real! Mascara. When it comes to mascara I'm a drugstore brand girl. In my opinion most drugstore brands are better than high-end (and for a fraction of the cost). However, I finally splurged on this mascara after loving a sample I got from Sephora months ago. I have small, deep-set eyes that I guess you could affectionately describe as cat shaped (basically, applying mascara is a bitch). With this product, the process is much easier and results in longer, thicker, darker lashes. I have to admit, it is a little better than my usual drugstore mascara purchases, but I still stand by my tried and true favorite L'Oreal Voluminous. 

4. Essie Limo-Scene. Normally I stick to dark colors and varying shades of red for fall and winter, but lately I've been attracted to super pale pinks and nudes. This polish is the perfect neutral for fall, and after a quick paint job at Alex's I'm convinced I never want to take it off. 

5. Shearling Luck Hooded Jacket - from Tobi. I purchased this jacket too late in the season to wear much last year, but I definitely took advantage of it this October. It's so (so, so, so) soft and warm without being too heavy or suffocating. It feels (and admittedly sort of looks) like walking around in a cozy robe. I even paired it with some leather leggings and furry white ears for Halloween and went as a lamb. 

6. Aquaphor. My skin and lips are protesting the dry, cold weather, but I'm fighting back with the countless tubes of this product I keep everywhere. I generally have one in my purse, my makeup bag, beside my bed and in my car. This product is amazing for dry lips, and I also use it on my fingers when the skin gets really dry around my nails. It's a must-have in my beauty arsenal. 

Happy November!