The power of branding yourself as an entrepreneur

What are some of the top words that come to mind when you think of the word “entrepreneur?” The dictionary gives a pretty straightforward answer: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. But there’s so much more to being an entrepreneur than just taking on risks. In fact, the idea of what it means to be an entrepreneur is all over the board. Entrepreneurs are often seen as creative risk-takers. They are passionate about their ideas. At times, they must be fearless while not being afraid to fail. And that’s just a few examples of what people say makes up the DNA of an entrepreneur.

It’s powerful to own the title of “entrepreneur.” And if you’re committed to your business, branding yourself as an entrepreneur can be a powerful way to set yourself apart, both as the business owner and for the business itself. Here’s why.

The visual identity that goes into building your brand from the start — the logo, the color scheme, the web design, and more — is all in your control. That means you can build a brand representing who you are and what you stand for. Non-entrepreneurs don’t get that opportunity, which means you can build a brand based on what you want your company to stand for.

Your visual identity is part of what builds a positive first impression with your customers, as well as builds trust. It makes you and your business more relatable. And it can help you stand out in a market that may be overly saturated. It can even help you build a stronger connection with the audience. You’re the one in control, and it should reflect who you are and what it stands for. If it doesn’t, take the time and invest in making that happen.

When someone starts a business, there are typically very specific reasons they’re driven to do so. I’ve heard stories about people who were inspired by a family member’s guidance. I’ve heard about people who began a business based on a loved one’s needs and a gap that existed in the market. There are even businesses that launch based on a person’s hobbies.

That’s what is great about being an entrepreneur. When you have a business, you’re the one who gets to tell the story about it. You are the one who gets to define the unique selling proposition that shows what sets you apart. You get to share the story that drew you to your business. And it’s your story that will draw your customers and clients to you and help them believe in what you have to offer.

When you are the face of your company, your brand is open for business every minute of the day. And if your audience believes in you, they want to be able to connect with you on a deeper level. One of the major advantages of being an entrepreneur is that you can have a much closer connection to your customers. You literally have more direct access to them because you start with a smaller organization before you build up to something bigger.

You have so many opportunities to talk to your customers as an entrepreneur. The lowest-hanging fruit is social media. If you have customers engaging with you on social media or your website, use the opportunity to communicate with them. Be willing to comment back when they share their comments online, because it will continue to build trust in you and your brand. It’s a privilege you get to share with your customers.

One of the great things about building your own team means you get to develop the culture, hire the right mix of people, and find the team that will help take you and your business to the next level. When you’ve taken major strides to build the kind of company you want to create, the people who believe in you and your mission will do whatever it takes to get involved. The right people will present themselves, and you’ll get the chance to figure out who you want on your team. It’s just that simple.

The great thing about running your own business is that you can not only hire the people you want based on what they bring to the table, not based on a job description. You can build your team from the ground up based upon their skills and what you need to ensure your business finds massive success. Building that team can be an empowering part of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship isn’t easy. You should expect to make mistakes and learn lessons along the way. The thing is, not everyone is built to expect failure and know that it will help you grow. It’s part of the reason entrepreneurship isn’t right for everyone.

If you go into every day knowing you’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself in some way, you’ll find the flexibility to succeed, even if it feels like that success is never going to come. Learning to adapt during those early survival stages is critical to ensuring your business succeeds. It can be tough but keeping that knowledge top of mind and expecting that every day comes with a lesson is a great way to approach entrepreneurship.

If you’re an entrepreneur, it pays to stand up and own that title. Do you have examples or stories of ways you’ve committed to being an entrepreneur? Feel free to share it in the comments below.

Jim Allen is a business leader and entrepreneur who has built one of the top-producing real estate groups in the Triangle. He is President of The Jim Allen Group, which is consistently named one of the top real estate teams in North Carolina and even North America.