Me Inc.

I am delivering my project 3 speech this weekend. The speech title is Me, Inc. Wish me luck.

Objectives of Project 3 speech

The stated objectives for this speech project revolve around being focused and precise:

• Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes.


• Organize the speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes.


• Ensure the beginning, body, and conclusion reinforce the purposes.


• Project sincerity and conviction and control any nervousness you may feel.


• Strive not to use notes

Time allotted: 5 to 7 minutes

Me, Inc.

Miami sunglasses, Govani blazer, Lee T shirt, Levis jeans, Leecooper shoes.
Don’t I seem like a walking billboard carrying a dozen odd brands on my back. But not my fault?

Most of us are brand obsessed. You have your own loyalties towards brands that you are fond of?

And which amongst it is the most important brand for u?

Answer: suppose Levis.

Wrong! The most important brand for you is YOU. And it holds true for each and every individual present in the room. You are your most important brand.

Today I am gonna talk about this very brand called YOU.

Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business that we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of self branding.
Most of us here would be working for a company. Some would be self employed. But nevertheless, you all hold positions at various heights of your career ladder.

But lets forget your positions for a minute. You are not a Sr Tech Lead at Satyam, you are not a Human Resource at IBM, you are not a Sr Training Consultant at Tvarita.

These designations are transient. You will not belong to a company for life. And your affiliation to a function is not forever. You are not defined by your job title. Your identity is not restricted to a job description. There is more to you than that.And I will tell you who you are.

You are the CEO of your own company called Me Inc.
And your joint role is the Head Marketing Manager of the brand called YOU.

It is as simple. And it is tortuously difficult.

You are every bit a brand as much as Nike, Coke or Pepsi. Ridiculous isn't it? Pepsi and me. Why not? Who said brands can only be a product and not you?

To start thinking yourself as a brand, ask yourself the same questions that the brand manager at Nike, Coke or Pepsi asks themselves.

What is the USP of my product? How is my product unique and different than others? How is the brand you unique and different than other people around you.

Give yourself the 15 word challenge. Write what defines you. What is unique about u? And why do you sell?

Read it aloud. Does it pump you up? Does it excite you? If not, how can it appeal to a prospective client?

If not, then you have got a big problem.

And its time to give yourself a serious thought on how to become a brand that you have always wanted to become.

Do the same feature benefit comparison that corporate biggies do for their brands. You all know Starbucks right? It’s the largest coffee chain in the world. Many books have been written about the brand called Starbucks. It turned out that their USP or the most dominant feature was the personalized service that it lavishes on every customer.
Think wat is your dominant feature.

Is brand Vivek known for delivering work on time, every time? Is brand Swathi known to complete her projects within allotted resources? Is brand Srinath known to be the “Go To” guy in his team, where team members approach him for all technical queries. Ask yourself what is it that you can unabashedly brag about and shamelessly take credit for.


How do I market?

Now you worked on your dominant feature. You added requisite skill. You think u r unique. The product is ready… But like any other brand, the product YOU needs to be marketed. So how do you market the brand YOU?

There is no truck or lorry that carries this product from production to market.But the good news is the brand you is its self moving. Meets different people every moving hour either face to face, or telephone or through messages. And in each of these occasions it exhibits its dominant features. Every time this brand talks on phone, the voice on the other side registers these traits: confidence , enthusiasm. Everytime the brand sends a mail, the receiver observes the power of purpose in the content.

In short everything that this brand does, it leaves that imprint, that stamp, that signature that touch of yours that is unmistakably unique. Its like your moms food. You can make it out from a distance even when people around you are cooking.

Let me give u an example, the manager in my company keep a bowl of toffees at his desk. Anyone who passes by him picks a toffee. Anyone who drops by for some work picks a toffee before leaving. I think this is a very “sweet” thing to do. The other day I found a bunch of printed “Thank You” cards at his desk. I asked him and he said, we often tend to forget thanking people around u when they are of help. And this is my way of thanking them by leaving a note behind the card.

So you see its not the big things that adds brand value. It is such little things that can add to your brand.

Having said that, let me also say that personal branding is not just about sprucing yourself up with cosmetic additions. It finally boils down to who you are at your core authentic self. Your personal brand emerges from the search for your identity and meaning.

Hope you will take good care of your company, Me, Inc.
Thank you.