Remember when you were a child, and the perks of being “all-grown-up” meant you can do whatever you wanted? You probably believed that all your childhood dreams would come true . . . if only. . . you were an adult.

Then one day you realize, your adult self is now making all the tough decisions—and accepting the consequences which come with those decisions. Being “all-grown-up” isn’t what you thought it would be.

Those childhood dreams once woven into your future, have become decisive steps of adulthood—influencing your choices and defining your life’s journey.

As you navigate your world, it’s clear the journey from dream to reality is rarely straightforward. You face challenges. These challenges can either strengthen you as a person or defeat you, but the experience solidifies your identity.

Four Traits That Define You

Your identity is build on 4 traits that define you. They include your: vision, values, voice and visuals. Together they make up who you are as a person and how you market yourself.

1. Vision: This refers to your hopes and dreams, which can evolve over time and shape how you see yourself.
2. Values: The beliefs and principles that guide your actions, reflect on what your willing to accept or compromise on.
3. Voice: How you sound, communicate, and present yourself, forms your personality.
4. Visuals: The external aspect of you, such as your appearance and style, which contribute to your identity.

At its core, your identity is the essence of who you are as an individual and as a professional. It encompasses your unique talents, personality traits, and the values you uphold. Likewise, just as successful brands maintain a consistent message across all platforms, individuals should ensure that their actions, communication style, and their visual appearance is aligned with their unique personal brand.

Your Personal Identity Can Define A Career

Some careers are based on how your personal identity becomes part of your brand. For example, in the fiercely competitive world of acting, auditioning on Broadway depends on crafting a compelling personal identity to stand out among a sea of talented performers. A strong personal brand in an aspiring performer signals that they can bring a character to life by adding depth and authenticity to a production simply by their personality. One casting director admitted he interviewed 950 performers but selected only 2 individuals. Clearly these 2 performers capitalized on their personal brand which made a big difference in their selection.

Similarly, careers like public speaking or radio broadcasters are centered on building their personal brand. Both must curate content and inject their personality to leave a lasting impression. Likewise, entrepreneurs can carry a certain persona when they represent their businesses. Just as the person running a business has certain personal values like being on-time; those values maybe etched into the business they create like on-time deliveries. As you can see a personal brand, is a form of expression whether it’s stems from our childhood dreams or capitalizes on our unique talents. It’s an ongoing effort in some careers to market oneself just as it is to market a product or service.

For some, our childhood dreams anchor our authenticity and passion; building on our identity into the person we want to become. Whether it’s pursuing a career or overcoming the struggles—these stories humanize us and give us strength to forge ahead on a marketable path. Some must remain true to themselves, embracing their unique talents and experiences. For the promise of success and happiness is not always a guarantee, but perfecting an identity that’s uniquely your own will surely reflect on the person you want to be.