Building a Brand That Reflects Who You Are (Not Just What You Do)
We need to have a heart-to-heart about something that’s sabotaging so many personal brands: defining yourself by your job title. I’m AJ Vaden—yes, I’m the CEO of Brand Builders Group, an author, a speaker… but if that’s all you know about me, you’re missing the real story. I’m also a wife, a mom, a daughter, […]
Why Most People Are Missing the Mark with Their Personal Brand
Let’s talk about something that’s keeping way too many mission-driven messengers stuck: you’re spending all your energy on the external parts of your brand and zero time on what actually matters. You’ve got the Canva logo. The slick tagline. You’ve debated fonts like your life depends on it. You’ve probably even redesigned your website three […]
Who Are You (Without Your Job Title)?
I’ve got a challenge for you today, and it’s going to make you think a little deeper than you’re probably used to. Ready? Here it is: Tell me who you are—without telling me what you do. Yep, I want you to introduce yourself to the world without a single mention of your job title, role, […]
Followers Do Not Equal Fortune (And Here’s Why You’re Focusing on the Wrong Thing)
Let’s have a real talk moment, y’all. We’ve been sold a lie that the size of your social media following is the size of your bank account. Spoiler alert: it’s not. I know way too many people who brag about their huge follower counts—100K, 500K, even a million-plus—and yet, their bank accounts are barely holding […]
If You Want to Get Paid to Speak, Do THIS
If you’re dreaming about stepping on stage and sharing your message with the world, then here’s a truth that might rattle you: You need to want it so bad that you’d speak for free. I was recently chatting with the incredible Toni Collier on my podcast, and she said something that’s stuck with me ever […]
4 Things to Know BEFORE You Start Writing Your Book
If you’re a first-time author, an aspiring author, or even a seasoned author looking to brush up on the essentials, this article is for you. Earlier this week I was chatting with a friend who’s diving headfirst into the exhilarating, exciting, and extremely gratifying world of book writing. It got me thinking… Writing a book […]
6 Tips to Create a Story that Resonates with the People You’re Meant to Serve
If you’re a speaker, author, coach, or someone who wants to make an impact with your story, you need a way to turn your “I can’t believe this happened to me” moments into messages that resonate with people. You need a story with a universal undertone. One that moves your audience into action and connects […]
My #1 Tip to Stand Out on Social Media and Grow Your Brand
Social media is a tool—and a powerful one that you can use to grow your business and community. But if you’re not approaching it from the perspective of building genuine relationships, you’re missing the point. So let’s dive into why this matters, how it applies to your business, and how you can use this mindset […]
You Don’t Need a Visual Identity (Yet)
I’ve got something on my mind that’s been swirling around for the last 15 years. You see, there’s a huge misconception out there about what a personal brand actually is. Most people assume it’s all about your online presence, your follower count, or your fancy website. Yes, those things are important (I mean, here I […]
Overwhelmed by Instagram? These 3 Simple Tips Might Help
Is Instagram not doing it for you? Maybe you’re overwhelmed by content creation, underwhelmed by low reach, and understandably upset that you’re not getting better results. If you’re nodding your head, then keep reading because today I’m sharing three ideas you can immediately implement to improve your Instagram game (based on my conversation with Chelsea […]