You have to Brand Yourself

In a world where you need to stand out - the best way for you to get into the school of your choice is to brand yourself. Jobs and opportunities no longer last forever, the only constant in your career is you. So instead of relying on the brand of a family or company to define who you are, you have to rely on your own brand.

That's not easy, though. Think of all the brand managers who have had their hands on Nike or Apple. The brands people adore and really connect with are brands that are consciously developed and well cared for every day, even in bad times.

Admit It -- You're Special

That's how you have to treat yourself. It's true that you'll never be as big a brand as Nike or Apple, but your brand is much more important than theirs, because your brand is what will feed you and clothe you and keep your life stable. And just as specialized brands are always the most successful, specialists have the best careers.
Think about it: The people who get the most job offers are the ones known for doing something very well. They have an area of expertise and they have a reputation for being great at it. The stronger your specialty is, the more opportunities you'll have for education and career moves; and the more opportunities you have, the less likely that the inevitable bumps in the road will throw you off course. That's how branding creates stability.

The way to build a brand is to know what your strengths are, why they're special, and what you like doing with them.