52 - Build and Monetize your Personal Brand with AJ Vaden

Today on the Mentors and Moguls Podcast with your host, Heather Stone, Heather is sitting down with AJ Vaden, co-founder of the Brand Builders Group, 8-figure entrepreneur, and co-host of The Influential Brand Podcast. 

 

AJ discusses the question of what is a personal brand. Is it an online following, social media influencers or celebrities, course creation, speakers, authors, podcasters? In reality, AJ says, a “personal brand” is just an extension of your reputation. So the question is whether you are being intentional about the brand you are creating. What effort and intention are you putting into creating your “brand”? Do you know what you want to be known for? 

 

Brand Builders Group is a personal brand strategy group for anyone who wants to become more well-known. Anyone who wants to enhance their personal brand needs to answer these four questions: 

• What problem do you solve? 

• Who do you solve this problem for? 
• What is your unique message to solving this problem? 
• How do you make money solving this problem? 

When you know the answers to those four questions, you have clarity on your journey. 

 

AJ does not believe in “overnight success” because no matter how immediate it may appear on the outside, years of hard work have gone into making anyone successful, overnight or not. Success comes out of hard work, time, intention, and resources. While that may look like overnight success from the outside, it can take a long time to even get to the place where you’re able to achieve that “immediate success” 

 

People are sometimes afraid to tell others about themselves and their work for fear of appearing “self-promotional” but the truth is, in order to gain personal success, you have to be willing to tell everyone about what you’re doing because you believe in it. A book has the power to change your life, but you have to be willing to share it and talk about it. Even if you don’t have a huge following, if you’re willing to go on podcasts and tours and share to other followings, you can grow your audience and gain the following that will continue to make you successful long-term. 

 

AJ was an art major in college but was encouraged by her father to change her major to something where she would be able to support herself long term so she changed to advertising and marketing. She ultimately did not want to work an office job where her salary was capped and she counted vacation days so at 22, she began her entrepreneurial journey. She started a business with one of her high school best friends, got recruited to a start-up and began putting on large motivational sales conferences. She learned how deeply being an entrepreneur meant just doing sales. AJ and her husband, Rory then co-created Brand Builders Group as a way to own and share their own experiences with others. She credits her faith in large part for helping her hold on through the tumultuous time of changing careers, starting new journeys, and building her family as she has moved to her success. 

 

While people often think humility is at odds with the goal of growing a personal brand, AJ disagrees. She thinks you must be willing to share your own experiences if you believe they can help someone. Being willing to be vulnerable and human in your experiences, creates a trust and respect with your audience that will grow your success and following. That genuine audience is the single biggest factor in who people choose to buy from and follow.  

 

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode: 

In this episode, AJ Vaden offers questions and advice on how to intentionally and effectively create and grow your personal brand.  

 

 

Helpful Links: 

https://freebrandcall.com/heatherstone/ 

https://brandbuildersgroup.com/ 

IG: @AJ_Vaden 

The Influential Personal Brand Podcast