Ralph Lauren: How I built a brand that people trust.

- Written by Jalen Da-Rod Miles Evans

Everyone wants to inspire others through who they are and what they bring to the table. Yet when it comes to making a killer first impression, we shoot our own authenticity in the foot. We post quotes of rich and famous people to sound wiser than we are. We chase job titles for prestige instead of meaning. We rely on followers and likes to determine our self-worth and cling to the next social media influencer’s advice to go viral.

But instead of stressing ourselves out mentally and emotionally, we would have much more fun, and fulfillment had we chose to write a story of our own instead of the one that we perceive others want us to tell.

But how do we maintain a core sense of self in a world that appears to push the idea that you should consistently be all things to all people?

For starters, building a personal brand is not a well-executed series of marketing gimmicks. Instead, creating a personal brand means honing your own unique set of skills and experiences to solve problems that resonate with your most profound set of core values.

Your brand does not come overnight; it comes through intensive self-reflection, embracing your journey, and having curiosity about other people who share similar experiences. Speaking of expertise, I had the liberation of watching a 25-minute documentary that Bloomberg Media posted on YouTube about how Ralph Lauren built his fashion empire. I took some time to reflect on how young fashion industry professionals can make a killer first impression.

With that said, here are the top three things that I have learned from the life of Ralph Lauren and how to build a personal brand that people trust.

Always, Always, Always…

Analyze your values and refine them!

I will be the first to admit a thin line between being personal and doing business in modern times. It seems as if whenever someone becomes big, society is intolerant of mistakes. The only thing that is good enough is…