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Some of us here on the TJMS are big fans of NeNe from the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” I personally enjoy her because she’s one of the most authentic personalities on the show – she’s real, she’s funny, she’s vulnerable, and she brings the drama! But mostly, I believe she’s herself.

The reality about a lot of reality shows is that you only get exposed to the representative that the producers want to depict. As a producer, I understand that there’s not enough time to tell everyone’s story fully. We edit the footage to support the story we’re trying to tell at the time.

When it comes to these reality shows, only a few people will be remembered after their 15 minutes of fame, and even fewer will know how to market themselves as a brand beyond our initial exposure to them. But I have feeling that Mrs. NeNe Leakes may last in the limelight. She shines.

What about you? What’s your name brand? How are you making a name for yourself?

Think about it: We place value, judgments and even emotions on names when we hear them, from the label on the water we drink to a person’s name. When we think of a designer like Armani, a brand like Sean Jean or Payless, descriptions like expensive, high-end, urban or cheap may come to mind. I bet they make you feel a certain way too.

In entertainment, the names Usher, Patti La Belle, Whitney Houston or Murder Inc. all evoke certain thoughts in our mind. Why? Because a lot of time and effort has been spent, for better or worse, to make us respond. When people hear your name, what do they think? How does it make them feel? How much time have you spent on branding yourself?

To brand is to give something an identity or a label. Have you ever bought something because of its brand name, even if it wasn’t any better than the off-brand, even if you couldn’t really afford it? Likewise, have you ever rejected something or someone based on a name? In other words, you drew an opinion based upon a reputation.

Rap music, for instance, has become the epitome of celebrating consumption instead of people. Don’t get me wrong, I love designer things and admittedly have plenty, but that’s not what makes me good, gifted or desirable. We need more balance in terms of the messages that we send out, how we determine our self-esteem and value. It’s no wonder that our kids, who look up to and emulate celebrities, put more stock in the names on their jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes than they do in their own given names.

As an aside, when a parent names their child Alize or Courvoisier, we’ve clearly gone too far, questionably putting more stock in that brand than on that child’s future. Would you hire someone named Alize to represent your company?

The sad commentary is that in our hearts and minds, too often things mean more to us than we mean to ourselves. This explains a lot in our society, like why people kill each other over things. Instead of only investing in the brand name of material things that break, get old and lose their luster, it’s time to invest in our own names.

Authentic greatness comes from the inside-out, not the outside-in. Anything else is a mere façade. Make your name one that represents high value by showing good character and integrity. Stand up for what you believe in. Develop your heart, mind and spirit to be just and caring. Let your words ring true by following up with a spirit of excellence and action. If you really enjoy name brands, create your own. Then invest in you.

In this economy, it’s critical that you brand your name because your reputation will carry you further than your resume. We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about this article and some good ways to “brand” yourself.

Deya “Direct” Smith is an actress, motivational speaker and producer for the Tom Joyner Morning Show. She can be reached at DeyaDirect@aol.com .

Some of us here on the TJMS, are big fans of Nene from the Real Housewives of Atlanta. I personally enjoy her because she’s one of the most authentic personalities on the show – she’s real, she’s funny, she’s vulnerable, and she brings the drama! But mostly, I believe she’s herself. The reality about a lot of Realty Shows is that you only get to exposed to the representative that the producers want to depict. As a producer, I understand that there’s not enough time to tell everyone’s story fully. We edit the footage to support the story we’re trying to tell at the time.

When it comes to these Reality Shows, only a few people will be remembered after their 15 minutes of fame. And even less will know how to market themselves as a brand beyond our initial exposure to them. But, I have feeling that Mrs. NeNe Leakes may last in the lime light. She shines.

What about you, what’s your name brand and how are you making a name for yourself?

Thinks about it; we place value, judgments and even emotions on names when we hear them, from the label on the water we drink to a person’s name. When we think of a designer like Armani, a brand like Sean Jean, or Payless; descriptions like expensive, high-end, urban or cheap may come to mind. I bet they make you feel a certain way too.

In entertainment the names Usher, Patti La Belle, Whitney Houston, or Murder Inc., all evoke certain thoughts in our mind. Why, because a lot of time and effort has been spent, for better or worse, to make us believe. When people hear your name what do they think? How does it make them feel? How much time have you spent on branding yourself?

To brand is to give something an identity or a label. Have you ever bought something because of its brand name, even if it wasn’t any better than the off-brand, even if you couldn’t really afford it? Likewise, have you ever rejected something or someone based on a name? In other words, you drew an opinion based upon a reputation.

Rap music for instance, has become the epitome of celebrating consumption instead of people. Don’t get me wrong, I love designer things and admittedly have plenty, but that’s not what makes me good, gifted or desirable. We need more balance in terms of the messages that we send out; in terms of how we determine our self-esteem and value. It’s no wonder that our kids, who look up to and emulate celebrities, put more stock in the names on their jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes than they do in their own given names.

As an aside, when a parent names their child ‘Alize’ or ‘Courvoisier.’, we’ve clearly gone too far; questionably putting more stock in that brand, than on that child’s future. Would you hire someone named Alize’ to represent your company?

The sad commentary is that in our hearts and minds, too often, things mean more to us than we mean to ourselves. This explains a lot in our society; like why people kill each other over things. Instead of only investing in the brand name of material things that break, get old and lose their luster, it’s time to invest in our own names.

Authentic greatness comes from the inside-out, not the outside-in. Anything else is a mere façade. Make your name one that represents high value by showing good character and integrity. Stand up for what you believe in. Develop your heart, mind and spirit to be just and caring. Let your words ring true by following up with a spirit of excellence and action. If you really enjoy name brands, create your own. Then, invest in you.

In this economy, it’s critical that you “brand” your name because your reputation will carry you further than your resume. We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about this article and some good ways to “brand” yourself.

Deya ‘Direct” Smith is a producer on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. She can be reached directly at deyadirect@aol.com.

Some of us here on the TJMS, are big fans of Nene from the Real Housewives of Atlanta. I personally enjoy her because she’s one of the most authentic personalities on the show – she’s real, she’s funny, she’s vulnerable, and she brings the drama! But mostly, I believe she’s herself. The reality about a lot of Realty Shows is that you only get to exposed to the representative that the producers want to depict. As a producer, I understand that there’s not enough time to tell everyone’s story fully. We edit the footage to support the story we’re trying to tell at the time.

When it comes to these Reality Shows, only a few people will be remembered after their 15 minutes of fame. And even less will know how to market themselves as a brand beyond our initial exposure to them. But, I have feeling that Mrs. NeNe Leakes may last in the lime light. She shines.

What about you, what’s your name brand and how are you making a name for yourself?

Thinks about it; we place value, judgments and even emotions on names when we hear them, from the label on the water we drink to a person’s name. When we think of a designer like Armani, a brand like Sean Jean, or Payless; descriptions like expensive, high-end, urban or cheap may come to mind. I bet they make you feel a certain way too.

In entertainment the names Usher, Patti La Belle, Whitney Houston, or Murder Inc., all evoke certain thoughts in our mind. Why, because a lot of time and effort has been spent, for better or worse, to make us believe. When people hear your name what do they think? How does it make them feel? How much time have you spent on branding yourself?

To brand is to give something an identity or a label. Have you ever bought something because of its brand name, even if it wasn’t any better than the off-brand, even if you couldn’t really afford it? Likewise, have you ever rejected something or someone based on a name? In other words, you drew an opinion based upon a reputation.

Rap music for instance, has become the epitome of celebrating consumption instead of people. Don’t get me wrong, I love designer things and admittedly have plenty, but that’s not what makes me good, gifted or desirable. We need more balance in terms of the messages that we send out; in terms of how we determine our self-esteem and value. It’s no wonder that our kids, who look up to and emulate celebrities, put more stock in the names on their jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes than they do in their own given names.

As an aside, when a parent names their child ‘Alize’ or ‘Courvoisier.’, we’ve clearly gone too far; questionably putting more stock in that brand, than on that child’s future. Would you hire someone named Alize’ to represent your company?

The sad commentary is that in our hearts and minds, too often, things mean more to us than we mean to ourselves. This explains a lot in our society; like why people kill each other over things. Instead of only investing in the brand name of material things that break, get old and lose their luster, it’s time to invest in our own names.

Authentic greatness comes from the inside-out, not the outside-in. Anything else is a mere façade. Make your name one that represents high value by showing good character and integrity. Stand up for what you believe in. Develop your heart, mind and spirit to be just and caring. Let your words ring true by following up with a spirit of excellence and action. If you really enjoy name brands, create your own. Then, invest in you.

In this economy, it’s critical that you “brand” your name because your reputation will carry you further than your resume. We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about this article and some good ways to “brand” yourself.

Deya ‘Direct” Smith is a producer on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. She can be reached directly at deyadirect@aol.com.