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She may be plastic but she is very good at branding herself. As one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, she is a business icon that injects her personality into every interaction she has with her fans. Like you, she has a lot of competition. But she emerges triumphant in the world-wide marketplace. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a coach, or an author, here are 5 things you can learn from Barbie about establishing your personal brand.

1. Be consistent. Once you establish an image that truly represents you and your business, and has brought you success, stick with it. Why? People hate confusion. So why vary your brand appeal, provided it has proven itself? What the marketplace demands from you is an image, whether it is a word or a visual, that sticks in the mind. And stays there over time.

2. Inject personality. As the advertising giant David Ogilvy once said, "you cannot bore people into buying your product." Yet the vast majority of personal brands I've come across recently by looking at over a hundred websites lack personality. How do you excite people with an image or a word, or a set of words? Barbie knows. She has established an intimate connection with her customers and fans. (We can't all be as charming as Barbie. Charm works in her market. It may not in yours. ) Give your business a unique personality that builds strong customer bonds. And you will build a powerful business.

3. Stand for something. This goes hand in hand with the above. If you write down Barbie's name, I am sure you can come up with at least 5 things she represents in the culture. Have you ever written a mission statement? If you haven't, try it. Write a statement of your personal mission (what you intend to do to change the world), in 2-3 short paragraphs. Keep it in the top drawer of your desk. Go back to it again and again as you build your personal brand.

4. Understand your tribe. If dolls could talk, imagine what Barbie could tell you about her tribe. (A very very young tribe.) You cannot reach people that you do do not understand. So commit yourself to creating or joining a community of like-minded people. Ask your customers what they want, and what they need from you. How you can help them? What is their most pressing need? Even if you have had a business for years, do this. Every single day. The most relevant personal brand eventually becomes the tribe's brand.

5. Own an image or a word. Barbie is just one word, one image. What do you have to offer the marketplace that no one else does? What are you making? Who are you making it for? Before you can own that word or image, you have to ask yourself hundreds of questions. And go through thousands of words and sentences, and phrases, and fragments of thoughts - to create the personal brand that will seem like a stroke of genius.

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