If you were asked to describe yourself, what would you say? Without talking about your career, your routine, your habits, your hobbies, or the people you surround yourself with. And if the people who knew you were also asked to describe you, would their answer be the same as yours?

Most folks fail to realize the full impact their actions and social presence have on how they’re perceived. It’s not about being politically correct, it’s about knowing who you are and who you want to be and then being that person. Sounds like a riddle, right?

Enter David’s Sweet 16 “compass”: Know, Live, and Own Your Brand. It’s very critical to your success to be aware that everything you do creates, emphasizes, and promotes your brand. Tom Brady, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Simon Cowell, Miley Cyrus, Ellen DeGeneres—they all have their own brand.

Everything you do leaves a thumbprint on your character, on your brand. Every picture you post on social media, every word you speak, every action you take—everything you do ultimately leads people to decide whether or not they respect you as a person and as a professional. In our industry, trust and respect are everything. We’re in the business of helping people afford a very large transaction. And also in our industry, like many, it’s all about building your own business. You go out, you network, you establish relationships. You’re constantly asking yourself, “Am I portraying myself as someone who people would want to do business with? Am I someone they would trust?”

No shouldn’t be the answer.

And if it is, make changes. Start fresh. It’s never too late to re-brand yourself and become the person that you’ve always wanted to be. You just have to start now.

At Hall Financial, we talk about being the CEO of your own brand. We even dedicate an entire meeting for new hires to hear how important it is to be in charge of your own business and your personal brand. It’s important everyone we hire understands how much the way you brand yourself affects everything you do.

If you’re looking to build your own brand and want to work for a company that promotes building your own business—crazy right?—send us your resume at careers@hallfg.com. We are always looking to add entrepreneurial-minded individuals to our team to help us grow. Our goal: give our team the platform and tools to build their own brand and business but also provide them with so much support they never want to leave us.