Webinar Recap: Power Up Your Personal Brand with Nick Foulks

When you hear the term "personal brand," your mind might jump to logos, color palettes, or curated social media profiles. But as Nick Foulks shared in a recent Forj webinar, personal brand goes much deeper. It's not about outward appearances but rather how you make people feel and what they can expect from you.

Nick, an author, marketing director, and certified professional life coach, led a reflective session on what it really means to build a personal brand. He's passionate about helping people unlock their full potential, whether they're aiming to elevate their careers, boost their performance, or find renewed motivation. 

Drawing on decades of experience in speaking, sales, and coaching, Nick broke it down into a practical framework: Awareness + Alignment + Action = Personal Brand.

Why Personal Brand Matters

Whether you're selling a product, service, membership—or simply trying to inspire others—you're also selling you. And as Nick asked, "Would you buy from you?" The strength of your brand lies in the consistency between your values and your behavior. People can feel when something is off, and more importantly, so can you.

Nick encouraged webinar participants to reflect on a few key questions:

• What can people expect from you? How do you make people feel?
• What do you expect from yourself? How do you make yourself feel?

Those expectations and feelings are the essence of your personal brand.

And while the session focused on individual development, its relevance to association work is clear. A strong personal brand can enhance your credibility, expand your influence, and help you champion your association’s mission more effectively. According to Edelman’s Thought Leadership Impact Study, 64% of buyers say thought leadership is a key factor in choosing a business partner. And organizations with active thought leaders see revenue grow 20–25% faster than those without. When your personal brand aligns with your professional goals, you become a more powerful advocate for your members—and a more effective leader within your association.

3 Key Components of a Strong Personal Brand

1. Awareness: Know Who You Are

The first step toward building a strong personal brand is awareness. That means understanding your values, your story, and your desired life.

Values: The non-negotiables that shape your attitudes, behaviors, and decisions. Nick described values as more than just buzzwords; they're foundational building blocks. And they evolve as we do, serving as both a compass and a mirror as we grow.

Story: Where you come from and what you've been through. Nick reminded participants: You hold the power of the pen. You have the ability to write the next chapter of your story, and it's not just where you've been but where you're going. 

Desired Life: Your personal definition of success and satisfaction. Nick acknowledged that many of us are influenced by external forces telling us what we 'should' be and do. What really matters is what you want.

Nick challenged participants to consider:

• What values do you want people to associate with you?
• How do your story and life experiences inform who you are today?
• What do you want the next chapter of your life to look like?

2. Alignment: Close the Gap Between Intentions and Actions

Next comes alignment. Are you living in a way that reflects the values and vision you've uncovered? Or are you presenting a polished version of yourself that doesn't quite match the real thing?

Nick reminded participants that discovering a lack of alignment isn't cause for shame—it's an opportunity. When you notice a gap between who you are and who you want to be, you can choose how to respond. Reflect on your values, your story, and your desired life, then choose one area you feel most compelled to pursue alignment in. That choice is where transformation happens—but you have to be willing to take action.

3. Action: Take One Step Toward the Best Version of You

Action brings your personal brand to life. It might feel overwhelming at first—you might even wonder where to start. Nick makes the next step simple: ask yourself, "What's one step I can take to get closer to my ideal self?"

That single step might look like:

• Taking your vacation days when you've historically let them pile up
• Pursuing a passion project that you've been scared to start
• Creating time for the type of reflection and self-care you've often neglected

Just like companies undertake a rebrand to improve the quality of their product or the clarity of their messaging, individuals can do the same. But it takes honesty, courage, and a willingness to pursue what truly matters to you.

Nick wrapped the session with a powerful invitation: What if you got clear on your values, owned your story, and pursued the life you actually want? How might your personal brand begin to shine?

Key Takeaways

By the end of the session, participants walked away with tools and reflection prompts to:

• Define your personal brand through values and storytelling
• Identify areas of misalignment and take ownership of change
• Choose meaningful, actionable steps to strengthen your brand

Remember, your personal brand isn't fixed. It's a living expression of who you are and evolves with who you're becoming. The most authentic, powerful brands aren't built on perfection—they're built on purpose.

Missed the session or want to revisit the conversation? View the webinar recording here.