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By now you’ve had a few weeks to test out your New Year’s resolutions. How’s it going? If you’ve already given up, consider looking at your year and goals from a larger perspective. We interviewed Blake Howard, Creative Director at Matchstic, an Atlanta-based brand identity firm, about a personal application to branding.

We’re all familiar with “brands” in the corporate context but what is a personal brand?

We live in a branded world full of swooshes, apples, and alligators and while many of us think of brands associated with large corporations, like Nike, Apple, and Starbucks, whether we recognize it or not, we all have a “personal brand.” A brand is simply the perception or gut feeling someone has about a product, service, company or person. People, at this very moment, have a perception of you. Right or wrong, good or bad, it’s there. The words you use, how you spend money, your eye contact during a conversation, how you handle conflict, the friends you choose, the art on your wall, what you post on Twitter or Facebook, the combinations of all these elements make the unique brand of you.

So is our personal brand simply who we are and what defines us?

Once you’re conscious that you have a brand in the minds of others, you can then take steps to align that perception with who you truly are and with your beliefs. Notice that we’re not talking about creating a false self or a façade in order to please others, rather, it’s about embracing your true self and living your life consistently. Clearly knowing what you stand for and matching that with how you live makes you truly unique – that is branding.

How do we work on that consistency in our lives?

We have a saying around our office: “You are what you Tweet.” The idea here is that all of us are constantly sending messages (even if we don’t literally use Twitter) that create a perception about us. So we should be thoughtful about what we’re broadcasting and what this says about us. Let’s say you use Twitter as your official complaint box, over time you’ll probably be known as a negative person. Many of us don’t realize the power of the messages we send to our family, friends and acquaintances. Each word is a part of forming our personal brand so following this “Tweet” rule, you begin to realize that the basis of building a brand is consistency.

How do we make this about substance and not a superficial façade of ourselves?

A brand must be about authenticity. People will eventually know if we are trying to present ourselves as something we really aren’t. I had to realize that my personal brand is about being who I was created to be, embracing it, and learning how to grow in that direction. It’s about me being authentic to who I am (and who I’m not), aligning my actions with my values and then living consistently each day. This kind of focus is how we simplify our lives and create the personal brand we want.

For many of us, food is an integral part of the holidays and nostalgic family gatherings. But after all the dinner parties, cocktails and office gift baskets it’s easy find yourself five pounds heavier come January. We asked a health expert for some basic tips for how to enjoy the holidays with a healthy balance.

Holiday Party – Fuel Up

A ravenous person is rarely a rational person. Make sure to eat a protein-packed breakfast and lunch before a holiday party to avoid over-eating. Also, to prevent the mid-party sinking spell, avoid the sugar-loaded drinks like eggnog and instead, opt for red wine or a basic mixed drink like a vodka and soda.

Christmas Feast – The Five Minute Rule

A typical Christmas dinner has around 3,000 calories. That’s more than the average person needs in a day. Go ahead and enjoy that traditional experience but eat slowly and savor the meal. Also, steer clear of eating two days worth of calories in one sitting by waiting five minutes before you go back for seconds. You’ll likely discover that you’re actually satisfied and can wait until the next day’s leftovers for more.

The Office – Wait Until The Afternoon

Your break room has probably already been converted into a holiday gift basket showcase. A piece of fudge, a sugar cookie and a couple of cheese straws can push the size of a typical meal. Wait until the afternoon to check out the sampler and look for something like roasted almonds.

Image courtesy of How Publishing

There’s no shortage of books for men on manners and style but often these are either so old school they are pretentiously irrelevant or they try to be so modern and macho they seem forced and synthetic. To avoid these two extremes, our pick is the practical and philosophical “The Art of Manliness.” Taking a holistic view of a man, this book doesn’t just address the basic skills of a gentleman but goes into the virtues behind the actions. Themes of loyalty, respect, integrity and courage are apparent as you discover how to tip, ask out a woman properly, clean a fish, teach your kid to ride a bike, give a memorable speech, engage in witty conversation, buy a suit, treat a snakebite, etc. Filled with illustrations and insightful quotes, this tool will help make sure your manhood is defined by more than just your age. $11.55

Generalist 1

The unfortunate reality of our fast-paced world is that there’s little time left in each day to learn new things that aren’t directly tied to work. With the help of iMinds, digital audio books that can be purchased through iTunes, that can change.

iMinds Mindtracks cover topics ranging from art and history to science and inventions, sports and entertainment, war and conflict, and pop culture, all packaged in an entertaining format. It’s perfect for those of us who are short on time and attention, but still hungry for knowledge. Start with The Generalist set ($4.95 for 90 minutes of learning), and then move on to more specific genres based on what piques your interest.

Or, give your brain an espresso shot with iMinds’ individual tracks, only about eight minutes long and well worth the 99 cents on iTunes. Wired, Vogue, The LA Times and other reputable pubs praise iMinds for its innovation, dynamic presentation and topical breadth. iMinds.com

Technology has revolutionized the way we live and communicate but it doesn’t mean basic etiquette and respect for each other should be thrown out with the analog TV and landline phone. Here are 8 tips for navigating the digital world with class.

Cell Phones: How did it become the norm to give more importance to the person calling you than the person who actually made an effort to be with you? Honor those in your presence and turn off the cell in restaurants, movies, concerts, church, etc.

Reply All: In a world of information overload we could all use a few less emails. Do your part and avoid unnecessary use of the “reply all” button.

Twitter: No one wants to be irrelevant but a recent survey found that users believe that 40% of tweets are pointless. Be part of a meaningful dialog and use your words and posts to add value to the world.

Narcissism: Bragging about yourself online may be easier than ever (”What are you doing?”) but it’s still just as insufferable as it is in person. Humility may be uncommon but it’s refreshing and draws others to you.

Conflict: Research has shown that email brought with it more passive aggressive behavior, manipulation, sarcasm, and depersonalization. Simply put, don’t deal with conflict online.

Photos: If a photo of a friend isn’t flattering and you know they wouldn’t want it plastered on a billboard, don’t post it online.

Headset: It’s great while you’re driving, but your Bluetooth device is not an accessory. Once you’re finished with your phone conversation, take it off.

Personal Space: Loud ringtones, a glowing screen in a dark theater, someone inexplicably yelling into a cell phone. We’ve all witnessed “that guy” so let’s strive hard not to become him by simply being aware of others around us.