I am a newbie to the world of ‘Personal Branding’ but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have a bit to say on the topic.

When I think about it in its most basic form, it’s really just finding out who you are and making a name for yourself. Being a twenty-something, I most equate it with leaving your parents’ home for the first time, or maybe even second time, and learning about yourself, standing on your own two feet. Find out where your skillset lays, become good at it (I mean, ridiculously proficient), let it fill you with passion, and then use that passion to build your brand persona.

I think I’d have to say the three most obvious steps in developing your personal brand are:

1) Cut the crap (out) – Finding your niche

In order to find your strengths, it is first necessary to remove the crap from your life. We all have obligations in life that must be dealt with in order to get to the cream, what we enjoy doing. No one is going to cleanse your palate for you and hand you your life’s greatest passion.

Say “No.” Tell people that are infringing on your time that you need to focus your energy elsewhere. That is the only way you will be able to find out what your strengths are and focus on them.

2) Exploit yourself – Selling who you are and what you do

What I mean by exploitation is this: get your name out there, network. The internet is a powerful tool and anyone who is not on at least 3 social networking sites is underestimating their power.

I am on Brazen Careerist, Linked In, Twitter, and Facebook. I also have blogs for my business persona and greatest interests online at WordPress and Blogger.

If you think that it is too much to handle, I suggest using Card.ly to corral your sites into one, succinct, online business card.

3) It’s a group thing – No man is an island

Most of us would like to think we are independent, that we can take care of ourselves and prove to the world how awesome we are. That’s bullshit. I’m a very independent person, and so far, all it’s gotten me is time at home with the dog.

I love my dog. I do. But she isn’t going to pay my bills or help me find career fulfillment.

Be a joiner. Socialize.

In my area, on Meetup and Linked In alone, there are groups meeting weekly to network and socialize. There is no excuse for being a homebody except that you want to be one.

I have social anxiety to the point of sitting in my car debating whether or not to go into the restaurant/bar/cafe and meet up with the group that is expecting me. But I know that it is in no one’s best interest for me to stay away.

I’m an introvert and, while I enjoy my down time, I also enjoy meeting new people and making them laugh. That alone is worth the trip out to meet-n-greet. Add onto that the fact that I can form new contacts with some of the best and brightest scientists/people in my area, and the answer is simple.

We need each other to succeed. We each have strengths. To overcome our weaknesses, it is imperative to align ourselves with those that compliment our career styles.

Those are the most important tools you need to begin to form your personal brand. But keep in mind, it is not a one-way street. Using Twitter to post updates of your business or personal dealings is great, but if you ignore the followers in your niche who comment on your updates, you are willfully hindering your own network.

They sought you out. They reached out to you. Don’t leave them high and dry, or you’ll be back at square one.