Balancing my life as an aspiring DJ and a sports management graduate student has taught me a great deal about personal branding. At first, I felt like I was in two separate worlds, with one in the world of music and creativity, while the other was in sports and professionalism. My DJ experience has enabled me to connect with people, remain adaptable, and think creatively, while my sports background complements my organizational and leadership skills.
In both industries, I have found that it’s about authenticity. People connect with real stories rather than perfection. I’ve learned to be transparent about my journey and write about the challenges that I face, such as balancing school, work, club sports, music, and lessons that I’ve learned. Building a brand isn’t just about logos or aesthetics but rather showing who you are, what you value, and what drives you every day.
Your identity doesn’t have to fit in one box since the best brands are multidimensional. Embrace your different passions and find ways to merge them. Whether you’re a student, athlete, artist, or entrepreneur, your mix of skills and experiences is what makes your brand uniquely yours. I want you to write a list of things that you’re passionate about, and then consider the possibility of potentially building a brand around them. Out of all the eras to try and build a brand for yourself, now is the perfect time!
(The picture is an AI-generated image of building a personal brand in DJing and sports.)
My side of the booth 