Finding your character's voice is akin to discovering a hidden gem – it takes time and effort, but once uncovered, it shines brightly and sets you apart from the rest. Yet many personal brands I've trained are looking for a shortcut to finding their voice.  

This is not a substitute for developing a full character brand profile, but it may help you as you discover traits that round out your brand. 

 By answering three crucial questions, you can begin to unveil the core of your character's voice:

The "I Am" Statement: Identify the essence of your personality by completing the sentence, "I am _______." Force yourself to identify who you are, not what you do. For example, "I am a hopeless romantic", "I am shallow but sincere" or "I am an eternal optimist." These are all strong "I am" statements.

Then, support the statement with anecdotes and stories. You'll find it to be much more colorful!

The "I Was" Statement: Describe your history by completing the sentence, "I was _______." Again, do not list facts, but character traits.  Good examples are "I was afraid to fail", "I was lonely", or "I was always happy."

Use this statement to fuel stories that showcase past experiences that explain why you were that way. The "I was" statement adds depth. 

The "Story of My Life" Statement: Identify a recurring theme or obstacle by completing the sentence, "_______ is the story of my life." This can be a barrier, battle, or nemesis that has always been in your way. For example, "Searching for Mr. Right is the story of my life" or "The story of my life is not fitting in."

This statement can help you find personal stories and demonstrate your character's ongoing struggle.

Your character's voice should permeate every aspect of your persona. Imagine how well-known characters would talk about the weather:

• Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) would go into detail about how a snowstorm developed, focusing on the science behind the weather.
   
• Mr. Rogers would assure you that snow is a good thing and provide tips on how to stay warm and dry on a windy day.
   
• Jerry Seinfeld would poke fun at the reasons why people are going out in this weather.
   
• Donald Trump would declare it the worst snowstorm in history, brought on by the left. It's really, really bad.
   
• The Joker (from Batman) would claim it as a personal attack on the city, laughing at the damage and how upset life will be.

While this exercise doesn't replace a character profile, it can jumpstart the process  and push you further down the path. It may lead to uncovering captivating personal stories that help you realize traits that can be exploited even more.

For more details on how to build a 5-Star Character Brand profile, check out the full self-guided on-demand course with all the tools and resources to fully develop your personality here.