I spent a good amount of trying to brand what I do and who I am. The best advice I ever received about branding was so simple, yet so powerful: You are your brand. Periodt.

This revelation changed everything for me. As a multi-passionate individual, I’ve often struggled with the traditional notion that we must pick a lane and stay in it. Society loves to put people in boxes with neat labels and titles, but what happens when your creativity, talents, and interests refuse to be contained?

I added my version to that advice: Your name is your brand.

What do you do? Hi, I’m Jonelle Henry. That’s the brand. That’s the title. Because the truth is people want to work with YOU. Sure, your title is important, but who is the heart and soul behind it? Who operates that title? Who makes magic happen behind that title? The title always comes after your name because it’s second in line. Your name means everything, and you should fight to keep it front and center.

Securing Your Digital Identity

I tell my students all the time… one of the best ways to secure your brand upon graduation is to .COM your name immediately! There are plenty of Jonelle Henrys (I googled it!), but JonelleHenry.com belongs to ME! This digital real estate is invaluable, especially for those of us who pursue multiple passions and creative endeavors.

When you own your name online, you create a central hub where all your diverse interests can live harmoniously. It’s your digital home, where you decide how to present the full spectrum of your talents and pursuits. Now full disclosure, I’ve had my domain name longer than I’ve had my website. It took me a while to figure out what to put on my own website. I’ve gone back and forth if it was needed, but today I’m writing this on my website, talking about my multi passionate journey. I didn’t pick one. I picked them all strategically and lined every venture and passion in one central location.

Building your name B.R.A.N.D.

B – Build bridges between your passions While your interests may seem diverse, there’s often an underlying theme or value that connects them. Identify these bridges and use them to explain how your varied pursuits are actually connected parts of your personal brand story. Remember, you’re not diluting your brand by pursuing multiple passions—you’re enriching it.

R – Represent yourself holistically Instead of introducing yourself solely by what you do, lead with who you are. “I’m Jonelle Henry, and I…” When your name comes first, you establish that your identity transcends any single role or title. Your various pursuits are expressions of your brand, not definitions of it.

A – Adapt your emphasis, not your identity You don’t need to share everything with everyone all the time. Learn to emphasize different aspects of your expertise depending on your audience and their needs. This isn’t about hiding parts of yourself—it’s about effective communication that serves the moment while maintaining your integrated personal brand.

N – Nurture an ecosystem, not a hierarchy Instead of trying to structure your passions in order of importance, think of them as an interconnected ecosystem where each element feeds and strengthens the others—and your name is the sun that gives energy to the entire system. When people hire you or collaborate with you, they’re getting access to your full ecosystem of skills.

D – Develop your signature presence Your unique perspective, values, voice, and approach are what unite your diverse offerings under your personal brand. When people connect with you as a person—with your name as your primary identifier—they’re more likely to follow you across different ventures. Consistency in how you show up matters more than consistency in what you’re doing.

The Future Belongs to the Multi-Passionate

In today’s rapidly evolving marketplace, versatility is becoming increasingly valuable. The ability to connect dots across disciplines, to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and to bring fresh perspectives to established fields—these are the hallmarks of the multi-passionate mindset.

So embrace your diverse interests. Own your complexity. And remember: your name is your brand. Everything else is just a subtitle.