What You Can Learn From A Unibrow

In my blogs, I often talk about the importance of having a personal brand and taking what you have and marketing it in a way that makes you stand out. It's good advice and I can't stress enough how much it can help with your job search.

Earlier this week, I ran across a great example of this very thing. Anthony Davis, a basketball player that will most likely be the No. 1 Pick in the NBA Draft this year, has trademarked the phrase "Fear the Brow" and "Raise the Brow". For those who don't keep up with basketball, Davis has a very large and prominent unibrow. During his time at the University of Kentucky, fans would often refer to him as "the brow".

It might seem as though Davis and his family are taking things a bit far by trademarking the phrases, but during his time at Kentucky, there were many t-shirt makers that used the "Brow" to sell merchandise. At the time, Davis wasn't able to capitalize on it, due to NCAA regulations. After trademarking the phrases, Davis' lawyer had to send several cease-and-desist letters. It appeared to be a situation where if he didn't take control of his own publicity, others would be using it to make a profit, without his consent or control.

As with any sort of brand, personal or professional, having control over your own is extremely important. Leaving the way that others will view you in the hands of anyone other than you is just plain stupid. You have to be your own brand and be in charge of your own reputation. However, the best personal branding lesson you can take from this story is "Embrace your own weirdness".

You see, Anthony Davis has a huge unibrow. It probably has caused him a lot of torment and embarrassment growing up. When he began playing basketball, it was something that made him stand out. Instead of trying to conform by shaving or waxing it (which doesn't look as though it's even possible) he decided to embrace it and make it part of his trademarked personal brand.

We all have things that make us different and cause us to stand out. These are the things that make us who we are. Find what makes you unique and look for ways to incorporate them into your personal brand.

What do you think about Davis trademarking his unibrow? What things do you make part of your brand? Please share your thoughts in the comments.