Building a successful brand is no easy feat. That's why it takes the skills of a determined leader to get there.
A. The Wherewithal to Evolve
As much as continuity is important when building and maintaining a brand, stagnancy or failure to meet the changing needs of the customer can mean death for a company. Branding attributes should evolve over time as more data and customer feedback are taken into account. Fight for the consistency of your brand, but know when to allow for wiggle room. - Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, AirPR
A. Empathy
Brand building is about how the world sees your brand, not how you see the brand. It's difficult to remove the context you already have and truly step back and evaluate a brand objectively as if you're seeing it for the first time, each time. The best brand builders can "reset" themselves frequently. - Roger Lee, Captain401
A. Passion
In my experience, those who are ready and willing to build a brand show an unrelenting passion for what they do. They're the type of people who are willing to travel non-stop to make their brand come to life. They sacrifice family and personal time to get their brand where it needs to be. This usually means that their brand has more potential for success. - John Hall, Influence & Co.
A. Creativity
Creativity is what helps a brand stand out -- even in a market where other brands offer the same product or service. It's this quality that makes a brand builder successful because they can put a spin on something or add a memorable touch to what they are developing. - Andrew O'Connor, American Addiction Centers
A. Consistency
Consistency matters. You don't get to be a successful brand without a constant drumbeat that says who you are, why you matter, and what you'll do next. - Tim Chaves, ZipBooks
A. Energy
Every successful brand builder I know has a positive energy about them, and that energy sticks to those they work with and partner with each and every day. Having energy leads to successful brands and relationships. - Jason Grill, JGrill Media | Sock 101
A. Tenacity
Every successful brand builder is tenacious. Often, it's not the most qualified, smartest or even the most well-funded person who wins, but the person with the most perseverance. If you are tenacious and believe enough in your vision to keep going when you hit a challenge or rejection, you can find success. - Beth Doane, Main & Rose
A. Vision
An effective brand builder envisions their plan three to five years down the road -- beyond what they see today. They understand that a brand takes time to build and present to the community. By having a vision in mind, the brand builder demonstrates curiosity, which can only help their plan turn into success. - Daisy Jing, Banish
A. Courage
Behind every successful brand is an entrepreneur who isn't afraid to take risks. A successful brand builder is aware of their competition and understands the need to stand out, be unconventional and create a unique voice. Being a risk-taker is taking action on what you believe will lead you to success. - Patrick Barnhill, Specialist ID, Inc.
A. Faith
Successful brand builders have faith in the expertise of their team. Longlasting brands are backed by founders who understand that even creatives experience burnout. Assembling a team of creatives who take turns re-strategizing allows the brand to continue grabbing people's attention and remain current (if not cutting edge). Unfortunately, very few brand builders do this, since they assume brands are driven by perception only. - Cody McLain, SupportNinja
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.