The Power of Shaq's Personal Brand

Recently, Cav's new superstar Shaqille O' Neal mentioned Tremont's Lago Restaurant on Twitter. His message said that Lago is the best restaurant in Cleveland and that the lasagna is incredible.

With more than two million people following Shaq's tweets every day, the word spread quickly. Lago Restaurant owner Fabio Salerno said he had more than 100 people calling for reservations just because of Shaq's recommendation. "You can't believe the impact that Shaq has had on our business," he said.

It's no wonder. Shaq is a true celebrity with a powerful personal brand. Clearly, he stands out in his field and delivers on his brand promise to play exciting basketball.

But you don't have to be a celebrity to have a personal brand. Everyone has a personal brand. Like any brand, it's your essence: who you are, your values, what your personal goals and mission are - from the inside out - what makes you different than anyone else.

According to Tom Peters, bestselling author of "In Search of Excellence" and other business publications as well as the article "The Brand Called You," everyone has a chance to stand out, to be a brand worthy of note.

And while your tweets or recommendations might not cause a stampede to your favorite restaurant, you still have an opportunity to build and leverage your unique points of distinction and deliver on your brand promise - every day. After all, as long as you have a personal brand, why not make it as positive as possible?