I was lucky enough to know a gentleman who used to be the Marketing Director for Disney. He later wrote a book on branding and the psychology behind it—really interesting guy.

And when he sat down with people to “help with their marketing,” it felt less like a business meeting and more like therapy: a deep dive into who you are, what you stand for, and what people actually remember about you.

One of his go-to questions was:

“What’s your visual hammer?”

In other words—what’s the one visual thing people instantly associate with you?

He’d then ask people to close their eyes and picture the brand they personally identify with. Not the brand they think they should say—the one they genuinely love.

The answers were all over the map: Chanel, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Tiffany’s, Lululemon… and everything in between.

And the point wasn’t the label.

The point was what it signals—how you show up, what experience you create, and how people perceive you before you ever say a word.

Branding is an experience.

So think about it. Really think about it.

What’s your favorite brand?

What do people remember about you?

Do you always wear a hat or red lipstick?
Is your hair a “statement,” or are you beautifully bald with a head that would make Mr. Clean jealous?

And if you have no idea what your visual hammer is, ask the people you trust around you—and tell them upfront: don’t be nice, be honest.

Because this isn’t about vanity.
It’s about clarity.

Which brings me to why I’m sharing this.

I want you to think about the impression you leave.

Are you polished?
Casual?
Are tennis shoes your go-to with every outfit?

Again—no wrong answers.
But you do need to know what you’re communicating as a brand, because it bleeds into everything.

Including your marketing.

Are you handing someone a $4M listing presentation on flimsy copy paper?
Is your collateral professionally printed—or does it look like it survived a jammed copier?

Details matter.
Because details are the brand.

So maybe it’s time for a personal assessment. A real one.
A deeper look at how you present, how you’re perceived, and whether your visuals and materials match the experience you say you deliver.

And one more thing:

Strong brands don’t just say who they are.

They show you. Every time.