From family to business - life for social animals like us is all about networks.

Even the most hierarchical, strictly-business networks are made of people. And they want to know who you are. So, if you want to grow a strong professional network you need to showcase your unique personality. 

The uncomfortable truth is: Being unique means being different from the mainstream at times.

That takes courage but it's also freeing because it means you are not only allowed to be yourself . The combination of character traits, interests and skills - your personal brand - is an asset only you can contribute to the network. Here are 3 tips on how to cultivate and showcase it:

1. Know yourself: Knowing who are you and what makes you unique will help to express yourself authentically and to grow to who you want to be. But don't be too perfectionist about it. You don't need to have everything figured out to start creating your personal brand. It will change anyways as you grow. But it's good to reflect on all the things that make you YOU every now and then.

2. Show your skills and talents (and become a master at them). Remember you don't only have professional skills. Probably it's your set of soft skills that make you stand out from a bunch of colleagues.

3. Embrace and foster your passions: If you think you don't have any try to remember what you loved as a child.

Your personal brand represents you in all your glory: your career, your hobbies, your quirks. Whatever you want the world to see - don't be afraid to show it.

What's a thing about you that makes you unique?