Ivan Estrada - Brand With Purpose: Find Your Passion, Stay True to Your Story, and Accelerate Your Career

Copyright 2021 by Ivan Estrada

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.

Every reasonable effort has been made to contact the copyright holders for work reproduced in this book.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Cataloguing in publication information is available from Library and Archives Canada.
ISBN 978-1-77458-041-7 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-77458-042-4 (ebook)

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Edited by Emily Schultz
Copyedited by John Sweet
Proofread by Alison Strobel
Cover and interior design by Peter Cocking
Interior illlustrations by Michelle Clement
Ebook by Bright Wing Media
Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Distributed in the US and internationally by Macmillan

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As we honor ourselves, we can inspire others to honor themselves. And then, what kind of difference can we make in the world?

Princess Sarah Culberson

W hen I met Ivan through our mutual friend, I felt like I had known him my whole life. Even though we are from very different backgrounds, we both grew up feeling we didnt fit in. We shared similar struggles connecting with our identities. It took courage for me to work through my challenge of being adopted and for Ivan to face his challenge of being Latino and LGBT . That journey of overcoming fear and reconnecting with our parents is what bonded us in a deep, heartfelt way. We are both proud of our commitment to continuing education and self-development. This self-reflection is what creates a powerful story.

An author myself, cowriting my memoir A Princess Found was my effort to create a resource for others as I shared my story of connecting to my ancestry and community in Sierra Leone and the family I grew up with in the United States. My book has opened so many doors. Beyond what I could imagine, so many different readers have told me how they relate to my story and feel a connection and feel empowered. Even though I started off being silent and afraid to share on social media, as I have developed my social media presence in the last three to four years, I see how it is a way to connect with so many beautiful people. I meet people from all over the world and have even found cousins through sharing my story. As a late bloomer to social media, I now see how much impact I can have and wish I had started sooner. A recent video interview I did got almost 15 million views and that attention helped raise an unexpected amount of money for my foundation, Sierra Leone Rising. Connections on social media show that so many people support my commitment to our projects, which include building wells and providing access to clean drinking water.

Ivan is a pioneer, a self-made entrepreneur harnessing the power of social media to launch and develop his successful real estate career. He is an inspiration. He is a light, a resource who lifts other people up, someone who cares about the world. He has so many accomplishments and is humble, kind, and generous. Ivan shares his story of self-discovery so that others can identify patterns that shape who we are. It is so wonderful that Brand with Purpose gives the reader inspiration from interviews, case studies, and questions. I wish Id had this book early on, so I could have been better with social media and networking. I am still learning how to manage a team. We all need the support of a team to help move things forward. Ivan shares with us how we can get a team to support us so we can all fulfill our dreams, so we can make a difference in the world.

Ivan takes the reader on a journey inwards, to know who you are, so that you can attract support and growth for your career. He shares questions and insights from his personal journey that helped him become more courageous. This book gives readers access to inspirational stories from leaders and coaches, and it is such a special resource. There is something powerful about having all this information in a book. There are hours of material you can sit with and reread whenever you want. You can go at your own pace and discover your power as you do your own self-reflections.

I hope you become more courageous, honor yourself, let your light shine, and dream bigger on what a difference you can make in the world.

Princess Sarah Culberson

See what our experts say about what brand with purpose means to them:

What we call a brand can only exist if you know what you believe in. How can I use the skills and gifts I have to be of service to the values and causes that mean something to me? How can I use myself in the furtherance of my beliefs? Thats the purpose. Each and every one of us came into this world with a purpose. Our first job is to figure out what that purpose is and our second job is to use our skills in furtherance of that.

Wilson Cruz , actor and producer of Star Trek: Discovery, Visible: Out on Television, and My So-Called Life; LGBTQ activist and national spokesperson with GLAAD

There are choices that I make to protect [my brand]. There are certain shows I wont do; certain kinds of certain things I wont do as far as my career goes. [A brand], its a valuable asset. I may not look like a punk rocker, but I have a punk rock heart. I was born contrary.

Belinda Carlisle , singer and musician; lead singer of the Go-Gos; author of Lips Unsealed

Whatever you are representing, make sure you are so proud of it... Every individual, we have something incredibly dynamic that the whole world wants. That purpose represents who you really are, and put out that brand. Focus on that, build your brand, reach that zone, and put out more product under that brand. That brand is representing the entirety of who you are.

Mark Batson , Grammy Awardwinning music producer, musician, and songwriter for albums with Eminem, Alicia Keys, Beyonc, LeAnn Rimes, and Anthony Hamilton

What are you, what are your dreams? Write out everything you want. Start sharing it with people who support you and your community.

PRINCESS Sarah Culberson , dancer, actor, philanthropist, educator, and author of A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All

Brand with purpose has a top-down and inside-out approach for me. You [are] creating a brand for something that you want to inspire others to do, or [something] that you were inspired by. My brand has two folds... Paying tribute to my mother. And at the same time, I wanted to inspire others to also appreciate sustainability and eating healthy food.

Catherine An , philanthropist and CEO of An Family restaurants, known for Crustacean, Tiato, and An Catering

Have a purpose. Be intentional. Be clear about what you want and what youre putting out in the world. Its going to be more effective and youll have more success. Youll also feel more fulfilled.