Branding Appalachia: From Stereotype to Story | Kevin Mullins | TEDxJohnsonCity

Career & Identity - The speech discusses the speaker's experience of being stereotyped and underestimated after a company acquisition by a New York City firm [1][5][10] - The speaker was initially excited about the opportunity but felt out of place and judged, leading to a diminished role and eventual job loss [3][6][12][14] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of defining one's own identity through purpose, voice, and actions to avoid being branded by others [18][19][20][21] Branding & Strategy - The speaker transitioned from graphic design to brand strategy, helping businesses and individuals build their identity from within [21][22] - A brand is defined as the feeling that follows a name, reputation, and rhythm, lived out loud through purpose, voice, and actions [22][23] - The speaker encourages individuals to own their story and turn stereotypes into personal narratives [24] Personal Growth - The speaker's experience led to self-doubt and questioning of their talent and worth [15][16] - The speaker found inspiration in a quote from Dolly Parton: "Find out who you are and do it on purpose" [16] - The speaker identified three anchors of identity: values/purpose, voice/perspective, and actions/choices [18][19][20]