Developing & Branding Your Personal Competitive Advantage

Dancing with the Stars returns on ABC September 24 with a whole new cast of character contestants exposing their personal brands to the world.  In many cases building a brand to a different audience.  

I have never seen the reality show and will not this year either, but I am intrigued to learn about the motivations and brand strategy behind each person.  Some might be looking for exposure because they have been out of sight out of mind, some looking for household name recognition and others changing careers.  A great example is Emmitt Smith and what he gained from his experience last year on Dancing with the Stars.  Read my post from last year after seeing Emmitt Smith on 20/20.  The brand development strategy in his case was unmistakable.    

Following is this years cast.  Watch for the brand awareness campaign on and off the show from:

Mark Cuban, the billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner

Floyd Mayweather Jr. the welterweight boxing champ

Wayne Newton 

Melanie Brown, aka "Scary Spice" and Mel B.

Sabrina Bryan of Disney Channel's "Cheetah Girls."

Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves.

Actress Jennie Garth ("Beverly Hills, 90210").

Model-actress Josie Maran.

Soap star Cameron Mathison ("All My Children").

Singer Marie Osmond.

Model Albert Reed.

Actress Jane Seymour (" Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman").