"I spent my entire 20s thinking that I was a writer. When I threw away that label, I started writing like there was no tomorrow. Go figure."
Brilliant.
annie
· 2 years ago
Very timely for me, I love the idea of branding and controlling your own image, even in everyday life.
Behind the cam
· 2 years ago
Me too Annie. I always thought I'd be good at self-promoting, once I got over myself, and also once I was reached a, uh, "more mature" point in life when I actually had decent "product" to promote. 'Course I had some good stuff back in my teens/twenties to promote too, but I don't think it would have been, say, Twitterable.
Bronwen
· 2 years ago
Sometimes people use "we" instead of "I" not to pump themselves up, but to deflect attention away from themselves. I know we do it. Great post BTW
Jon
· 2 years ago
I prefer to be as hands-off about personal branding as possible. You're either being genuine or you're not. If you are, the rest will take care of itself.
Professional branding requires a more attentive approach but really isn't all that different to me.
-Jon
Rob Brogan
· 2 years ago
I admit that I first came across you when searching myself on Google. Oddly enough though, it seems like I see your name pop up more frequently. Especially via Twitter. I'm not sure how many Brogans there are out there, so there may be no relation at all, but it was pretty weird when I found that you were interested in podcasting. (That's one of my main hobbies.)
Well anyway, I enjoyed the advice in this blog post.
-Rob
aliza
· 2 years ago
ah, you mentioned my idol Madonna. When asked by a reporter 10 years ago who I admired, I said "Martha Stewart and Madonna because they are both in control of their brands and businesses." Of course, this was pre-jail for Martha, but never mind that. I love the idea of re-inventing one's identity like Madonna and really take it to heart, especially the older (read: less cute factor) I get. I've been so out of the loop lately, however, that I feel like I'm stuck in a non-brand limbo, the purgatory of brandaholics.
chrisbrogan
· 2 years ago
Hello to you, Rob! Doubt we're related, but drop me a line. I love knowing more Brogans.
Aliza- you are a brand and then some. Techie Media Mom is a killer brand right now. Hottest ever. Hell,, *I* have http://gnmparents.com for the very reason. I love the space you're in right now.
Good thoughts, everyone.
Whitney
· 2 years ago
Being involved in New media, I see the lines between on stage and off stage blurring. In a lot of ways, this is a good thing- I have always been a WYSIWYG girl anyway.
This means you have to know who you are and try to be centered with that. Even when you have to make hard decisions, say No to someone, or break bad news, if you have a reputation for authenticity and honesty, people take what you say as perfectly acceptable- they aren't searching for subtext or subtitiles to decode your message, when there isn't any, anyway. If you always have a difference between your professional persona and your real self, then people rapidly start to look for the code.
I've been in meetings where people exchange looks or don't seem to say what they're thinking and feed you a party line, and I HATE this more than anything. Just say it. No matter how bad it is, I'd rather know than start making up my own version or guess at what the heck is really going on.
So maybe the message in personal branding is to ditch the subtitles.
Nick
· 2 years ago
I don't know what does my brand say?
chrisbrogan
· 2 years ago
Nick- quite honestly, your brand says that you're an observer of life. You really find things interesting, and you highlight your passion of what others say and do, in the best of ways. It doesn't say that YOU stand out huge and take big roaring swings at everything, which says to me in turn: Nick's probably a great team player.
Whitney- Party lines are for sucks. : )
Doug Haslam
· 2 years ago
Great post topic Chris-- I have been thinking a lot about personal branding, that's why I re-started my personal blog (which I am still finding a voice for) while still being part of the Topaz blogging/podcasting hydra. Kinda like being in a band and trying to have a successful solo career at the same time, without robbing either of its energy. I credit lots of people for energizing my thinking on that-- you are one of them, Chris Penn of course, and Ed Lee is another who had a similar post that kicked me in the head and got me going.
Keep killin' em, man!
Ted Demopoulos, "Strange Comme
· 2 years ago
Hmmmm, if I decided to become an Elvis, or maybe even a Seth Godin, impersonator, what would that say about my brand . . . :) Seriously though, great post. Personal branding is much more than this nonsense about "be authentic," "just be yourself," etc. Yes, that's important, but there's more as you mention. If I was 100% purely and totally authentic, I'd blog, speak, publicly disseminate info about, and otherwise annoy people with stuff like: great food, biking, saltwater flyfishing, wine, my kids bowel movements, and more. ALL my interests, ALL the time.
But focus matters, as do many other things
Jon
· 2 years ago
To Ted's point (assuming the "nonsense" label was applied to my comment, as well):
If you have a genuine or authentic desire to connect with people in a way that isn't 100% about your interests 100% of the time, then that will happen fairly naturally. The point was more about presenting one's self in a way that is focused or "on message" without appearing to be a glad-handing salesman or a fake.
Yes, personal branding does require diligence and effort. What I'm saying is that, for me, if I'm gearing up to go to a conference (or unconference, as it were) I'm going to be focused on "being genuine" because I'll have a better chance of making real, lasting connections with people, meeting and talking with people whose interests are aligned with or complementary to my own, and avoiding exchanges that are a waste of mine and the other party's time.
"Be genuine" is a guiding principal rather than a strategy or plan. Strategies and plans will vary for each situation or medium. But, speaking personally, I need that guiding principal to keep from drifting off course and/or overcomplicating things, which I tend to do. I need it because it means I can "think" or "strive" less and "be" more, if that makes any sense.
"Simple, honest, easy to work with," as Chris said.
-Jon
Clintus
· 2 years ago
You told me once that you subscribe to people; that you are into people. You see the bigger picture and I think that's what makes you above the rest.
Dan Schawbel
· 2 years ago
Personal Branding will become even more relevant in the coming years, as the population grows, along the side of competition. It is actually very complicated to brand yourself and requires extensive effort at first and then to maintain it over time is a challenge as well.
Thank you very much sir..!it really gave me insight of where actullly i am in percieved frame of other people
Divyesh Dodiya
· 9 months ago
it is your personal Brand that decides the retaintion of the customer or loss of the customer forever.you are the Brand Ambassador of your product and the company you represent.
All Comments
Brilliant.
I know we do it.
Great post BTW
Professional branding requires a more attentive approach but really isn't all that different to me.
-Jon
Well anyway, I enjoyed the advice in this blog post.
-Rob
Aliza- you are a brand and then some. Techie Media Mom is a killer brand right now. Hottest ever. Hell,, *I* have http://gnmparents.com for the very reason. I love the space you're in right now.
Good thoughts, everyone.
This means you have to know who you are and try to be centered with that. Even when you have to make hard decisions, say No to someone, or break bad news, if you have a reputation for authenticity and honesty, people take what you say as perfectly acceptable- they aren't searching for subtext or subtitiles to decode your message, when there isn't any, anyway. If you always have a difference between your professional persona and your real self, then people rapidly start to look for the code.
I've been in meetings where people exchange looks or don't seem to say what they're thinking and feed you a party line, and I HATE this more than anything. Just say it. No matter how bad it is, I'd rather know than start making up my own version or guess at what the heck is really going on.
So maybe the message in personal branding is to ditch the subtitles.
Whitney- Party lines are for sucks. : )
Keep killin' em, man!
Seriously though, great post. Personal branding is much more than this nonsense about "be authentic," "just be yourself," etc. Yes, that's important, but there's more as you mention.
If I was 100% purely and totally authentic, I'd blog, speak, publicly disseminate info about, and otherwise annoy people with stuff like: great food, biking, saltwater flyfishing, wine, my kids bowel movements, and more. ALL my interests, ALL the time.
But focus matters, as do many other things
If you have a genuine or authentic desire to connect with people in a way that isn't 100% about your interests 100% of the time, then that will happen fairly naturally. The point was more about presenting one's self in a way that is focused or "on message" without appearing to be a glad-handing salesman or a fake.
Yes, personal branding does require diligence and effort. What I'm saying is that, for me, if I'm gearing up to go to a conference (or unconference, as it were) I'm going to be focused on "being genuine" because I'll have a better chance of making real, lasting connections with people, meeting and talking with people whose interests are aligned with or complementary to my own, and avoiding exchanges that are a waste of mine and the other party's time.
"Be genuine" is a guiding principal rather than a strategy or plan. Strategies and plans will vary for each situation or medium. But, speaking personally, I need that guiding principal to keep from drifting off course and/or overcomplicating things, which I tend to do. I need it because it means I can "think" or "strive" less and "be" more, if that makes any sense.
"Simple, honest, easy to work with," as Chris said.
-Jon
I speak about this subject all the time in my blog..... www.personalbrandingblog.com