DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL "BRAND"?
With the increasing peek into your entire life afforded by technology - to anyone who cares to look - much more information than you may be aware of is shaping your "brand".
How in control are you of your brand?
Did you even think you had a brand?
Most people believe that branding is for companies like Nike, Coca Cola & McDonald's. However; people are "brands" unto themselves. Thinking of people as brands came to light when the most gifted basketball player in history - Michael Jordan - became the most recognizable name, likeness, jersey, silhouette, BRAND --- "AIR JORDAN" in the world.
By definition - a brand conjures up an IMAGE...an EXPECTATION...an EMOTION...an ASSOCIATION with qualities that far exceed what is accepted as "standard".
Average folks rely on their resume - or some cheesy corporate bio to "paint their brand picture". However; a great many professionals (in a wide array of industries/skill sets) recognize the power of having a brand message - that is multi-dimensional, dynamic and interactive.
The Social Media "revolution" has created a generation of brand conscious professionals who use every outlet availed them to shape/control their public image.
In addition to BRAND MESSAGING; people establish their brand with: WHERE YOU GREW UP (what do people think think of that area, do they know people from that City/Town), EDUCATION (where you went to school, what you majored in, where you ranked, internships you held), PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (what company you work(ed) for - how they "rank" in their industry, the title you held, responsibilities you had, whether you were promoted, the perception of the "type" of people that company hires), REPUTATION (how do you conduct yourself & treat others, what do your peers, authority figures, company/industry influencers think of you personally & professionally), PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/NETWORKS (where you 'belong" & who you rub elbows with adds to your brand perception) SOCIAL ACTIVITY/FAMILY LIFE (what organizations do you support, what restaurants do you frequent, what events do you attend, what causes do believe in, are you married/have children)........all of these dimensions of your life create a perception (BEFORE ANYONE MEETS YOU OR GETS TO KNOW YOU) of what people can expect you TO BE!
Now...pepper in the ability to perpetuate TRUTH or MYTH via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. and you have a full fledged MEDIA MACHINE. With the click of a button; I send whatever message I want to thousands of people.
Make no mistake - there is absolutely a PERSONAL BRAND movement that in the past was reserved for politicians, athletes or entertainers - who with the aid of a Publicist - perpetuated an image/message they wanted the public to have.
As a Recruiter; I am forced to make a speedy evaluation of a candidate and determine whether there is a "match" to my clients' current job openings. When I began my career; people faxed their resume. Now; when people email their resume - it is only part of an ONLINE SCREENING I do to get a better understanding of their BRAND. I look to make sure there is nothing online -MESSAGES/PICTURES- via (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) that my clients or I would find objectionable or cause us to question judgement. It is simply - just a part of the screening process now.
In all of this INFORMATION SATURATION - it is important to remember that what others say about you is infinitely more important & far reaching than what you have to say about yourself. Your personal brand will be comprised of the opinions of and interactions with professionals who have a "perceived credibility" in your field - or in the public arena. So; how you treat people, your integrity, your selflessness, your leadership ability, your 'not so public" achievements....these are the cornerstones of your brand.
So...before you begin to create a DIGITAL PERSONA - it is far more important to look at how you are living - how you treat others, what you stand for, what you do for the greater good, - WHAT EXACTLY SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS FROM A SIMILAR HOME TOWN, COMPARABLE EDUCATION, SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORY....ultimately your brand has more to do with the quality of your person - as opposed to the quantity of your achievements!
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY TITLE OR ACCOLADE THAT HOLDS AS MUCH MEANING TO ME AS "DADDY" - SK
How in control are you of your brand?
Did you even think you had a brand?
Most people believe that branding is for companies like Nike, Coca Cola & McDonald's. However; people are "brands" unto themselves. Thinking of people as brands came to light when the most gifted basketball player in history - Michael Jordan - became the most recognizable name, likeness, jersey, silhouette, BRAND --- "AIR JORDAN" in the world.
By definition - a brand conjures up an IMAGE...an EXPECTATION...an EMOTION...an ASSOCIATION with qualities that far exceed what is accepted as "standard".
Average folks rely on their resume - or some cheesy corporate bio to "paint their brand picture". However; a great many professionals (in a wide array of industries/skill sets) recognize the power of having a brand message - that is multi-dimensional, dynamic and interactive.
The Social Media "revolution" has created a generation of brand conscious professionals who use every outlet availed them to shape/control their public image.
In addition to BRAND MESSAGING; people establish their brand with: WHERE YOU GREW UP (what do people think think of that area, do they know people from that City/Town), EDUCATION (where you went to school, what you majored in, where you ranked, internships you held), PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (what company you work(ed) for - how they "rank" in their industry, the title you held, responsibilities you had, whether you were promoted, the perception of the "type" of people that company hires), REPUTATION (how do you conduct yourself & treat others, what do your peers, authority figures, company/industry influencers think of you personally & professionally), PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/NETWORKS (where you 'belong" & who you rub elbows with adds to your brand perception) SOCIAL ACTIVITY/FAMILY LIFE (what organizations do you support, what restaurants do you frequent, what events do you attend, what causes do believe in, are you married/have children)........all of these dimensions of your life create a perception (BEFORE ANYONE MEETS YOU OR GETS TO KNOW YOU) of what people can expect you TO BE!
Now...pepper in the ability to perpetuate TRUTH or MYTH via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. and you have a full fledged MEDIA MACHINE. With the click of a button; I send whatever message I want to thousands of people.
Make no mistake - there is absolutely a PERSONAL BRAND movement that in the past was reserved for politicians, athletes or entertainers - who with the aid of a Publicist - perpetuated an image/message they wanted the public to have.
As a Recruiter; I am forced to make a speedy evaluation of a candidate and determine whether there is a "match" to my clients' current job openings. When I began my career; people faxed their resume. Now; when people email their resume - it is only part of an ONLINE SCREENING I do to get a better understanding of their BRAND. I look to make sure there is nothing online -MESSAGES/PICTURES- via (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) that my clients or I would find objectionable or cause us to question judgement. It is simply - just a part of the screening process now.
In all of this INFORMATION SATURATION - it is important to remember that what others say about you is infinitely more important & far reaching than what you have to say about yourself. Your personal brand will be comprised of the opinions of and interactions with professionals who have a "perceived credibility" in your field - or in the public arena. So; how you treat people, your integrity, your selflessness, your leadership ability, your 'not so public" achievements....these are the cornerstones of your brand.
So...before you begin to create a DIGITAL PERSONA - it is far more important to look at how you are living - how you treat others, what you stand for, what you do for the greater good, - WHAT EXACTLY SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS FROM A SIMILAR HOME TOWN, COMPARABLE EDUCATION, SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORY....ultimately your brand has more to do with the quality of your person - as opposed to the quantity of your achievements!
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY TITLE OR ACCOLADE THAT HOLDS AS MUCH MEANING TO ME AS "DADDY" - SK
