Company sales are down, people are scared of losing their jobs and I am starting to hear the words “build your (personal or business) brand” ad nausea again. The last time was during the last economic downturn and the time before that.. you guessed it.
But things are different this time (although anyone who remembers Clue Train Manifesto would argue the more things change the more they stay the same) and as quickly as you might think you can create, build or control a brand, I assure you, someone will point out just how little control you have.
“But Bill,” you say, “what about all the people who offer to help me build my brand?” Okay, I will cut them some slack. I am sure you can can create a “brand” new you IF YOU LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN’T CAPTURE YOUR EVERY MOVE WITH THEIR CELL PHONES or provide live commentary about your actions through a variety of media. At a minimum you would need to live in a society where others don’t have access to the most powerful communication platforms we have ever seen; they can’t blog, tweet, post photos or video, make comments on other’s websites, etc. In this world I am sure you can control your bra… reputation.
#jb4520 @billhandy floundering while teaching us WordPress. Poor guy.
Case in point, recently I had received some positive press regarding my involvement in a Social Media class I teach. Three interviews in three days isn’t a bad ratio. People are asking for my autograph and the speaking engagements are coming in by the dozens (not really… but a few tweeple sent me some love… anywhooo) and then, while trying to teach my awesome Social Media students how to put a twitter badge onto their wordpress site all my glory came crashing down. It was bad enough being in front of the students (oh, for sure they were soooo supportive of my struggles… By the way, it is not possible to put a Twitter Badge on your wordpress site unless you host it yourself. Yes, I know that now.) one of my students, from the third row, pulls out his phone, clicks away and posts this photo to Twitpic.
There it is, my reputation. Make no mistake about it, it’s just part of my overall reputation. Not sure what all that includes, only the world can truly say, but I hope it includes: good guy, fun, willing to help others, intelligent, doesn’t take himself too serious, makes a receding hairline look cool, etc.
My point, you can’t make this stuff up, you can’t make a new you , you can’t invent or reinvent you, especially in today’s environment. At best, you can be (note I didn’t say create) an improved you if you try hard and really want it.
If that is what you want, here is my seven step method to improving yourself to be more marketable/desirable: Step: 1. Do good, 2. Be nice to people and animals, 3. Work hard, 4. Be truthful, 5. Give back to your community, 6. Don’t ever stop learning, 7. share that knowledge with others, and last, define those positive traits you find desirable in others and work hard to achive them.
There you have it, an improved you, one which anyone would want to have work for them or know.
aw, work hard and be nice to people — the abridged version of how to succeed in life.