Is your personal brand driven by business or ego?
I was considering this question the other day while mowing the lawn, listening to my iPod, when the best example of a personal brand rang through my ears: Johnny Cash’s, “Man in Black.”
Certainly every person willing to put themselves on stage has a strong sense of self. And at the same time, they can leverage their personal brand to do great things. Johnny Cash knew his niche, and therefore his power: a bigger-than-life balladeer for America’s downtrodden.
Chris Brogan, a social media mentor, offers some great insights on personal branding. He has a free e-book, “Personal Branding for the Business Professional”. It covers:
- Why Build a Personal Brand? A personal brand gives you the ability to stand out in a sea of similar products.
- Hints About Brand in General: Remember that trying to develop a personal brand involves differentiating in a Coke vs. Pepsi world.
- The Human Side of Brand: Brands are complex and not especially one dimensional. Donʼt try to be a one-note experience.
- The Technology of Brands: How does Google come to accept you as the
authority on something? - But How? Brogan offers 100 ways to build your personal green brand online.
- Elements of a Personal Brand: Be yourself, offer value, join the conversation, and innovate, are just a few of his tips on how to build your personal brand.
- Passion Drives Your Personal Brand: “Thinking and Planning Passion” is what fuels the best of what we do.
- Passion is Rarely Aligned with What is Popular: If you’re in the current wave, ride it. But don’t seek out something to do based on the wave.
- Passion is Hard to Fake: Authenticity matters!
- Passion Includes Mistakes and Failures: Seek the edges and make a mark.
- Passion Isn’t a Me Too Game: Be yourself all the way to the core.
- What’s Next?
I’ve shared only some of the highlights for this terrific e-book, and I highly recommend you downloading and using the information in the PDF.
In a future post, I will look at a variety of personal brands that have many shades of green online. In the meantime, please let me know your thoughts on personal branding, especially as it relates to those people, products and companies that are attempting to brand themselves “green” in an ever-skeptical “greenwashed” world.
Also, I can’t leave you without sharing, “Man in Black”
“Man in Black.”
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he’s a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me.
Well, we’re doin’ mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin’ cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought ‘a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin’ for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen’ that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen’ that we all were on their side.
Well, there’s things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin’ everywhere you go,
But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything’s OK,
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
‘Till things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black.
