If you haven’t created your personal brand or it’s not what you want it to be this post will give you some inspiration to get started.
Ready, set, go
Unfortunately, many people spend too much time thinking about building their personal brand instead of getting started immediately in the building process. This wastes time and increases how long it takes until you receive your first break from creating your personal brand. And believe me — the breaks really do happen!
In my first post on the Personal Branding blog I shared with you my personal branding story and some of the incredible opportunities that have come my way because of my personal brand. I’m very thankful for the initial success that has come my way and I know all of you can do something similar if you dedicate yourselves.
Keep in mind, when I started out on this personal branding thing I didn’t even have a personal brand, you couldn’t find me on Google, I didn’t see the point to Twitter, I had only experimented with blogging, I didn’t know how to monitor the conversations taking place on the web and I certainly didn’t understand how to mesh together my social networks to create a tribe. I was raw, uncut, and inexperienced when it came to building my personal brand. But, I did have a whole ton of guts, hustle, determination, the desire to learn and persistence — with that combination I could not lose, you will not either!
Make a choice
Here is a list of the opportunities that have come my way because of my choice to build my personal brand:
- ASKED to be the featured blogger for all things Sales 2.0 at SalesGravy.com the top sales community on the web
- ASKED to be a contributing author for the Personal Branding blog an AdAge top 30 blog
- ASKED to be a contributing author for Sales2.com the top Google ranked Sales 2.0 website
- ASKED to be a speaker at a Sales 2.0 panel for a Boston boutique investment banking firm
- ASKED to be a part of rolling out Web 2.0 communications for EMC’s sales force and our VP of sales (I work at EMC)
- ASKED to interview top sales leaders who are looking for more exposure to share their message
- Quoted in BusinessWeek on how I used Linkedin to cut the virtual line and get the job I wanted
When I look at that list I’m blown away and extremely thankful I decided to create and promote my personal brand — it is one of the best decisions that I have made in my life. I would not be where I am today if I had not created my personal brand and I would be losing opportunities to those who did.
I encourage all of you to take the steps to begin building your personal brand — all of the information you need is here on this blog in the archives or through the search feature. You can also ask all of the contributing authors questions when you have them. For those of you who have already created your personal brand — keep making it better and watch your brand grow and evolve.
The opportunities are out there. If you build it they will come!
Have a fantastic and relaxing weekend.
Author:
Chad Levitt is the author of the New Sales Economy blog, which focuses on how Sales 2.0 & Social Media can help you connect, create more opportunities and increase your business. Chad is also the featured Sales 2.0 blogger at SalesGravy.com, the number one web portal for sales pros, the professional athletes of the business world. Make sure to connect with him on Twitter @chadalevitt.
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Chad: It’s great to read this inspiring post and the possibilities that can be achieved. Congratulations — You absolutely deserve it! I just wanted to drop you a quick note to inform you I’ve finally launched my blog, Social Media Reinvention Blog. Been a long time coming hasn’t it? Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/vDDf9. As a heads-up, I referenced you, Dan Schawbel, and Jun Loayza in my featured post on how Me 2.0.’s Lessons helped me mobilize my personal branding/reinvention journey.
As you know, I always appreciate the benficial advice you generously share every week. The encouragement and calls-to-action in previous posts like this one kept me going when I sometimes privately wondered, “Is this all really worth it?” or “How do I find time to do all this?” The answer of course is: Absolutely, yes it’s worth it but only if you make the personal choice and commitment to follow-through. After that, finding a way to make time comes a lot easier. Thank you for being a trusted and reputable guide to myself and many others as we continue our respective, personal branding/reinvention journeys.
Good points Chad. People often think that they need to have things perfect before starting. The opportunities can’t find you if you’re not putting yourself out there.
Chad,
Congrats love the real world example of the benefits of personal branding. This is a great testimonial to the power of effective brand building!
Hi Chad,
I want to have a personal brand, but how do I decide what that brand is? Help! Clueless and not sure where to begin.
Thanks in advance.
This piece is invigorating, I will keep building mine till i get “ASKED’ too
Another point of interest: Once you start building your brand, you are always motivated to do more and more. It’s a strange addiction! You wake up thinking, “What can I do for my brand today…” Sound silly? It will be until you “get it.” Mr. Levitt, great piece.
Samuel I. Diener