Ouch. I keep reading about personal branding being a tool that sets you up to be tomorrow’s leaders. Why do old people always say this to young people? And, why do young people repeat it?
Does anyone wake up in the morning and say, “I hope I’ll be tomorrow’s leader.” When they wake up the next day, they a) discover that hope is not a strategy, and b) that tomorrow is yet another day away.
Only fools…
Don’t be fooled by anyone who says you can’t lead today. Truth is: if you’re not leading something today, someone else is. And, they aren’t waiting for you to wake up and say, “Thanks for keeping my spot warm, move over, I’m leading now.”
They will look down at you from their perch of leadership (no matter how minor) and kick you back down among the crowd of followers. (They probably won’t actually kick you. What they will do is more covert: steal your ideas, not pass along a great concept you offered up or just talk you down to their leader.)
Here today in the precious present
Personal brands of earth: wake up. It’s today. Lead today. Whenever it turns out to be tomorrow, you just keep on leading. Don’t be fooled by that “tomorrow’s leader” ambition killer Kool Aid, even if it they say it’s good for you. It’s not. It’s good for them.
Seth Godin famously says that you belong to a tribe (maybe several) and within that tribe you can step up and lead it. Maybe you’ll lead a particular sub-group or lead on a particular project.
I’m sure you can think of something in every segment of your life, where you can initiate a plan, project or program and lead. Consider your work, social life, community, worship group, family, sports club, hobby… the places where you can exercise leadership is almost infinite.
When leaders above you and around you see you leading by virtue of your own initiative, you’ll be promoted as a leader of greater and greater authority. Your sphere of influence and control will widen. You’ll meet other leaders. You’ll recommend each other for choice assignments. You’ll invent. Become CEO of your life and probably others.
Study leadership, and make that part of your personal brand. Remember you take on responsibility for the people you lead, just as much as the outcome from their actions.
The sooner you take leadership roles, the better.
Right now would be good.
Author:
Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! & Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen.
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Luv this post… Go Big Today..Be Big Tomorrow
it is true that those who don’t command themselves will be be commanded. Leadership starts inside, it starts with commanding yourself. In other words we are all leaders today and now, and if we are not then it is time to pull yourself together and be a leader
[...] Personal Brands are Today’s Leaders, Not Tomorrow’s | Personal … [...]
Leadership is all about influence and that is what personal branding is. Let us go for it
Leadership begins by doing the little things that build one’s confidence. It may be volunteering to lead up a small project at work or with a local charity or organizing a special initiative with the family. When people build their confidence in leading small projects, they will then have the confidence to lead the big projects. The key is to get started!
Love your work Nance.
I find it interesting to watch and listen to how people approach the concept of Personal Branding and Leadership. People who take the attitude of, “when this happens, then I’ll do that” continue to get poor, or undesired results; vs the act “As if now” attitude creates progress, momentum and builds brand equity from today. Lead from wherever you are and be ready for whatever comes your way!
[...] When I was in high school, a teacher once told me ‘you’re one of tomorrow’s leaders.’ [...]