In 5 Years... This Will Set You Apart
From Gig Economies to Creator Economies…
Jacked up prices to the next unemployment collapse…
Things are changing quickly.
Regardless of the circumstance, when things go sideways it brings out the survival mode in people. A certain level of internal and external chaos ensues.
Taking a closer look at the job market we already know a few things…
LinkedIn is rising in popularity yet again as people freshen up their resumes and begin to ‘network’ again.
Large companies are cutting their spending putting hundreds of thousands of people (many with families to provide for) on the chopping block.
The tumultuous path of starting a one-person business will be propped up as an incredible option for those who are tired of working for ‘the man’
Regardless of whether you already work for yourself or not, the looming recession should bring new significance to an important component of your future success - and potentially your survival.
3 Primary Elements of any Personal Brand
Although the concept is ancient, the what, how, and why of personal branding are climbing the ranks in search engines as we speak.
And like dieting advice - it gets way overcomplicated.
If you remember several weeks ago, I sent you an M&M entry on why I believe you need a personal brand, detailing 3 reasons behind my strong convictions.
Today, I want to shed a little more light on the topic.
For anything to stick, it must be made simple enough to not only understand but also to execute - the reward is found in the actions you take.
There are 3 primary components of a Personal Brand - This is all you need to focus on.
You
Your Audience
Your Means of Connecting with Them
Disclaimer:
The need for branding yourself is for all of us. It doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to sell something for money or not.
Remove the notion that I’m referring to anything around logos, fonts, websites, taglines, etc… I’m not. This entry is completely separate from what branding agencies/departments do.
Before We Move On…
What is a Personal Brand?
The first confusion in this space is the understanding of what a personal brand is.
A personal brand is simply an individual with a belief and a message to share.
You don’t have to sell a product or a service in order to have a personal brand.
Think about Martin Luther King Jr. ...
He sold an idea that had so much conviction behind it, that what really sold was a belief.
He crafted a message to spread his belief.
He lived a story that backed his belief.
He shared that belief through (at the time) modern communication methods.
MLK built a compelling personal brand, to say the least.
It wasn’t about him, he was just the vessel.
He was on a mission.
To solve an incredibly big problem.
Person + Message = Core of a Personal Brand
How This Could Look For You
Let’s dial it back a bit and talk about you. I’d love to see you change the world for the better, but most of us aren’t aiming at fronting movements that alter history like Mr. King…
If you have any interest whatsoever in new opportunities and experiences being offered to you then branding yourself is a no-brainer.
Just share what makes you, YOU.
interests
skills
offers
personal stories
and so on… That’s literally it.
Because even if it seems minuscule, those elements above shape your beliefs and the message you stand behind.
The game lies in who you want your audience to be, how to find them (or them find you), and what you do with the audience you begin to build. Stay tuned for the next several M&M’s I send you cause we’re gonna dive on into all of it baby.
The Next 5 Years…
If you take this to heart, over the next 5 years (probably less than that honestly…) the brand of YOU will begin to thrive while many others will not be so fortunate.
Even taking baby steps now like updating your Linkedin, dedicating an hour a week (the more the better though) to posting your ideas online, being helpful in forums, and sharing solutions that would be valuable to people that you’d like to have as connections.
Fact is:
Publicly standing for something even if it’s controversial, will begin to position you as someone with a belief who is bold enough to show up for it.
When employers or those looking to partner decide to recruit, your online presence will put you above the rest.
No matter the topic, the reason few are chosen and many are ignored because only a few had the foresight and determination to position themselves appropriately.
Investing in yourself is the only real investment you can count on in the end.
There’s a lot on the line and you know exactly what’s at stake for you specifically if things turn sour. Don’t be the ‘shoulda-coulda-woulda’ person.
I am not at all trying to fear-monger. I just think the timing is interesting and is worth increasing the priority of this conversation.
Regardless of political, social, or economical climates, investing in yourself is historically the best move one could make. As solopreneurs, our mission is to grow in all areas of life. My mission is to see to it that you get there.
We’ll expand into the first of three primary components of building a thriving personal brand next week.
Til Next Time ✌️🙂
Ev
