Derrick Kwa is today’s guest blogger. He is the youngest member of the personal branding community. I’m really happy to have Derrick in the network and am excited to share his post with you, from the perspective of a young individual, with new age insight. Derrick is a 17 year old from Singapore. Having quit school, he’s now trying to forge his own path. He blogs at Sui Generis, where he encourages others to not just go through the motions of life, but to think about what they are doing, and topursue their passions.
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I don’t think there could ever be a “how-to” guide about personal branding. It’s such a diverse field, precisely because we are all different. There’s no fixed way of going about it. But I do believe that there are some common traits great personal brands have. So, here are 5 things that make up a great personal brand (in my opinion).
Boldness –Dictionary.com defines “bold” as “beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action”. And that’s a huge part of a great personal brand. Take Scott “the Nametag Guy” Ginsberg, for example. He’s got a great personal brand, he’s known for approachability. Why is he known as THE expert on approachability? Because he went beyond the limits. He wears a nametag 24/7 (he has one tatooed on his chest). Now that’s being bold.
Relationships – A brand is only as good as what people say about it. It’s not about what you say, but what others say about you. And why would others say good things about you? Strong relationships. The friendships you build, and the people you know, are a big part of your personal brand. Get associated with great people. They will help inspire you to go further, and they will further your personal brand. Want an example of how relationships help build a great personal brand? Just look at Chris Brogan.
Abilities – A great personal brand plays to your abilities. It’s about doing what you are good at, and focusing on that. If you can’t swim, there’s no way you can brand yourself as a champion swimmer. Branding is about marketing. And have you ever seen a marketer talk about/focus on the negatives of the product? Go with your strengths. It’s what sets you apart. Outsource the rest.
Natural – Your personal brand needs to be authentic. It shouldn’t be forced, but should be something natural to you. Don’t force yourself to be something that you’re not. Focus on what you’re passionate about, what you believe in, and brand yourself around that. If you’re not authentic, if you’re not being natural, people will be able to tell.
Different – As human beings, we’re all unique creatures. Our personal brand should be the same. A good personal brand stands out. It’s different. Remember “Where’s Waldo”, and how hard it was to find him? In real life, people aren’t going to spend the time looking for you if you’re a “Waldo”, no different from anyone else. You need to be distinct, and easy to spot from a mile away.
Boldness, Relationships, Abilities, Natural, Different. The 5 building blocks of a great personal B.R.A.N.D (at least in my opinion).
How are you building your personal brand?
