It’s becoming increasingly important for us to be able to stand out as individuals in the marketplace. Whether we work alone as a solopreneur or as an employee in an enormous organization, it’s crucial for us to find ways to differentiate and display our value.

The best way to do this is by building a personal leadership brand.

But how do we do this? There are many ways to perform the steps of creating a personal brand (building websites, designing a social media strategy, etc.) and you can find tons of resources for that online.

But there’s something we must do before those things, and it is the most important step of all.

Before we can tell the world who we are, we need to know who we are. While this seems obvious, it turns out to be much more difficult to do than it is to read. Fortunately, there are 3 easy-to-understand parts to making this happen, and following them will help you build your personal leadership brand. These three steps are:

1. Strengths (Know ‘Em)
2. Space (Carve It Out)
3. Sensei (Get One)

Now at this point, at the risk of being a big tease, I must confess I already wrote about this in great detail in another post. For the full article on this process, visit the LeadChange blog.

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P.S. Bonus reading — I provide a free download link to two phenomenal articles about building a great personal brand in this article.

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“Branding” in the 21st Century isn’t about marketing.

It’s about reality.

And it has almost everything to do with people.

It’s about who your people are.
It’s about how they treat each other.
It’s about how they’re treated by the leadership.
It’s about how they treat your customers (every single interaction, all day long.)

We used to be able to “fake it,” right? All we needed was a great publicist and some connections to mass media. But none of that matters anymore, because in the economy of tomorrow news comes from everywhere, all sides, all the time.

If we’ve learned anything from the seemingly endless business scandals of the last decade, it should be this: what’s hidden won’t stay that way.

Because of this, the “new brand” is all about authenticity: truly doing what you say you will. It’s about integrity, honesty, and transparency.

In the new economy, brands must be grounded in reality (what they really are) AND paint a picture that people like (what they could be) in order to succeed.

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Last week, I told you that Bob Lefsetz, an individual whose updates I read fairly regularly, recently wrote a post called “Credibility.” His list was very insightful, but as he is a music writer, it required a bit of translating for us to get the most out of it in our business world context.

In Part One, we talked about the first 6 ways to build credibility. Here are ideas 7-12:

7. TV is overrated. Bob’s thoughts: “[TV is] broadcasting in an era of narrowcasting. Anybody can be on TV, few can hold an audience captive live. Focus on the latter.” If we wish to be an entrepreneur, author, speaker, thought leader, or linchpin in any kind of business, we definitely need ways to get the word out about what we do. But TV just isn’t the holy grail it used to be. The narrow distribution channels the internet offers have infinitely more potential for building meaningful connections (see #2 & #3). And it’s cheap. TV, notsomuch.
8. Don’t sign with the major label. Like radio (#6), a “major label deal” in music is often seen as some kind of “golden ticket” that can magically make an artist instantly viable. (For awhile this actually worked, but no longer.) Instead, Bob says, “Don’t shoot for the stars, shoot for the street.” The hard-earned following is worth far more in the long run. Also, an independent never has to be worried about being labeled a “sellout.” This again illustrates the striking shift from the goal of “instant impact” to a slowly and intentionally built grassroots movement.
9. Don’t work with any artist without credibility. Good advice for business-types, too. We always need to be mindful of who we’re associating with. Even when it comes to the people we follow on Twitter or groups we belong to on LinkedIn — these associations connect us to certain things in the minds of others. We all know perception is reality, but it’s easy to forget that these tiny, minuscule actions are what create that perception for others.
10. Know that now, more than ever, rewards come to those who wait. A twist on #4 and #8. Bob talks about certain YouTube stars who rocket to popularity and then fizzle quickly. My thoughts? This is simply the internet’s Rule of Remarkability — when the tail is this long, for something to get passed around it must be unquestionably remarkable. If it’s remarkably BAD, it goes viral quickly and dies just as fast. If it’s remarkably GOOD, it usually builds slowly — but with meaning and credibility. Things take time to find their audience.
11. Have fun.This is a huge part of being able to succeed at any difficult endeavor. Why? Because it’s impossible to sustain the obscene amount of work it takes to be remarkable at something we aren’t passionate about. You’ve heard about 10,000 hours, right? Also, we’re typically better at the things that feel “fun” to us. It’s hard to have fun doing something we suck at! We’ve heard it a million times, but it may be worth a reminder: life really is too short to not enjoy the journey.
12. Take risks. I’m only beginning to understand the complexity of this relationship, but there is something symbiotic about success and failure. It doesn’t seem possible to get to success without going through failure, so perhaps the trick is to simply fail faster and smarter. Get your idea/product/group/book/blog/album/business out there and see what happens! It’s the only way to move forward. Go do it.

Thanks again to Bob Lefsetz for creating such a great list.

What do you think? Have we missed anything? Any other credibility builders you’d like to add to the list?

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One of the individuals whose updates I read fairly religiously is an incendiary music writer by the name of Bob Lefsetz. (I’ve mentioned him before; he’s basically a big-picture change-observant thinker disguised as a ballsy foul-mouthed music curmudgeon.)

A few weeks ago, Lefsetz wrote a post called “Credibility.” In my mind, credibility might be the number one “thing” many of us strive for. If we wish to be an entrepreneur, an author, a speaker, a thought leader, or a linchpin in any kind of business, we need to have it. And we need to have as much of it as possible.

In many ways, credibility is what defines our ability to have a career at all, and the amount of credibility we project will determine if we can get paid for what we do — and how big (or small) the check will be.

In his post, Lefsetz defines 12 things a musician needs to do to build credibility and have a career. I think the list is absolutely terrific, but to make it more meaningful for us “over here,” I’m going to translate this list into the business world.

I’ll post the first half today and the last 6 next week, so it’s not completely overwhelming.

The first 6 ways to build credibility are:

1. Focus on the product, the art. To build credibility we need a “thing.” Whether it’s a book, or a company, or some kind of group, people need someTHING to latch on to when they think about you. Think about how people get introduced — as “the author of _____” or “the CEO of _____” or “the founder of _____”. Credibility means we’ve created something tangible — and remarkable.
2. Gain fans. Before something like Twitter, it would’ve been hard to imagine how this idea works in a business context. No longer. We’re all famous now, if only to a couple hundred people. Make those relationships meaningful.
3. Continue to reward the core with product and access. Let people get to know you, and give those who get “it” (whatever you’re doing) more attention. Why? If you’ve achieved any amount of success, these people are a big part of the reason why. Treat them like they’re special — because they are.
4. Don’t try to blow it up too soon! I both love and hate this one. Bob says, “If you’re not willing to wait, you’re not willing to have a career,” and I know it’s true. (If you’ve read read Outliers, you know it too.) But, as a person who loves to make things happen, it sure is hard to be patient. Like a great relationship, or a good wine for that matter, credibility is built over time.
5. Leave money on the table. This is about being both willing and able to say NO to things. (A good chunk of The Dip is about this.) Desperation is in complete opposition to being able to live a strong life. If we aren’t yet in the position to be able to walk away from money, it’s important we find a way to do that before we get too far “in.” Saying no to bad offers now will mean better ones down the road.
6. Unless you play Top Forty music, forget about radio. In music, unknown artists look to radio as a “quick ticket” to the big time. In business this looks different, but we make these kinds of decisions all the time, don’t we? We take the promotion or job we know doesn’t “fit” us because the money’s good, or sign with a company that is shiny on the outside but empty where it counts. Don’t take the shortcuts — they don’t work.

I’ll post the last 6 next Monday!

Do any of these stand out to you? Have you used any? Disagree at all? Ideas to add?

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A few weeks ago, Brazen Careerist Community Leader Ryan Paugh asked me to create a 30-second video about what I thought was the most important thing that could help an individual “rock their career.” Here it is:

The most important thing you can possibly do to have a great career is to know yourself. Research shows that the best leaders in the world don’t have anything in common, with the exception of this one thing — they’ve redefined “success” to mean “self-awareness.” The more we understand ourselves and apply that knowledge in a productive direction the more successful we will be.

But how do we find our area of strength? It boils down to discovering where these three things intersect:

1. Talent
2. Life Experience
3. Passion

Talent is the naturally occurring patterns of behavior we each have, allowing us to effortlessly do some things excellently almost every time. The best way to uncover your innate talent is through an assessment like the Clifton StrengthsFinder™.

Life Experience is made up of the things you know, the skills you’ve gained, and the experiences you’ve had that make you, you. It is the cumulative image of all the formative events in your life, your family background, schooling, etc.

Passion is what makes you get out of bed in the morning. It’s whatever makes your heart beat a bit faster. It’s what you love. These are the things that, when you do them, they never feel like “work” — even if they’re part of your job.

There is also an element of personal Character that encircles all these components, determining whether we focus our unique abilities in a positive or negative way. The whole thing looks something like this:

Feel free to post any questions below.

Also, don’t forget to stop by the terrific social community Brazen Careerist: the kind sponsors of the video above and a community of sincere individuals engaging in meaningful conversations about the world of work. Please consider this your official invitation to join if you’re not already a part!

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Trying to make any kind of career shift can be incredibly frustrating, and through my current search I’ve found there are some dirty little secrets most people just don’t talk about when it comes to job hunting. Here are 7 unconventional, and helpful, things I’ve learned:

1. Everything is your resume (& other resume thoughts)

Your website, your emails, your email signatures, your business cards, your blog, your social media profiles… make them all consistent and flattering. You never know who might be looking at what. (Of course, taking full advantage of social media channels is an “understood” part of this tip.)

About “real” resumes, my biggest finding is this: don’t spend too much time sending resumes. Do you need an amazing two-page resume? Yes, to play the game (see #7), but that is really its only purpose. More than likely it will be a connection (see #6) that will actually catalyze the movement to get you an interview. But you will need a great resume to get there.

2. Have a target = “know thyself”

Know your strengths and know what you want. Have an elevator speech prepared to answer the question, “What do you want to do?” because you will get it. A lot. How can you hit a target if you don’t know what you’re aiming for?

How to do this? First, there’s a huge amount of information on the idea of personal branding online to research (download the two best articles I’ve ever read on personal branding here). Second, I’ve written extensively about strengths, and you can see my “elevator homepage” here.

3. Make it easy for people to help you

When emailing your “inside connections,” always include your latest resume so they don’t have to go digging for it. Also, develop a list of 3 target industries (and then a few company examples within those) for where you’d like to land. Counterintuitive as it sounds, making your desires more specific is what makes it easier for people to think of connections.

4. Set up search agents

Most large companies have web systems in place to create a profile and to search their open positions. Many of these also allow you to set up a “search agent” which will automatically email you new openings that fit your exact criteria as soon as they are posted. Love it.

5. Approach it all from a consulting perspective

Consultants come from the position of helping the company, which is the exact right perspective to have when trying to land a job. Hiring managers want to know what you can do to help them. To this end, ask the recruiter “What are the 3 key things you are looking for in this position?” so you can strategically tailor your interview prep.

The other benefit of this mentality is that consultants (ideally) take the jobs/projects they want — this is a tremendously helpful frame of mind to maintain through the grueling self-esteem “beatdown” that can accompany a job search. We’ve all heard it, but remember, try to interview them as much as they are you.

6. Say yes!

Meet with everyone, make new friends, join professional organizations, expand your circle and be a part of new groups. Search meetup.com for affiliations that make sense for you. Be nice to everyone, say thank you — A LOT — and always offer to help them. Don’t ask for a job, just be friendly, helpful, and ready to tell a very positive version of your story when asked.

7. Be ready to play the game

Whether you like it or not, getting a job at most companies is a complete game. You have to know the rules — and yes, some of them are outdated, nonsensical, or completely ridiculous — and you have to be willing to play by them.

My thoughts? Just make a note of what was most annoying to you… once you’re on the inside maybe you can help make it better, adding value to your new company!

What would you like to see changed about the way companies find, recruit, and hire people?

Any other tips you’ve come across that I missed?

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Welcome to the new blog design! The WordPress theme is called Press and was designed by the great folks at Obox.

I still have a few bugs to work out, but I’m hoping this makes the site a bit more aesthetically pleasing and my oft-long posts a bit easier for you to read.

Take a look around, and let me hear your feedback below!

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I’m working on writing another book. It started as an idea for a project I had to create for my MBA program and has morphed into a giant opus that is consuming my life.

OK, that last part isn’t really true, but it does feel like a pretty daunting task sometimes.

This morning I decided to set aside a couple hours to just write. As a completely freelance independent contractor, I’m trying to have more personal discipline with the things I do, starting by setting aside blocks of time to work on a specific thing: Finance Homework, 9a-noon; Book/Writing, noon-3p, that kind of thing. It doesn’t always work (I’m not sure if you’re aware but there are a LOT of interesting things on the internet), but I think the self-control of a regimen is really great.

I’m all about viewing ourselves as a “brand,” as an “enterprise.” YOU are the business. Even if you get paid as an employee, think of yourself as a contractor: lending your talents to the project at hand.

Incorporate yourself.

The benefits to this way of thinking are astronomical. I’ll explore this concept more in future posts, but in a nutshell it’s simply more empowering. It’s one thing to say, “This is what I do, and this how I can bring value to your company if we partner together.” It’s another thing altogether to be sending out resumes all day, getting, or feeling, rejected one after the other. (If you’ve ever been unemployed you know exactly what I’m talking about; it’s literally inhumane.)

It’s not easy to think of ourselves in this new way, though. There’s a lot of sociological baggage we’ve got to ditch (our culture focuses primarily on weaknesses over strengths, for example), and good time management is a really tough skill to learn. Also, we’re taught that a 60 hour work week is what it takes to be successful. But some very prosperous people don’t do that. We’re told that we get out of something what we put into it. But due to things like the concept of leverage and the Pareto Principle (or 80/20 rule), we know that’s not really true either. We’ll talk more on that another day.

There’s usually a lot of re-training that has to happen before we can learn how to build a better personal leadership brand.

For today, I think we start with simply questioning the assumptions. Does your work have to be done the way it’s always been done? Do you have to live the way you’ve been living?

There’s a cool moment at the end of a film with two brothers sitting on the beach talking about recent frustrating circumstances, and one says to the other: “This is your life. Right now. It doesn’t wait for you to get back on your feet.”

I’ll leave you with some thoughts from the principles of Kaizen (Japanese for “improvement”):

1. Get rid of old assumptions; ask “Why?” five times to get to the root cause.
2. Don’t look for excuses, look for ways to make things happen.
3. Say “NO” to the status quo.
4. Don’t worry about being perfect—even if you only get it half right, start now.
5. If something is wrong, fix it on the spot.

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Driving home from the office today I got stuck behind one of those huge old Dodge Ram vans — you know the kind where you can fit an entire living room set in the back. Most of it was beige-ish, although the cream-colored paint was fraying from the edges around the doors and windows like it was running for its life. On the back right rear door, just below the window, it had a bumper sticker that said:

RELAX: God is in control.

Now, that might be true (I like to think it is), but let’s just be honest with ourselves — God is not going to come down and paint your frickin’ van.

These things are our responsibility.

I got a call today from a good friend of mine who has been hit with a series of really crappy life circumstances lately. Now some of them he created, and he owns that, but the point of the call was to let me know that he’s fed up with it, and he’s doing some things to change his life. Taking steps. Moving forward.

The big picture might very well be taken care of, but that doesn’t mean we should just sit there and wait for God to come over with a bucket of beige.

What are you doing — TODAY — to improve the situations in your life? You don’t have to be sick to get better.

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I came across an fascinating list of stats provided by Dr. Donald E. Wetmore, the President of the Productivity Institute in Connecticut. Some pretty interesting stuff in here!

• There will be 2 million marriages in this country this year and 1 million divorces. 95% of divorces are caused by a “lack of communication”
  

• The average working person spends less than 2 minutes per day in meaningful communication with their spouse or “significant other”. The average working person spends less than 30 seconds a day in meaningful communication with their children.
  

• 80% of employees do not want to go to work on Monday morning. By Friday, the rate only drops to 60%.
  

• 31% of working Americans do not use all their vacation time that they have earned. On average, three out of twelve (one quarter!) of all vacation days go unused.
  

• The average person gets 1 interruption every 8 minutes, or approximately 7 an hour, or 50-60 per day. The average interruption takes 5 minutes, totaling about 4 hours or 50% of the average workday. 80% of those interruptions are typically rated as “little value” or “no value” creating approximately 3 hours of wasted time per day.
  

• On an average day, there are 17 million meetings in America.
  

• By taking 1 hour per day for independent study, 7 hours per week, 365 hours in a year, one can learn at the rate of a full-time student. In 3-5 years, the average person can become an expert in the topic of their choice, by spending only one hour per day.
  

• 95% of the books in this country are purchased by 5% of the population. 95% of self-improvement books, audio tapes, and video tapes purchased are not used.
  

• 97% of workers, if they became financially independent, would not continue with their current employer or in their current occupation.
  

• 20% of the average workday is spent on “crucial” and “important” things, while 80% of the average workday is spent on things that have “little value” or “no value”.
  

• In the last 20 years, working time has increased by 15% and leisure time has decreased by 33%.
  

• A person who works with a “messy” or cluttered desk spends, on average, 1 1/2 hours per day looking for things or being distracted by things or approximately 7 1/2 per workweek. “Out of sight; out of mind.” When it’s in sight, it’s in mind.
  

• The average reading speed is approximately 200 words per minute. The average working person reads 2 hours per day. A Speed Reading course that will improve the reading rate to 400 words per minute will save an hour per day.
  

• 90% of those who join health and fitness clubs will stop going within the first 90 days.
  

• 9 out of 10 people daydream in meetings.
  

• 60% of meeting attendees take notes to appear as if they are listening.
  

• 40% of working people skip breakfast. 39% skip lunch. Of those who take a lunch break, 50% allow only 15 minutes or less.
  

• The average American watches 28 hours of television per week.
  

• 78% of workers in America wish they had more time to “smell the roses”.
  

• 49% of workers in America complain that they are on a treadmill.
  

• Angry people are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as a person in better control of their emotions.
  

• 75% of heart attacks occur between the hours of 5:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m., local time, and more heart attacks occur on Monday than on any other day of the week.
  

• 25% of sick days are taken for illness. 75% of sick days are taken for other reasons.
  

• 95% of the things we fear will occur, do not occur.
  

• Taking 5 minutes per day, 5 days per week to improve one’s job will create 1,200 little improvements to a job over a 5 year period.
  

• 1 out of 3 workers changes jobs every year.
  

• 1 out of 5 people moves every year.
  

• 70% of American workers desire to own their own business.
  

• 75% of American workers complain that they are tired.
  

• The average worker gets a 6 hours and 57 minutes of sleep per night.
  

• The average worker spends 35 minutes per day commuting.
  

• When someone is asking for our time for a meeting, 80% of the time, there is an alternate date and time that will be acceptable.
  

• Good time managers do not allocate their time to those who “demand” it, but rather, to those who “deserve” it.
  

• The most powerful word in our Time Management vocabulary is “no”.
  

• 1 hour of planning will save 10 hours of doing.
  

• Hiring a college student to do routine tasks (grocery shopping, yard work, household chores, etc.) will create as much as 20 hours per week for the average person to devote to more productive uses.
  

• The average person today (1999) receives more information on a daily basis than the average person received in a lifetime in 1900.
  

• We retain 10% of what we read. We retain 20% of what we hear. We retain 30% of what we see. We retain 50% of what we hear and see. We retain 70% of what we say. We retain 90% of what we do.
  

• Half of what is known today, we did not know 10 years ago. The amount of knowledge in the world has doubled in the last 10 years. And it is said to be doubling again every 18 months.

Now, I admit that I do not know where these stats came from (although Dr. Wetmore seems to be a very credible individual), but even if they’re just close, they’re pretty darn interesting, don’t you think?

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