It can be nice being a big fish in a little pond. The water may be comfortable, and the opportunity deep. We all like to shine. It’s human nature.
The Internet, social media and networking afford great opportunities to portray a message. The message is about your brand, and you’d like your best assets to show through the dust others are kicking up. The best assets you own are the same ones that take years to develop and remain an ongoing process: communication and leadership.
Being able to communicate effectively and lead others are key differentiators between those who succeed and are driven, and those who stay close to the status quo. The best part about developing your best key assets is that a natural effect happens personal brand leadership.
The dust never settles
The constant chatter happening across the Internet is a large conglomeration of information. Filled with knowledge, advice, and sometimes controversy, these conversations happen frequently as witnessed in real time.
Here are a few ways you can go about building personal brand leadership:
- Participate in the conversation – Comment on blog posts. Even better, write an article in response to one you read when you feel a comment won’t do it justice.
- Be open minded but hold firm to your values – Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe to be right, especially if you are an expert in a niche, but keep an open mind and listen to others.
- Use available resources to subsidize your talent – It’s OK to consider yourself a jack of all trades, but the truth is, it may be best to focus on what you are the best at and find available resources to fill in the gaps. This also gives you the opportunity to build someone else up, which in return can show your leadership ability.
The important thing: don’t sweat it. For one, sweat and dust don’t mix well, and second, it’s all about development. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so a personal brand shouldn’t be expected to either! Keep on trucking and do what you can in the hours available.
Question: What are you doing to be seen and heard through the dust?
The above post is my weekly column for the Brand-Yourself blog. I cross-post it here, but you can check out the original version online here.