Last year the remarkably Incurable Entrepreneur Clay Hebert joined me on NY Brand Lab Radio. On May 11, he became the first guest to return to the show. We had a blast. There’s something about this guy. He has a brilliantly curious, inventive and nimble mind. His day job is Chief Engagement Officer of Tribes Win, a new media marketing agency in New York City. He’s also working on Spindows, a new startup that he thinks will change the world. (That’s just for starters.)
Here’s the back story: In January 2009, Clay left corporate America to attend SAMBA, the most selective and unique MBA program in the country, a six month journey working directly with marketing guru Seth Godin and eight other amazing people. It changed his life.
So I was over the moon to have Clay back on NY Brand Lab Radio. He’s inspired and inspiring: We bounced around effortlessly covering big ideas for all kinds of entrepreneurs (incurable or otherwise.) Take a look. (Then click on the link below to listen.)
So we riffed on some interesting topics:
• The two traits of an incurable entrepreneur (hint: you have both)
• A free website to launch and spread your idea in 15 minutes
• Why the cost of failure has approached zero
• We Work Labs – a new innovation co-working space in NYC
• How to pivot your idea for success
• The difference between ideas and shipping
• My first failed business (a non-profit involving my brothers when I was 8 years old)
• How to finally write that book in your head (can you write a page a day?)
• How to meet more relevant people in your organization
• How Elliot Bisnow dropping out of college and organizing an impromptu ski trip changed the world
Hope you enjoy the show: http://zingyourbrand.com/radio. (Just scroll down the page to May 11 and you can listen or download the MP3.
If you want to find out more about this remarkable human being called Clay, go to his blog www.dailysense.com and www.tribeswin.com
Every once in a while, I hear someone truly exceptional speak at a conference. The message hits home big time. So big that I’m compelled to literally bounce up to the speaker afterwards. Rave and rant. (Know the feeling?) That’s what happened recently when I met Dr. Bob Deutsch at a conference in NYC about creating the FUTURE organized by the remarkable Diane McArter, president of Furlined based in Santa Monica. (Kudos, Diane.)
Fast forward: Bob joined me on NY Brand Lab Radio this month and in his brilliant way, talked relationships and communication, emotion and meaning. His focus? People. After all, if you want to be a better communicator, you have to have a curiosity and respect for people and their lives. It’s that simple.
These are a few take aways (below) from the show, with my apologies to Dr. Bob: My intent here is to give you a sense of his insights so it will whet your appetite for more, of course. I want to propel you to visit his site, www.brain-sells.com or go to the NY Brand Lab Radio site to listen to the interview. Just click here. PS When you get to this page, scroll down until you get to May 4th. Enjoy! zingyourbrand.com/radio
“Evolution tends to favor action over thinking. That hasn’t changed. Emotion controls the mind as it did when humans first came on the scene. People react much more emotionally than companies dare to think. Purchasing decisions are never driven by logic alone. Emotion and narrative are key, they are the very structure of mind and of human nature. All successful marketing campaigns – whether using primeval or post-digital technologies — have responded to this phenomenon.
– Dr. Bob Deutsch, founder, www.brain-sells.com
• If you want your organization or product to be successful, you have to understand people’s lives. Great communications is about understanding people.
• Don’t think of consumers as your target market. (Drop the jargon.) Think of them as people.
• If you want to be a good communicator, start with a sense of wonder about people.
• Start with a curiosity and respect for people, too – everyday people.
• People are just living their lives, after all. You need the courage to understand how your product/service is going to fit into their life.
• Ask yourself: Are you in the business of understanding life? That’s when you get a stab at making magic. (And making money.)
• This is about satisfying people’s interest.
• Build relationships with your world. It’s about attachment.
• Demonstrate that your product/service is familiar: people have to feel you/your product “understands me.”
• Your brand story is a poem about life.
• If you want to do great marketing, dare to forget about marketing. Think about life!
• Don’t talk about your service/product. Show your audience you understand them.
Enjoy the interview, here’s that link again: http://zingyourbrand.com/radio. I always enjoy your comments and feedback! Don’t forget to visit Dr. Bob Deutsch’s site: www.brain-sells.com. Fascinating articles, lots to digest and you’ll want to keep going back for more.
In the last few weeks, I’ve been delighted to have some particularly forward-thinking guests on NY Brand Lab Radio! What I’m going to do here is bullet point (never made that a verb before!) the take aways from one insightful conversation I had on April 27 with the remarkable Michael Margolis. What I really suggest you do, however, is go to the link – http://zingyourbrand.com/radio – and hear the interview! You’ll away with a spring in your step because you’ll have a totally new framework from which to understand the art of telling your story. (FYI You’ll be leaning in – and listening closely – I bet!)
OK. My new friend and colleague Michael Margolis is the quintessential storyteller. He’s also based in NYC, and as Dean of Story University and founder of getstoried.com, he knows a lot about the art of storytelling. We riffed on all things story. What’s more, go to his site – www.getstoried.com – which is packed with valuable info! FYI Go to this link http://bit.ly/lQv9mG and you can download his “7 Step-Formula for Your New Bio Story.”
OK. A couple of bullet points. They certainly don’t cover what Michael and I were discussing on NY Brand Lab Radio but they’re sure to get you wanting more! Here goes:–
• story is more important than ever in this world of ever-changing social media
• social media is, in fact, all about relationship technology
• storytelling is about relationship, and how things relate to one another. Simple.
• story is a powerful frame to start thinking about your identity, and how you’re in relationship with yourself and others.
With so many new tools and platforms out there, we’re really stumbling around… looking for meaning, context and how we fit in… (You don’t you ever feel like that?!)
• think about this: we were never taught how to create our own bio. It’s really about telling your own story.
• think about this: people want to know where you come from so it’s important to give them a glimpse into who you are, and the life riddle you are trying to solve. People – your audience, your tribe – want to know you’re on a mission and that you were born to do this.
• people are craving your point of view. What do you have to say?
• there is a raw power and authenticity in telling your story.
• start by thinking about your journey and how you got to this point, right now.
• we all have our own voice. Be the thought leader that you are.
• dare to figure out what motivates you, and then stake out your claim in your story.
• discover your own natural authority. Then tell your story from that vantage point.
• the most courageous thing you can do is stand in your own natural authority.
• you need to connect in your story/bio. You don’t need to use external validators.
• believe in yourself. And stop trying to convince others.
Here’s the link to the interview with Michael on NY Brand Lab Radio. Enjoy! http://zingyourbrand.com/radio and scroll down to April 27th.
Always love to hear your feedback after tuning in so keep me posted or leave a comment!
Cartwheels are one of the basic moves in gymnastics. Practicing cartwheels tends to strengthen your upper body and helps you learn other tricks like handsprings. Firstly, you need to kick your legs into the air while pushing on the floor. If you are less confident, then use grass and a slight slope. – www.wikihow.com
I find there’s something exuberant about watching anyone doing cartwheels. It makes you stop, pay attention, gasp. After all, no one likes to see anyone tumble. Ditto brands.
I’m about to reveal a personal story with readers about my brand doing cartwheels. I am pulling the curtain, so to speak, on Zing Your Brand & Co., and allowing you to get a peek behind the scenes. This is, of course, in the hope it might inspire and/or propel you into the exhilarating World of Brand Cartwheeling.
In a nutshell, this is about rethinking your brand through a visual lens, and doing a complete overhaul. Or, as my New Zealander-designer-friend-who-lives-in-Australia calls it, a giggly-up.
In full disclosure, I’ve been playing with my brand lately. I’ve been longing for a different kind of visual energy – a more advanced creative metaphor, so to speak, for my brand. And, because I’m a visual storyteller, I expected I could make this happen in a flash. It didn’t quite work out that way.
What’s more, I’ve always believed in the power of symbols but this journey was taking me longer than I thought. I turned to my New Zealander friend, a brilliant visual thinker and, in fact, my design soul mate for over 16 years. (FYI He’s based in Sydney. He no longer takes on new clients, and asked me specifically not to give out his contact details. You bet, I’m sorry.)
Here’s what I’ve discovered in the process of doing cartwheels with my brand, and hope it will dare and inspire you to do the same. Ready?
1) Exuberance: Every brand can benefit from a dose of exuberance. Even though Zing Your Brand & Co. always carried a certain kind of energy, I wanted a bigger dose of exuberance – a bigger bolt of energy. More drama. (After all, I was a drama major.)
So this was my design brief for a new visual symbol: I told my Kiwi friend-designer how often I ask clients these two questions: When is the last time you checked the pulse of your brand? Is your brand showing vital signs?
He responded with this exquisite red object. He calls it ‘this round blob.’ Its original intent was one of questioning, and it was showcased recently, for the first time, as part of my Dead Brand Walking presentation in Las Vegas. So this symbol basically emerged as a question-motif for a keynote presentation. Lesson: Dare to be exuberant.
2) Agility: Every brand can benefit from agility and nimbleness. ‘This round blob’ resonated with me. It called me, and I knew intuitively that instead of just being a symbol for Dead Brand Walking, I was going to transform into a bigger metaphor for ‘zing-potentiality.’ Four weeks ago, I moved quickly and incorporated it across my site www.zingyourbrand.com. FYI The symbol is now currently in the process of being trademarked as part of the company. Lesson: Move quickly.
3) Living Outloud: If it feels good, it’s good for you and your brand. This visual metaphor speaks to people. Since this red symbol showed up on my site, business cards, the lot – there’s been a remarkable response. One person liked it so much they thought they’d like to adopt it for their own business! Another wants to see this on a t-shirt so she can wear it all over town. You see, a visual symbol speaks to people, in different voices and in different ways – that’s living outloud. It’s what puts a twinkle in the eye, and a spring in the step! Lesson: Dare to live outloud!
On a final note, I salute my Boston-based friends and colleagues, Nick and Nikki Smith-Morgan, who dared me to do some serious cartwheels! www.PublicWords.com
This article was first published online on Dan Schawbel’s PersonalBrandingBlog.com on April 10, 2011
Mary van de Wiel is best known for her global expertise when it comes to coaxing out the real power in brands to dramatically increase sales. Van is founder and Creative Director of ZingYourBrand.com. She is the author of soon-to-be-published Dead Brand Walking: A Brand Therapist’s Viewpoint. Follow her on Twitter.
In 53 minutes, I am going to be introducing Michael Margolis on NY Brand Lab Radio — the leading voice in the world of story telling: He’s going to share his top secrets about how to reinvent, specifically, your bio so join us: Here’s the link http://bit.ly/ibabge or call in with your questions around 10:20 today..
How fascinating are you when you tell your own brand story?! Meet Michael Margolis. For the past decade, he’s taught change-makers and innovators how to get others to believe in their story. Recently, Michael’s interests got a bit more personal, exploring the dreaded About Me page and how we define ourselves through social media. As the Dean of Story University, Michael teaches online courses including The New About Me: how to reinvent your bio as a story. In 2009, Michael launched Get Storied — an education and publishing company on a mission to democratize storytelling. Michael also curates the Reinvention Summit, a virtual conference on the future of storytelling with 37 speakers and 500+ participants in its first year. His work and ideas have been featured in Fast Company, BrandWeek, PSFK, and Storytelling Magazine. His book, Believe Me: a Storytelling Manifesto for Change-Makers and Innovators is available on Amazon.com or for free as a digital download. Find out more: www.getstoried.com
I am just back from a week in San Francisco where I met some remarkable people, did some terrific brainstorming and had the wonderful opportunity of speaking to a graduating class at San Francisco State University. Inspiring, to say the least. So I am just checking in, wanting to bring you up to speed on a couple of things that might be of interest!
AN ODD READ: 9 Odd Strategies for Coaxing Out Your Brilliance
Here’s my latest article that was published last week online. It appears to be getting some traction. Tell me if you think these odd strategies work for you? (See first paragraph below) http://bit.ly/dZgnpj
The nice thing about being human is that you don’t have be normal. You can choose, for example, to be odd. I prefer odd, of course. Particularly odd brands. If there’s a quirky or idiosyncratic vibe going all, all the better. Why? An odd brand tells me something vital is going on. For a personal brand, that’s hugely appealing
AN EYE-OPENING WORKSHOP 4/14: Is Your Brand Having Enough Fun?
If you’re in the Washington, DC area, I’d love to see you at this roll-up-your-sleeves workshop next Thursday, April 14. Hosted by Capitol Communicator, and in collaboration with Spotted MP and ZilYen, I’m going to be talking up a storm about how to pump up the pulse of your marketing and brand efforts. Starts at 8:30am-10:00am. Includes breakfast, of course, and networking. I want to see you there! Here’s the link to register: http://bit.ly/i8gIIu
A NEW PUMPING PULSE @ ZING: Zing Your Brand & Co.
In full disclosure, I’ve tweaked and played around with my brand lately. I was looking (longing, really) for a different kind of energy – a more advanced creative metaphor. And because I’m a visual storyteller, I thought I could make this happen in a flash. (Of course.) The good news?
It’s now live! Check out the new Zen Zing thing going on: http://bit.ly/91Hy6G
A GOOD LISTEN: NY BRAND LAB RADIO: On April 6, Nancy Duarte was my special guest on NY Brand Lab Radio. She’s at the forefront of best practices for global business communicators. (She’s really a conquistador.) For 20 years, Nancy has driven the vision and growth of her internationally respected design firm. Check out her remarkable site: www.duarte.com. PS Get your hands on her book asap: Resonate: http://bit.ly/hgU9Mp
NOTHING LIKE BEING IN LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND Nestle Nespresso invited me to moderate the Nespresso Global Brand Community Workshop held in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 17-18. What an incredible experience. Remarkable people from all over the world. Huge mindshifts, conversations, insights and inspired thinking from all the panelists:
• H.-Joachim Richter, Director Corporate Communications, Nestle Nespresso / Lausanne
• David LeClabart, Managing Director, McCann Erikson / Paris
• Chris Nurko, Global Chairman, FutureBrand / London
What’s more, I am now madly in love with my Nespresso Pixie machine (color: electric red), its design, innovation and, of course, being part of Nespresso’s Club: a global community of 10 million passionate raving fans. I call this phenomenal brand succes – the Anatomy of Desire!
Look forward to hearing back on all things. If you’re just visiting my site for the first time, a big welcome to you! I’d love to hear what’s going on with your brand so looking forward. Remember, your brand won’t sell a thing if it ain’t got that zing!
There’s something I like about speaking to graduating students. It’s thrilling but there’s always the same poignant and pressing question in the Q&A session: “With so much competition out there, how do I make myself stand out and land that job?”
My best answer? It’s about Wow Power. Go out and be the best visual storyteller of your brand. Bring your brand to life (or, larger than life) and interviewers will sit up and pay attention. Here’s five strategies (some visual, some playful) that have the potential to knock the socks off anyone sitting opposite you in the interviewer seat.
FYI The first two address serious mindset issues. Learn to manage these upfront, and your job hunt just got easier.
1. Grip I can’t help notice the somewhat crestfallen looks on some students’ faces in sessions. I’m whipping up massive doses of inspiration, ideas and courage, and I look around, and see despair. Sound familiar Y/N? It’s time to get a grip. Learn to be resilient. (Proceed to #2.)
2. Resilience There’s power in learning resilience. If you’re resilient, you’re going to approach job hunting totally differently from someone who is feeling helpless, passive, or as I’ve seen too often, subliminally already expecting failure.
Where do you stand?
Imagine a continuum: At one end, helplessness and a paralyzing fear of the future; and at the opposite end, there’s the desire to rise to the top and succeed. Where do you stand?
If you’re slanting towards being optimistic, you’re certainly not going to give up. You’re going to get into the habit of interpreting setbacks as temporary. You know you can handle it, move forward and succeed. This is learning to think like an optimist. Embrace it. It’ll help you deal with the unexpected. If you’re veering in the opposite end of the continuum, then this is a clue you might need additional help.
3. Splash Create your own highly-personalized and visual splash page on www.about.me. It’s free. It doesn’t take long to set up, but treat it seriously. This is a public page where you can park your own brand for visitors to get a sense of who you are, and what you’re looking for. It’s perfect for visual storytelling. (Browse around the site first and check out other members’s pages.) Write up your resume. Add your photo and social media links. Before the interview, instead of sending an attachment of your resume, include your personalized about.me link in your email. FYI Is your resume on LinkedIn? It’s the first place recruiters go to search for candidates.
5. Mini Billboard Even if you’ve never had a job before, or you’re out there looking, think about the power of handing out a business card. If you do it right, it’s an irresistible piece of visual storytelling. You’ll stand out. Of course, it has to reflect you and your brand. Want to add a title for fun? Make one up. Take, Director of Possibilities, for example. It’s provocative but in three words, you’re telling me you’re going to solve my problems. Use the back. Treat your business card as your own mini billboard. Heads will turn. You might need a designer to help you. I did. It’s worth it.
FYI There are free printing options galore but if you want the name of a terrific printer, you can get 500 two-sided cards printed in NYC for just over $100. There’s no excuse for cheap cards that don’t have a punch. I highly recommend Variable Graphics in NYC. Kenny Raskin is your man. http://variablegraphics.com. (I don’t usually include recommendations but cheap, ugly cards are not a good idea. Believe me.)
4. Flip If you haven’t bought a Flip Video yet, this could be a deal maker for you. (Job maker?) This snappy video fits in the palm of your hand, comes in kooky bright colors and couldn’t be easier to use. Prices range ($129.99-$199.99) Check out J&R www.jr.com or the official Flip Store www.jr.com. Walmart, other places, too.
What’s the idea? Get a friend to shoot you for 90 seconds to two minutes talking about your expertise. Or, the kind of job you’re looking for, and why you’re the best candidate. Or talk about what you do best. Be yourself and professional at the same time. Personalize the video. (Don’t send the same one to different companies.) But be smart about this. You have to know your audience and where you’re sending it and why. Make sure your message, content and delivery are appropriate to the company. Dress the part. What’s your tone? Get the idea? If not, you’re going to shoot yourself in the foot. FYI Or, create a series of videos. Put them on ww.youtube.com. Be smart about creating the titles so they’re snappy, appealing.
5. Own. If you haven’t already registered your own name as a domain, do it. When I first interviewed Dan Schawbel on NY Brand Lab Radio, he told me it’s one of the first things he advises students. This is your name so protect it. It’s one of your most valuable assets. I’ve heard resistance to this idea. Remember: Your name is your power base. Own it, protect it and leverage it. You’ll be happy you did one day. Before someone else gets it, register your name at a site like www.godaddy.com (approx. $9.99 a year)
Here’s to your success and knocking the socks off any interviewer!
This article was first published online here: Dan Schawbel’s award-winning www.personalbrandingblog.com
The nice thing about being human is that you don’t have to be normal. You can choose to be odd, for example. I prefer odd. Particularly odd brands. If there’s a quirky or idiosyncratic vibe going on, all the better. Why? An odd brand tells me something vital is going on. For a personal brand, that’s hugely appealing.
If this kind of stuff interests you, I’m going to pile up nine odd strategies that will get your creative juices firing, and your personal brand pumping. If you start practicing even 50% every day, you’re going to notice a difference in the way you feel, how you perceive yourself, and your own creativity and brilliance is going to start working for you to the max. Here goes:
1 Doodle This practice involves exercising your right brain and one hand. Just start doodling. Not a doodler? OK Then pick up a crayon or paint brush or magic marker, anything that might amp up your inner creative genius. It works, believe me. If you don’t believe me, check out Sunni Brown, leader of the Doodle Revolution: www.sunnibrown. (Stop looking so anxious! This is the best route (most fun) to tapping into your brilliance.)
2 Steam I’m not talking about letting off steam. I’m talking steaming brussel sprouts. According to Brian Collins, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Collins, his NY-based innovation-led, brand-building agency, going vegan three days a week increased his creative energy, shifted his mindset, and he lost weight along the way. You can hear Collins on NY Brand Lab Radio raving about life, branding, business and his favorite steamed lunch: www.zingyourbrand.com/radio. Go check his site: www.collins1.com.
3 Lemming If you feel tempted to do what everyone else is doing, catch yourself. Stop right there. Want to be a lemming? (By all means.) But the courage to resist following the crowd is a sign of courage, integrity and conviction. Please don’t jump off the cliff. Be brave, create your own oddly brilliant brand – and do it your way. It’s the best decision you’ll ever make.
4 Desire This is a feeling. It’s about a longing. It also happens to be a quintessential brand attraction magnet. Get clear on exactly what it is you do best, what’s so oddly different about you. Leverage that and you’re on your way to stepping into your brilliance. FYI The ‘oddly different’ is exactly where your brand power lies.
5 Pulse So how do others really feel about your brand? Do an informal survey. Ask this question, “On a scale from 1 (blah) to 10 (sparky/zingy), how would you rate my brand?” This is called checking the pulse of your brand. FYI You want honest answers so don’t ask best friends. As soon as you get your average rating, you’re going to know what you need to do.
6 Homeless Always carry a piece of fresh fruit in your bag. Why? The next time you pass a homeless person on the street, stop. Offer them a piece of fruit if they’re hungry and listen to their story. That’s what Karen Karp dared our listeners when she was talking on NY Brand Lab Radio recently. She’s president of Karp Resources, an enlightened innovator in the business of food, and she starts up remarkable conversations with homeless people on the street. Open up your world. You’ll discover heart-felt treasures. It’s another key to your compassion and brilliance. www.Karpresources.com
7 Underbelly When’s the last time you checked the underbelly of your brand? It’s that part of your brand that doesn’t see the light of day. It’s the part that might not be serving your interests. Perhaps there are some serious issues you’re ignoring. Dare yourself to see what’s lurking in the corners. Put the spotlight on the issues. Address them, sooner than later. You’ll feel freer. (You have my personal guarantee.)
8 Soar If you want to live a little, turn off your computer. Go catapult yourself into a different zone every day. Go soar. If you don’t, your creative genius is going to get stifled. Step outside. Smile at a stranger. Gaze at swans gliding in a lake (I did that today.) Choose a different café and do nothing. FYI Your brilliance is begging for down time.
9 Spike If you brand is lacking oxygen, it’s a pretty good sign you’ve got a Dead Brand Walking on your hands. Energy is the most invigorating and luxurious force in the world. Use it. Spike your brand energy. Re-invigorate your brand voice, attitude, language. Don’t keep people at arm’s length. Your audience is craving real and authentic. Dare to give your brilliance to them.
This article was first posted on Dan Schawbel’s Personal Branding Blog.
If you want to get a sense of what it takes to be a winner, I’d encourage you to get your hands on the documentary film, The Audition. It’s breathtaking and heartfelt as it documents the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the storied Met stage—and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, this suspenseful narrative provides a revealing look at what it takes to make it as an opera star, and the intense challenges and pressures young opera singers face as the stakes get higher. FYI The documentary crew was given unprecedented access to the singers, judges, and events backstage at the Met.
Well, on Sunday March 13, the Met Opera National Council Auditions took place. I was sitting in the audience this year at Lincoln Center, and it’s all because I fell in love with the story. Five winners walked away with a future secured on the Met stage.
Here’s my thoughts on what was so intriguing about that day – and so powerful about that film – because it feels as though there’s a metaphor lurking around here. It’s all about how to make your personal brand a winner, of course.
In pursuit of excellence: You could see their desire for excellence bursting right up there on the Met stage. These young opera singers were standing in their brilliance, giving their best because they knew what they wanted, where they wanted to go, and why it mattered. So if you want to soar above the rest of the competition, you have to be in pursuit of excellence every moment. You have to define what it is that has value, and then what you are willing to do about it. After all, this kind of winning takes thousands of hours of preparation, training – and blood, sweat and tears. There’s no way around it.
Discipline: It must take millions of small steps to get to that Met stage. Absolutely nothing gets in the way. Like professional athletes, these singers have to adopt a different kind of mindset. They have to look at their world through a different kind of lens. So if you want to catapult ahead of the pack, you have to rethink all things. Your mindset has to be set and focused on one goal. Total control here. No negotiations. It’s that simple. Using discipline to accomplish one’s important goals is essential.
Performance: Imagine the moment of walking out on that stage. Vocal chords in top form. Their choice of song, posture, attitude – are all indicators as to whether they’re going to be a winner, or not. Guess what? They all have coaches watching their back all the way. So if you’ve determined to be a winner brand, find someone who can help you evaluate your performance. Whip you into shape, if you need it. You’ll need to trust them. And they’ll need to understand your goals so they can encourage you to improve.
FYI We happen to live in a culture where failure is an acceptable part of the learning process. You just need to be prepared to take the risks. (Of course, knowing what you want takes lots of practice. Assume it’s likely you’ll have some failure along the way.)
OK. I encourage you to watch The Audition. The film is so instructive. These young opera singers are exceptionally gifted people but they also have staying power. Watch them do what they do. Because they stay the course, and understand what it takes to do the job. The idea that talent is innate is utterly overrated. Nothing happens as if by magic.
This article was first published on Dan Schawbel’s blog: PersonalBrandingBlog.com
