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
When’s the last time you had a hunch something wasn’t quite right with your brand (or any other brand, for that matter?) Consumers now – and your audience – crave genuine brands so let’s go look at a couple of clues that are getting brands into trouble.
Start with wearing the hat of Brand Detective.
If you need a dose of inspiration, there’s a crafty duo on FOX. They’re eclectic and highly idiosyncratic. (What’s more, the frisson between them is killing me.) I’m talking about Tim Roth (Dr. Cal Lightman) and Kelli Williams (Dr. Gillian Foster) who star in Lie To Me. In any case, they know a lot about deceit. After all, it’s their business to play detective. Always on the look out for clues, they have a formalized system of tapping into behavior, expression, language, gesture – all complex signals and codes – which leads them, of course, to solving the nasty problem on their hands.
Lightman and Foster work with humans. We get to work with brands. Let’s start sniffing:
Clue 1: Lack of Congruence (Look for mixed messages.)
Never underestimate the power of congruence in any kind of communication. If a brand is not congruent, it’s sending out mixed messages. (It’s a sure sign of a brand you don’t want to trust.)
FYI The word congruent describes the quality of all parts being in alignment, agreement and in harmony – with each part communicating the same consistent message. By the way, when people are not congruent in their own behavior or personality, their brands are usually not congruent either. There’s a lack of clarity in the person behind the brand, and you can bet their brand’s message is going to be off kilter or murky.
Notice the congruence between the name of a brand and the nature of what’s being offered. If there’s a lack of connection or synergy between the two, you’ll have that gut feeling that something doesn’t measure up, and people will walk away scratching their heads. (A confused mind never buys.)
Apple is a good example of the quintessential congruent brand. Its name, product design, messaging, store design, merchandising, people and entire energy – right down to the color palette – are in total alignment. No confused minds here. Good energy. Pure acceptance. Astonishing congruence.
Clue 2: Lack of attention. (Look for bad behavior.)
Brands will act out if no one behind the scenes is paying attention. Brands misbehave, too. (This is another sign of a brand you don’t want to trust.) At least once a week, amazingly enough, I have a business owner confiding that they’re so preoccupied with working on their business, they’ve totally ignored their brand. Some haven’t touched their site in months. I call that an abandoned brand. You can tell when:
• The lights are out, so to speak. No one’s home. (So what I am sticking around for?)
• Listed offers, events or classes are all out of date. (No sign of being up to date. Good example of Dead Brand Walking.)
• Photos or images online are all standard stock photos. The ones you see on other bland brand sites. (No indication of any individuality or desire to set this brand apart from the pack.WOW. )
• No pics of founders, team, people, dogs – nada. (FYI Avatars don’t have a pulse.)
• Style of writing feels like a robot at work. The kind of entity that doesn’t have any blood pumping through its veins. Plus, you’re being kept at arm’s length. (What’s to trust?)
You want visitors to stick around your site, lean closer to hear your message, get the feeling that you are who you say you are, get that you have blood running through your veins, you’re congruent and hugely energized? Be your own Brand Detective – and make sure the complex signs and signals are sending the right message. (The message you want to send.)
This article first appeared on Dan Schawbel’s blog www.personalbrandingblog.com
If you’re looking to show up, stand out and stake out your territory in this economy, here are three ways you can create a wickedly bigger, bolder and more provocative brand. This is about reframing the vision of your brand. Ready to position yourself at the front of the pack Y/N?
OK. Just remember, we’re living in unprecedented times. More than ever, it’s critical to be passionate about what you’re doing before even thinking about crafting a personality around your brand. It all starts with paying closer attention to everything you’re doing so that you can soar (no, catapult) above the new brand landscape.
FYI I dare you to wear the cap of Brand Guardian every day. Just like the captain of a ship, your responsibility is steering your brand through stormy weather. Deal Y/N?!
Here goes:
1) Ignite a new energy into your brand.
This is not the time to be complacent or paralyzed. Remember your brand is a dynamic, living organism. It has a preference, by the way, for feeling alive and showing strong, vital signs. If your brand is lacking luster (or misbehaving), this is your time to re-evaluate the current energy embedded in your brand – and recharge it with your own idiosyncratic personality so that everyone can actually understand who you are – in a flash.
So what do to? Talk to your colleagues, peers, clients – the people you trust. Ask them for honest feedback about your brand’s current energy levels and how it affects the way they feel about you. Energy is a currency, remember. It’s a way of transacting in the world today. Everyone has a feeling about this kind of energy exchange so keep asking questions until you get some helpful answers.
2) Amp up your brand story.
This is about reshaping and retelling your brand story so your tribe truly understands your value. Remember, your tribe longs for your story, the personal details, your journey and why you’re doing what you do. So how is your story shaping up right now? Bring your message to life: If it’s true, real and authentic, your story will hook your audience. You’ll be more memorable in an emotional way, and it will land a clear spot in their psyche. What’s more, it will give you a huge competitive advantage.
So what do to? Wear the hat of Brand Storyteller. Focus on crafting a different kind of story about who you are, what you do but more importantly, why you do what you do. Write down the defining moments in your life. Analyze the common thread weaving throughout these moments and then, share it with your tribe.
3) Tap into what your tribe is craving.
Your tribe is craving real, authentic messaging from you – a sense of who you are. As brand guardian, make sure they know you have blood running through your veins.
So what do to? This is the time to create a series of 60-90-second videos where you talk directly – upfront and personal – to your tribe. Offer valuable content, tips, solutions, strategies, ideas – all told in your own idiosyncratic voice and highly-personal way of doing things. If you don’t already have a FLIP video, buy one immediately. It’s affordable, and it’s just a matter of putting yourself in front of a camera and start talking.
FYI Your tribe is longing to hear from you. Don’t keep them waiting.
Originally posted on Dan Schawbel’s Personal Branding Blog
The tagline for TED, Ideas Worth Spreading, is a brilliant one. Simple and inspiring. So that’s what I’m doing here. I can’t resist spreading the word about creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson whose TED talk is about the learning process, and the need for an educational revolution. His focus? How to create conditions where kids’ natural talents can flourish.
Sir Ken asks, why don’t we get the best out of people? He argues, “It’s because we’ve been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies – far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity – are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences. We are educating people out of their creativity.” Robinson says.
It’s a message that resonates, and because I’m talking to a number of people with serious issues around their creativity and developing brands, here are some of the frequent questions coming my way. Take a look:
Q: I’ve never been creative. So what’s the point of trying to be creative now with my brand?
Let’s face it: There are multiple types of creativity and intelligence in the world. I hate to be blunt but it’s your job to tap into your own creative juices because that’s exactly what’s going to define who you are, what you stand for, and what you want to do in the world. You have to re-educate yourself. Re-learn how to immerse yourself in your natural creative pool. (While you’re there, splash around a little!) This is about re-igniting your curiosity and raising your energy levels.
You just start simply. One step at a time. Recognize you’re born with your own unique creative spark. Ok? Perhaps it’s been drummed out of you at school. The important thing here is that this is about re-wiring your thinking. Shifting your mindset. You are creative, accept it. It’s just a matter of tapping into those inner recesses of your mind. Find out what truly excited and inspired you as a kid. Go back to being seven years old. What made you spring out of bed and laugh out loud? (PS The clues are right there, staring at you!)
Q: I’m just starting to build my brand. But I’m not even sure what I do best or where to start?
Sir Ken Robinson blames the education system for “dislocating people from their natural resources.” (i.e. their true selves.) So let’s start thinking about what you truly desire at your deepest level. Rethink all the times you were rapped on the knuckles at school, and told your idea or method just wasn’t going to work. Perhaps you were reprimanded because you wanted to do it your way, not the way everyone else was doing it? Revisit those times, and now do it your way. Rock the boat. It’s getting used to being that maverick kid again. This is about bringing yourself back into the equation – and your own creative juices. (PS Your curiosity is a helpful creative tool. Please use it freely!)
Q: How do I create my own voice so people will understand who I am and what I offer?
Developing your own voice is a highly personal process. The key is to be true to you. Embrace your own unique personality and your particular way of doing things. No copycats allowed here. Get a kick out of your individuality and leverage it to the max. Your point of difference, no matter how eclectic and idiosyncratic, is exactly what’s going to draw others to you. Developing your voice is going to come directly out of embracing your differences. This is, by the way, one of the most exhilarating creative processes on the planet. Try to surrender to the process. Buckle your belt because you’re going to have a blast!
Can we all please focus on educating ourselves into our creativity, rather than out of our creativity? Thanks, Sir Ken. Go to Ted.com and listen to his talk, Bring on the Learning Revolution.
FYI: Sir Ken Robinson is a visionary cultural leader. He led the British government’s 1998 advisory committee on creative and cultural education, a massive inquiry into the significance of creativity in the educational system and the economy, and was knighted in 2003 for his achievements. His latest book, The Element: How Finding your Passion Changes Everything, a deep look at human creativity and education, was published in January 2009.
Van is a weekly contributor to Dan Schawbel’s Personal Branding Blog. This article was first published on personalbrandingblog.com February 27, 2011.
Sick of chasing your tail and ready to get bigger, bolder, and more provocative with your personal brand? A sense of peripheral vision comes in handy, and a potent dose of creative thinking.This is, after all, about daring to peer beyond your brand to unlock those hidden assets you’ve tucked away. It’s what’s going to stop people in their tracks.
Want to try this for starters? FYI, this is how I’ve worked intuitively for years with hundreds of clients, whether corporate leaders, entrepreneurs or creative visionaries.Here’s how it works: Look outside the lines of sight, and you’ll see things most people don’t. If you can manage to stick around long enough and interpret the visual field, you’ll spot the clues. You’ll get the chance to define and articulate a new kind of language, story, or culture for your brand. You will have to be willing, however, to look long enough…
You could call these maxims – mostly short and pithy – or just fundamental truths I’ve discovered as I’ve looked outside the lines of sight. Peripheral vision can inform you.
Want to start looking in places you don’t normally and see what you discover?
1. Never stop shaping and sharpening your imagination.
2. Exercise your ability to express and invent white-hot ideas.
3. Practice being the visual thinker. (Always.)
4. Be the brand innovator. (Be at the forefront.)
5. Go ahead. Do great stuff. But whatever you do, makes sure it satisfies a specific craving and desire.
6. You land the highest marks when your brand offers the greatest value. (Never worry about over delivering.)
7. Create your own potent brand cocktail. Try mixing strategic acumen with creative inventiveness. (What’s your recipe?)
8. Lessen the gap between where you are now and where you want to go. (Make it a habit.)
9. Work collaboratively. (We were born to be part of a tribe.)
10. Dare to disrupt your routine. (Hey, it might require you take on new behavior patterns.)
11. Take risks when you’re in hot pursuit of new ideas.
12. Wear the hat of Detective Brand Sergeant. (Track down the hidden clues that are sending mixed messages to your world.)
13. Know what you’ve got. Know what you’re known for.
14. Double click on the REFRESH button on yourself and your brand.
15. Familiarity is blinding. (Look for the hidden treasures that are right in front of you.)
16. Dare to list your best game-changing ideas on one hand.
17. Excite your world, customer, client or boss. (Often.)
18. Practice the art of listening. Focus on the tone of conversations you’re having. (Can you hear through the lines?)
19. Unleash the creative beast within. (It’s right there, waiting…)
20. Don’t waste time with the mental gymnastics going on inside your brain. (You have enough on your plate with your emotional roller coaster.)
21. See your value through a different lens. (For a change, imagine looking through the lens of your world, your competition, your clients.)
22. Define what you’re actually bringing to the table. (Elbows allowed on this table.)
23. Capture people’s imagination. (Do that and they’ll fall in love with everything you offer, for sure.)
24. Think about whatever it is you take for granted. Now turn it upside down. (Topsy Turvy.)
25. Lighten up. Laugh more. Wear the hat of Master of Serious Play. (Laughter sends endorphins to our brain’s lateral thinking areas. Yay.)
26. Lead the way. Offer outcomes to doing things in a better way. Then, inspire people – along the way.
27. Tell your brand story with heart. (Make sure it’s true.)
28. Salute yourself when you’ve achieved a success. (A pat on the back feels good. Relish the feeling.)
So imagine – what’s your peripheral vision allowing you to see about your brand?!
This article first appeared on Dan Schawbel’s award-winning PersonalBrandingBlog.com
“Engage me. Make me fall in love with you.” That’s Julie Greenwald, chairwoman & CEO of the Atlantic Records Group, talking to Adam Bryant about the way she hires. The interview appeared in the Corner Office, one of my favorite columns in The New York Times Sunday’s Business Section. What’s more, when Greenwald is interviewing a candidate, she can tell whether the meeting is going to be a short one or not. It’s when “the rhythm’s not there and they’re not trying to engage me.” She thinks, “Somehow you got in to see me. Engage me.”
Julie Greenwald clearly doesn’t want to see a disconnect. If you’ve somehow got in to see her, and you’ve got her attention, you better be prepared to show up, engage her – make her fall in love with you – or else.
How does your personal brand score on engaging your audience? Let’s take a leap here. Imagine there’s a new reality show or contest coming to your neighborhood. It’s the ‘Make-Me-Fall-in-Love-With-Your-Brand’ show, and you’re one of the eager contestants. How would your personal brand measure up on stage with the bright lights blaring!?
• When you have everyone’s attention, are you engaging your audience 100% Y/N?
• Is the audience falling madly and deeply in love with everything you say, do, and produce Y/N?
• Are you showing up big time Y/N?
• Would you get a standing ovation Y/N?
Do you know what you’re known for? The business of branding is the business of perception management, and it’s certainly about feelings. If you can manage your feelings around your brand, then others will be able to (more easily) recognize and perceive your brand in that light. Of course, you have to be who you say you are. That’s the bottom line.
Do you consider your brand to be your most formidable asset? Your brand is a living, dynamic organism and functions best when nurtured by a heart-felt guardian. (That’s you, of course.) Are you paying enough attention to your brand so you can engage easily with your world, and have them fall helplessly in love with you?!
When’s the last time you did an informal survey? It’s a smart idea to regularly find out how your brand is being perceived. You can work with all the analytics you want, and use your left-brain thinking to the max. But it in the end, it all comes down to the way people feel about your brand.
Think about doing your own informal survey to see how your brand scores on the feelings quotient. Ask colleagues how they perceive your brand, how they feel about it. Notice what kind of language they’re using to describe how they’re experiencing what you bring to the table.
Keep your survey questions casual and conversational. Make your questions clear so you can access the kind of information you’re looking for. When you get your feedback, if it’s constructive criticism, act on it immediately. It’s important that you listen closely and act when you are offered helpful feedback. (PS Your colleagues will know they were being heard.)
How is your brand measuring up? Did you get a standing ovation Y/N?
This article was first published on Dan Schawbel’s award winning blog, www.personalbrandingblog.com
It’s brrrrrr cold in Nueva York 35F/2C. Massive snow flows now melting on the East River. Sunny forecast for the weekend. It’s Friday afternoon so here’s my end-of-week brand digest and information overload for you:)
1) Here’s a different perspective re how to think about your brand online.
Two of my most recently-published articles for Dan Schawbel’s blog were tweeted (and re-tweeted). Wanted to share w/ you:
2)The Best-Kept Secret to Killer Brand Story.
(The secret lies in tapping the defining moments in your life. Ready to take that on?!)
http://www.bit.ly/frmFh7
3) Why Does One Brand Nail It (and Others Fail?)
(The clue lies in tapping into the vibe of your brand and getting the tone just right. Sounds easy, yes?)
http://www.bit.ly/enoAUH
4) The power of your Brand Story:
One of the top writers in the country has a lot to say about story: Jeff Shesol, President Clinton’s former Deputy Chief of Presidential Speechwriting, was my guest this week on NY Brand Lab Radio. Your free download here: http://www.zingyourbrand.com/radio Brilliant insights. He’s now an acclaimed author and partner at West Wing Writers in Washington, DC.
While you’re there, listen to Liz Lange’s savvy entrepreneurial insights.
She’s Fashion Designer, Founder of Liz Lange Maternity and designer of lines for Target and HSN, and she’s only recently launched http://www.shopafrolic.com
(Isn’t that a clever name!)
5) The good news? I’m starting a New Mastermind Program:
Many can’t make it to the NY Brand Lab in NY (of course) and were asking
about an online component to get ongoing insights, strategies and ideas re building your brand.
It’ll include two one-hour calls a month for six months, and I’ll cover the entire
curriculum from the NY Brand Lab. I’ll also put one person on the hot seat for a
Brand Audit (and you know what difference that makes to your biz!)
Numbers are limited so sign up via email: van@zingyourbrand.com and
I’ll send you more info. The Mastermind program starts March 22.
PS The first NY Brand Lab in 2011 is on a Saturday (for the first time)
That’s Saturday, March 19 so if your brand needs a spike to the bottom line,
then it’s time to go bigger, bolder and more provocative. http://bit.ly/8ZacUn
OK. That’s it for your weekly Brand Digest, until next time!
Warmly, optimistically yours,
Van
I have a sense there aren’t enough people out there having a blast with their brands. What’s that all about? Wassup?! OK. I’m giving you my top picks of two brands that nail it online, and my reasons why. It’s the thinking (brain and heart) behind the sites that’s so hugely pleasing. Why? They allure and intrigue, and they’re having fun along the way. But what keeps me going back for more? It’s their high energy levels. Take a look:
1) It’s the vibe
The vibe – the energy and emotional resonance of your brand online – tells your story loud and clear. The bigger the energy, the bigger the feeling – the more you’ll find yourself literally leaning in closer (yes, closer to your screen) because you’re craving to know more.
My Top Pick #1: www.MarcKoska.com* Marc Koska is on a quest. As inventor of the K1 syringe, a non-reusable syringe now used in India and other under-developed countries, he’s founder of the SafePoint charity, responsible for one of the largest global health campaigns ever, reaching an audience of 500 million people
As a global visionary, Marc makes things happen. His brand is visually bold, big and exciting online. Feel his high-energy level and passion on every link? You bet. This is the real power of authentic storytelling. Read ‘My Story’ and you understand how he thinks, feels and why he does what he does. His energy is carried across every aspect of a brilliant design platform. Watch his films, look at his photography, awards, the lot. Immerse yourself.
What’s the vibe you get riffing through Marc’s site? Hugely inspirational, moving and highly charged, for starters.
So how can your brand inspire others? Identify your energy vibe and tap into the emotional core of what you’re doing. Then, spread the word. (This is a flash site. It’s not ideal for certain purposes but appreciate it for its vast visual and energetic storytelling capability.)
2) It’s the tone of your voice
How relaxed are you about your language online? Does it sound like you or someone else? And what’s your tone, anyway? Speak in your own voice. It’s much easier for others to get a sense of who you are so they can start a dialog or suggest doing business, hire you or go out and play.
My Top Pick # 2: www.duarte.com There’s something about Nancy Duarte. I like her language, the sound of her voice. I don’t know her but it’s actually the tone of her voice that keeps me going back for more.
As CEO and Principal, Nancy Duarte is on the cutting edge. She’s built an internationally respected design firm, created over a quarter of a million presentations and helps shape the perceptions of many of the world’s leading brands and thought leaders. Go through every inch of her site…
But first, listen to her language here: (Click on the TEAM link.)
We love whiteboard, sweet design, vegan cookies, bacon cheeseburgers, the afternoon regroup and the 4am idea. We believe in the power of a great story to move an audience and the power of an audience to change the world.
What’s the tone here? She talks with conviction and with a twinkle in her eye. She is in the business of transformation, after all. She’s not talking about designing a power point presentation for a keynote speaker at TED. She’s talking about why she does what she does, and the transformative power of story – and audiences – to change the world. That’s why you want to work with Nancy and her team. Their intention, desire and their willingness to do whatever it takes (to change the world) is clear.
So how can you share your mission with your world? Speak in your voice. Bring your intention and desire to the front. Then, let the tone of your voice nail it.
One more thing. Here’s Nancy’s answer to the following question: How would you define yourself? It’s the tone, again, that informs. P.S. It tells me she’s a master of visual storytelling and a magical creative thinker.
I’m a conquistador who liberates the undiscovered, sets boundaries for safe play, and builds fortresses where dreams can be realized. I create, protect and conquer the future with extreme respect and reverence for the past.
Ready to start nailing your brand online and have a blast? P.S. Add a generosity of spirit, and it’ll be all the more alluring.
This post was published online on February 6th, 2011 at 1:30 pm on Dan Schawbel’s www.personalbrandingblog.com
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
Not so long ago, I booked Christi McNeill as guest on NY Brand Lab Radio. She’s a top communications advisor, she’s the twitter voice for Southwest Airlines so I knew I had to hold my breath. Let’s face it, I’d heard if you ever want to track Christi down, the best place to find her is onboard a 737.
Drat. So today was the day she was going to hop on NY Brand Lab Radio and share her best-kept secrets about all things social media. After all, she’s the expert: she’s talking to the airlines’s customers day in and day out.
Believe it or not, today there is sleet, snow and icy conditions covering this country. Not all of it, of course. Most airports are closed or rather, most flights are cancelled. So I guess the best time to book Christi might be summer. What do you think, Christi?!
