Personal Branding Magazine

Dan Schawbel knows branding. And I don't. That's why he has a personal branding magazine. And I don't. Yet he asked me to submit an article to the February issue of his magazine. And I did. And it's out now.

Personal Branding Magazine (paid subscription) is about becoming so important to your company, your customers and the people around you, that they can’t live without you. In this issue, Seth Godin reveals his hope for career revolutionaries who want to remain relevant in a world that is being transformed by the internet. Also, this issue explores how Guy Fieri has built his personal brand as a television personality on the food network and how NFL football player Jarvis Green has taken the leap into entrepreneurship.

Branding is not about spin and it’s not about polish. Say that sentence out loud because I am. Personal branding came across to me as an inauthentic way to “clean up the storefront,” that separated the message from the person and got in the way of connection.  I say “came” because my thoughts are changing, ever so slightly, and I am going to read this cover to cover to check out the ideas of others, learn from what Laurie Ruettimann has to say about Becoming a Brand at Work, and read the interview with Alexandra Levit.

You can check out the free Sample issue containing 8 articles total, including how to be an authority, blog SEO and how to grow, polish, and protect your future, subscribe, or visit the Personal Branding Magazine Facebook page for more information.

Ride For The Brand

This guest post is authored by Ben Eubanks. Ben is an HR professional from Huntsville, AL. He lives much of his life online. Don't believe it? Catch him on LinkedIn, Twitter, RocketHR, or via email. His blog, UpstartHR, is about many things, including HR, leadership, and zombies.

In a recent employee appreciation ceremony, one of the senior leaders in my company got up to make a short speech that really resonated with me. He spoke about a traditional cowboy phrase that showed pride and dedication, and I think it has some interesting applications for each of us. The phrase?

"I ride for the brand."

He went on to elaborate on the literal and figurative meanings of that statement. While the cowboys were literally riding every day, the were also representing the organization every time they put on their uniform. I've heard a lot of talk about employer branding, but this message showed me how it applies in a whole new way.

Our employees may not ride horses and wear an uncomfortable amount of leather, but they "ride" for a brand, too. The brand they ride for signifies integrity, respect, and unwavering dedication to the mentally and physically disabled individuals we serve.

Another important point to focus on is that the employees are proud of what they represent. Their own pride in the service they provide gives it a special "flavor." Think about yourself. What brand do you ride for? Do you realize the significance of what you really embody when you go to work each day? Do you represent it with pride? If you can't honestly say that you're proud to "ride" for your brand, then why are you associating yourself in something you aren't comfortable with?