Don’t Let Personal Branding Give You The Ick


This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:

  • Building a personal brand
  • November is personal branding month
  • My conversation with Seth Godin
  • The world’s most famous heroine? Harry Potter

Build a Personal Brand You Love

Does the term Personal Branding give you the ick?

I get it. I was the same. Yet it saved my butt.

When I left the corporate world back in 2010, I was well-known – as representing someone else’s business.

However, I was determined to set up my own business and to never ever have a boss again.

To build my own business, I needed to be known for what I do and stand for.

So I started to produce content, a podcast and even to write books.

(One of my books, Unignorable, is on how to build a personal brand in 4 weeks.)

Building a personal brand isn't about becoming an influencer. It's about becoming influential in your space.

As Jeff Bezos said, “A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn a reputation by trying to do hard things well.”

Think of your personal brand as building a reputation you love.

It worked for me. Thanks to my content, books and podcast, I have been able to build a business and a life that I love.

The problem I see with many of the approaches out there is that they are purely tactical:

“Do this on LinkedIn, build this funnel, start making videos.”

These tend to fail because they lack strategy. They lack a foundation.

Instead, to fulfill your goals, you need the right Motivation, Mindset, Method and Message.

Motivation

Get total clarity on why you build your personal brand so you can stay consistent when it gets busy.

Mindset

Throw out limiting beliefs like “you have to be charismatic”, “I don’t have time”, “you need a huge audience”, or “it won’t work for me”.

Method

Plan how you will achieve your goals. For instance, for social media, I use my PACES method: Profile, Audience, Content, Engagement, Sales.

Message

Decide on your positioning, your story, and your messages.

Your brand isn't built in a day, but it is built daily. Next week, I will share how to build a personal brand in 2024 and beyond.


SPEAK LIKE A CEO ACADEMY

November is Personal Branding Month

A personal brand is a safety net that gives you independence from any client or employer – because with a strong brand, you can always get more clients or another employer.

Even CEOs are now hired based on their audience size and recognition. Why? Because people trust people, and social media has made it possible for leaders to build trust at scale.

That’s why November is Personal Branding Month in the Speak Like a CEO Academy. It features my brand-new course, a Mastermind, and a session on boosting your LinkedIn - all provided by me.

Join the Academy today and unlock the tools to take your personal brand to the next level.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PODCAST

Seth Godin: All Leadership Is, Is Communication

I do a podcast to help you become a top 1% communicator. Please subscribe on Apple or Spotify.

This week’s guest is none other than Seth Godin – the world’s most famous marketer, a highly successful entrepreneur, and the author of 21 best-selling books.

Seth just released his brand-new book ‘This is Strategy’, a groundbreaking guide to creating meaningful change in a complex world.

In addition to strategy – which he describes as a compass and not a map – we discuss leadership, storytelling and communications.

My favorite quote: "Management runs a race to the bottom; leadership offers a chance to run for the top. The problem with the race to the bottom is that you might win. Then you have to live at the bottom.”

Seth also shares how he fights climate change as part of a movement, and how we can make progress towards solving the climate crisis.

Enjoy this episode with one of the world's most influential business thinkers!

Listen on Spotify and Apple:


BOOK RECOMMENDATION

The Heroine's Journey

Everyone knows the Hero’s Journey, but do you know the Heroine’s Journey?

Gail Carriger explores a narrative structure distinct from the traditionally male-centered Hero’s Journey. It focuses on community, connection, and collaboration rather than solitary trials and conquest.

This journey often involves the protagonist seeking allies, building relationships, and restoring balance to the world, rather than overcoming external obstacles alone.

The author makes it clear that this is about narrative structure, not gender. The heroine doesn’t have to be a woman, nor are all heroes men.

The world’s most famous heroine? Harry Potter

Have an inspired weekend,

Oliver

PS: Share this newsletter with your friends & colleagues here.

Eo Ipso Communications GmbH

Friedrichstraße 68, 10117 Berlin

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