Excellent post and so true. And it's amazing how the internet amplifies the perception of your brand. This is why it's critical to mind your Ps ad Qs on blogs, be careful what your Facebook status is, watch what you say on message groups. You're committing career suicide if your public persona doesn't match your publicly available private one.
Danny Brown
· 10 months ago
That's a great statement right there, Jeffrey. A lot of people and businesses may feel they can hide behind an online persona, but there's always someone somewhere watching you. If you emit transparency but it's false, you'll soon be found out. And it might not be so easy to recover from.
Mitch
· 10 months ago
Great post, Danny, and it's something I talk about often. It's not getting to the top, so to speak, as much as how one gets there. I will skip places that offer terrible customer service, no matter how good their products are. Reminds me of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi; no way I'd have gone after the very first time.
Danny
· 10 months ago
It's like that old saying (though I can never remember it correctly, so might mess this up!)
"Be careful who you step over on the way up, as it's just more asses to kiss on the way down." Or something like that :)
It's easy to be mean-spirited but you're remembered more for your involvement.
Tim Jahn
· 10 months ago
Great (and very important) topic here Danny!
People are interested in what your company stands for and how you act just as much as they are in the products you sell.
People understand that your company is comprised of people just like them. They go to their kids soccer games too.
People aren't very interested in doing business with the parents who scream with anger at the kids playing soccer and making the game miserable for everyone.
Today, your brand isn't just what you sell or just what you do or just how you act. Your brand is all of the above.
Danny
· 10 months ago
It's funny you mention the kids soccer game analogy, Tim. If you can happily scream and holler at a little 6-year old kid just for missing a shot, what does that say about you?
And like you say, every waking minute people are looking and judging. Sometimes blatantly, other times less so. It's easy to mess up - not as easy to recover.
Frank Reed
· 10 months ago
Danny,
I have found out quite recently that the only way to truly succeed is service. Of course there is business service but it's service to others that makes real things happen.
I am trying to ask the question on a daily basis of "How can I serve you today?" It does result in some blank stares and muffled chuckles but those are not the norm. In fact, most people are so shocked by the concept that they open up in ways that i couldn't imagine otherwise.
So, Danny, how can I serve you? What can I do to help you?
Danny
· 10 months ago
Great ethos, Frank, and one that's a key reason that you have so much respect and how you help people every day.
Dan Schawbel
· 10 months ago
Good post here. Your personal brand, to the outside world (people who don't know you), is what they see on your website. That is why your design and writing has to be unique to you. In this world, you can't get away with trying to be someone else and why would you!
Danny
· 10 months ago
I agree, and I think that's why there's such a commotion currently about the question of ghostblogging. If it's your voice, it actually needs to be your voice and not someone that's just typing up what they think your readers and visitors want to hear.
All Comments
"Be careful who you step over on the way up, as it's just more asses to kiss on the way down." Or something like that :)
It's easy to be mean-spirited but you're remembered more for your involvement.
People are interested in what your company stands for and how you act just as much as they are in the products you sell.
People understand that your company is comprised of people just like them. They go to their kids soccer games too.
People aren't very interested in doing business with the parents who scream with anger at the kids playing soccer and making the game miserable for everyone.
Today, your brand isn't just what you sell or just what you do or just how you act. Your brand is all of the above.
And like you say, every waking minute people are looking and judging. Sometimes blatantly, other times less so. It's easy to mess up - not as easy to recover.
I have found out quite recently that the only way to truly succeed is service. Of course there is business service but it's service to others that makes real things happen.
I am trying to ask the question on a daily basis of "How can I serve you today?" It does result in some blank stares and muffled chuckles but those are not the norm. In fact, most people are so shocked by the concept that they open up in ways that i couldn't imagine otherwise.
So, Danny, how can I serve you? What can I do to help you?