Why Your Personal Brand Matters: Six Pixels of Separation

I’m a self-confessed readaholic, constantly seeking out new ideas on a wide variety of topics. And as a still relatively new blogger (since May 2009), I enjoy reading the blog posts, e-books, newsletters, etc. of prominent bloggers. I just finished reading an excellent book by Mitch Joel, Six Pixels of Separation. This book is stellar, written by a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under award.

My purpose in writing today’s post is not to review the book–it’s superb–but to focus on one key part that caused me to sit back and think for a bit. In his chapter “You are Media,” Joel talks about building a personal brand. As someone who’s into a career transition later in life and who’s still trying to figure out social media, I found Joel’s words especially powerful. He talks about a “three dimensional personal brand,” consisting of:

1) Giving Abundantly: Give your knowledge away. This is the best way to build your personal brand.

2) Helping Others: When you meet people at events, listen “for their areas of pain.” Help direct others to where they may be able to find solutions to their problems.

3) Building Relationships: While “conversations” are a vital part of digital technology, forming new “real” relationships is what it’s all about.

Thanks Mitch.

In my own search for meaning in cyberspace and how I can contribute, and potentially profit in the future, I had lost sight of my own values and 30 plus years of work experience. It’s easy to get de-railed by the profit maximizers who promise great things (and tons of dough) if you follow their prescriptions–and buy their e-books and training courses. Cyberspace is full of what BusinessWeek recently called snakeoil salesmen (and I’ll add snakeoil saleswomen).

I used to tell my now 26 year-old son when he was little that good things come to those who wait. Indeed. My PERSONAL view is that there’s far too much impatience by those entering the blogosphere who seek to start raking in the big bucks in a matter of months. Chill out.

I have no idea whether down the road I’ll succeed in creating a new virtual career that produces a steady income. But in rediscovering who I am and what I can contribute to the world through sharing my experience and writing, then I’ve stayed aligned with my values and life purpose.

What about you? Are you aligned with your passion and life’s purpose?

Take a momemt to download my new e-book:
Becoming a Holistic Leader: Strategies for Successful Leadership Using a Principle-Based Approach