Scott Ginsberg

Gosh, I cannot remember exactly when I first stumbled onto Scott Ginsberg’s blog, Hello My Name is Scott, but I’ve been a fan of his writing and style ever since…

You might know him as the Name Tag guy, the fellow who, as of this writing, has worn a name tag for 3,949 straight days…

We talk about why he does that on the show…

Scott is an entertaining fellow, and smart as heck. We talk about the power of personal branding and how to create unique personal brand, and Scott shares his best advice for entrepreneurs.

Sanity is highly overrated. | Scott Ginsberg

We also talk about creativity, and how “volume” and “being pervasive” are what matters in publishing and generating content. Scott shares his strategy behind how he comes up with the ideas for all his content.

You should check out his brandtag identity collages, which he talks about on the show…

Check out Scott’s latest book (affiliate link):

###

[join my free newsletter, or subscribe to the blog feed]
[subscribe to my podcast via iTunes]

Within the past year, I moved across town. After I moved, my new environs felt strange, different and uncomfortable. Which, to be honest, was just what my life needed at the time – a jolt to get me out of my rut.

But with time, my new community now feels like home. Comfortable and familiar.

I needed both feelings exactly when I needed them. It worked for me. This new place, which once felt foreign, now feels like home. You know the feeling I am talking about…

But how do these feelings of “being like home” impact your brand? Thinking on it, I think “feeling like home” is bad if you are an entrepreneur, business owner and brand.

I cannot remember where I heard or read it, and I am sorry that I cannot give proper credit, but someone recently said that when you are comfortable, you aren’t pushing yourself. You aren’t innovating. And you aren’t learning.

And when you are running a business and trying to serve customers, this is a very dangerous place to be.

Honestly, you should always be uncomfortable when in business. You should never be satisfied. And if you are striving to be comfortable, two things will result:

Boredom. And failure.

And by failure, I don’t necessarily mean going out of business. But becoming ordinary. Irrelevant. Boring. Just one of many on the shelf.

The more you’re able to tolerate ambiguity and lean into the unknown, the more likely you’ll be to dance with it long enough to come up with better solutions, ideas and creations. | Jonathan Fields

Ask the recording industry, or bricks and mortar book stores, if they wished they hadn’t remained comfortable.

No, honestly, many businesses make good profits when they “feel like home” to their new customers. “Ah, a great new product that works for me,” you think to yourself. And you become loyal to that new brand, for a while anyway. And it is probably good to make your customers feel like they’re home.

But you know what happens.

Over time, as a long-time user of a product or service, you get that itch. There’s a new thing. There’s a new idea. There’s a new way. And you almost can’t help yourself in being curious to check it out. Just because it is fresh.

I think that’s human nature. And I think it’s natural.

So, as a business person, you HAVE TO ACCOUNT for this phenomenon, and make it a part of your long-term strategy. You have to expect – and prepare – for it.

Never be comfortable. Never settle. Always learn more. Always seek to question basic assumptions. Always ask your customer how to improve, how to do better, how to remain meaningful.

Because not only is effecting change important to keeping things fresh for your customers, quite honestly, they can invigorate you too.

How many businesses and brands are negatively impacted by the owner who has lost interest, lost the passion, and frankly, no longer cares?

No, the lesson in my life? I will never allow myself to remain comfortable again. I won’t wait to make changes, adjustments that will keep me thinking and innovating. I admit that I used to seek being comfortable. But looking back, most of life hasn’t been. And for the most part, that’s been ok. I’ve learned a lot, and achieved a lot.

Now I accept it as my full-time paradigm. And I think healthy brands should seek that out too…

What do you think?

[to learn more about branding, join my free newsletter, or subscribe to the blog feed]
[subscribe to my podcast via iTunes]

[pic by jasonwhat]

Two quick observations from Super Bowl Sunday…

1. Lay off Christina Aguilera. I’d sooner have a large pipe inserted up my fanny than sing the Star-Spangled Banner a capella in front of 11 BILLION people. The only people more courageous are America’s fighting men and women…

But that said, just sing the damn song. Don’t fancy it up so much that you lose sight of the message behind what the song stands for. More attention was paid to the style and delivery than what the words mean, and it doesn’t surprise me an error was made…

2. I dig the Black Eyed Peas. They make me happy. They make me feel good about life. And thus, I will long be a fan…

But that halftime show was simply silly. I mean really silly.

There was so much going on that I lost sight of what I was supposed, to, um, the what, who, the what, I mean, what was going on? Did I just see Slash? I had more beer than I thought, but I just had Usher show up in my dreams about the Super Bowl halftime show.

And all that was missing was lighted outfits that glowed in the dark. Oh wait…

But at least the sound quality was superior. Oh wait…

Anyway, my point is there was too much happening. Too much going on. It took away from what should have been a fun, memorable show featuring some great entertainers…

And that’s my message with this post.

Just focus on what you do…best.

Just showcase who you are, what you do, and how you matter. Don’t add so much to your “song” that you forget the actual message. And don’t add so much fancy schmancy glitz and pop and buzz that you forget who you are, and what joy you can bring to your audience.

Sometimes, I think we try to add so many bells and whistles that the true magic is lost.

Stop doing that. Just focus on what is important please….

###

[join my intrepid newsletter]
[subscribe to the blog feed]

Sorry.

But I have a hard time when people tell me they are the best this, and the best that. Or that they host the best networking event in town. Or that they have the best appetizers in town…

“I can sell bubblegum in the lockjaw ward,” some tell me. With a straight face.

I say hooey.

Do this instead. Just be the best this, and the best that. Go ahead and host the best networking event in town. Make the best damn appetizers.

But don’t boast that. I seems fake. It seems hokey. It seems cheap. And “cheap and hokey” isn’t good marketing. People mock you on Twitter. They make spoof videos and pop them on YouTube.

The market will decide. And your cash register will be full of the evidence. Then let others say you are the best. People don’t make fun of that on social media…

I wrote a while back about people boasting of their influence and power on the social web. And I think this is as equally grievous.

Am I alone in this? Agree? Disagree?

###

[join my intrepid newsletter]
[subscribe to the blog feed]

[cartoon by @gapingvoid]

My sincere apologies, but I have NO idea to whom I should attribute this quote that I found on Twitter last week:

If you have to tell people you are influential, you are not.

I love that quote. A lot. In fact, I hope Twitter adds a button that allows me to auto-Tweet that quote everytime I need it. And sadly, I need it a lot, because everyday there are countless people who are trying to “tell” me how important and influential they are.

I mean, honestly, I don’t need to hear about all your speaking gigs (most of which are volunteer but are being billed as mega-paid keynotes)…

Chris Guillebeau

But to listen to him on the show today? You heard a very humble, pleasant, normal guy (just like you and me) who was more interested in serving and helping others than talking about all his accomplishments. It was a breath of fresh air. [CLICK HERE to listen to his interview.]

To be honest, I actually find it fascinating to observe these two dichotomies on the social web. Don’t tell anyone, but I enjoy watching people act as if they are all-important, someone to whom I should pay all kinds of attention. It is kind of entertaining…

Perhaps this makes me a bad man…

I suppose, then, that is why I get such pleasure at observing people like Chris Guillebeau. He strikes me as the kind of guy I would model myself after should I ever achieve his kind of success. Humble, honest, forthright, and someone with a service mentality.

[I hope you kick my butt if I ever act otherwise...]

But the main point of this post isn’t to talk bad about people who self-promote, or to talk positive about people like Chris Guillebeau….the goal here is to tell you that actions make you influential. Not your words or tweets.

People who serve, people who help others, people who share the cool things that others are doing…those are the actions that make you influential.

I remember watching a presentation by Chris Brogan. Someone was asking him about how it was possible to engage and build community with a twitter following of 150K+ followers. Brogan said having a large following allows me to shine a brighter light on the good works of others.

The comment hit me like a mack truck.

And that’s why people like Chris Brogan are, in fact, influential. Because he doesn’t just say it. He does it.

We asked Chris Guillebeau on the show how someone can write a book. His answer? Simply….”just start writing.”

Actions, in other words, are the keys to being influential. Doing. Executing. Delivering. Shipping. Not talking about it. Doing it. And do it enough and do it consistently, people will notice, people will start talking about it, people will start sharing with others…

…and that’s when you achieve influence. The marketplace decides who has influence. Not you.

So, honestly, it is simple. If you want to achieve influence, start doing the things that influential people do. Serve others. Help others. Care about others. And whatever you do, don’t just WISH you were influential, BE influential. The minute you simply focus on helping others, instead of caring about being influential, will be the moment you start to be influential.

Agree? Disagree? What do you think?

Running the NYC Marathon is on my Bucket List

To be honest, I have not seen the film The Bucket List.

But I trust you know what I mean by a “bucket list…” Things/experiences you want to accomplish in your life before you kick the bucket… There is even a Squidoo page on the subject…

I’ve read countless posts and articles about the power and motivational spirit generated by creating your very own “bucket list.”

So, I decided to not only write out my own “bucket list,” but also to make it public!

Knowing my bucket list may interest you… Or it may not…

But in thinking more on this subject, and going through a list of a dozen or so of my closest friends, I would actually LOVE to know what their bucket list would look like…

1. This enables me to really get to know someone I care about…

2. Perhaps, just perhaps, I can help them achieve one of their dreams…

3. The kind of person who would publish this list publicly? Is a kind of person I want to know!

4. I know they have courage. And perhaps, a little pizzaz…

5. If a sales prospect I am interacting with made present their bucket list? Wow! That gives me some cool insights on ways to further develop a relationship with them, and perhaps build up more trust to do some business…

6. What a cool way to add some color and texture to your personal brand! Knowing your dreams and goals can really impact the shape and context with which someone views you and your personal brand…

I’d encourage you to write about – publicly – your dreams, aspirations, goals, and your bucket list. This makes you more human, approachable, knowable, and trustworthy. Even if you don’t make it public, you are a fool to NOT commit your dreams to paper. Writing them down makes them real. And, quite frankly, more attainable…

So what do you think? Are “bucket lists” things people should publish on their online presence? Does it strengthen their person brand? What do you think?

Live Intrepid!

[photo my martineric from flickr]

cartoon by @gapingvoid

There is an awful lot of conversation about personal branding these days – books, blogs, social media, webinars, conferences, etc. And a lot of what they all say is important.

I was talking with my friend Stephanie A. Lloyd about her 2010 plans the other day, and she was telling me some of her thinking about personal branding.

She helped boil down my thinking on personal branding to a mere three critical steps. And they aren’t complicated, despite so many people making this process harder than it has to be. They are:

1. The need for FOCUS and CLARITY on your specialty. You cannot be all things to all people. You must be clear about the one thing you can do to serve and help people. You can’t be known as a master of ten different things. A lot of people can’t really tell you the one thing they do well, because they don’t want to miss an opportunity by being too narrowly defined. Get over that fear. It will kill you.

2. The ability to clearly articulate what that is. You’ve heard people say that you should be able to describe your story in one sentence. As in, “FDR got us out of the Depression and helped win WWII.” If you cannot clearly articulate what your specialty or skill is, your personal brand will be muddled and confusing. You have to make it clear. You have to make it easy to understand. And if you have to explain in detail what you do, you’ve already lost.

3. Consistency delivering this well-articulated message both online and offline. Most people’s problem? They aren’t consistent in telling their story over and over. Or they say one thing on Twitter, and another thing at a Chamber mixer. Or explaining what you do in different ways, to different people. Or changing what you do again and again and again. I tell my political clients to stay on message. Same thing applies here.

The three concepts above aren’t rocket science. So what’s the hard part? Being disciplined enough to execute on these three points over time. If you can do that, you will be on the right path…and your personal brand will be one that resonates and helps you go-to-market with strength and clarity.

So ask yourself, “Am I really following these three key steps?” Be honest, and good luck. Got any other thoughts?

Today, I had the distinct pleasure to be a surprise guest on Dream Job Radio, hosted by Stephanie A. Lloyd. Being a radio show about talent search, we discussed two different ways for job search candidates to build and strengthen their personal brands using social media. Enjoy!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwJvi1oh3NI]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkbgwUskWkk]
See the original post from the He Said She Said blog here. And view Stephanie’s version on Radiant Veracity. And a special thanks to Lee Kantor and the RadioX family!

cartoon by @gapingvoid

As you know, we here at Intrepid are big fans of giving back to your community. Whether this is done as an individual, a family, or a business, it matters not because it is all important.

But, as I’ve written before, you know I firmly believe that giving back to your community is good marketing for your business too. Not only does it reflect well on you and your brand, and help the community, but the effort also [usually] exposes you to new people in your community – people that might not run in your usual business circles…

But today, I was inspired by this post from Stephanie A. Lloyd, my co-hort with He Said She Said. She wrote about donating clothes and linens to HopeATL, an outfit working to help those who suffered tragically with the recent Atlanta floods. Here is a quick video about their mission:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OocR2jUpsRc]
I am inspired, everyday, by people like Stephanie and by organizations such as HopeATL! I continue to be amazed by what people can do, and what they will do, out of the goodness of their hearts and souls. When I witness people giving back, I categorize them as the best and brightest – and the kind of people who make a community what it is.

But, for a moment, allow yourself to imagine what others will think of you when you “give back” to your community! What do you want people to think about when your name is mentioned? I observe people every day who have achieved great things in business. And many of those have been active in serving their community, and that is how I choose to view these folks. And, those are the kind of people I want to associate with, and do business with.

But I still get challenged with this idea. How do you have the time? I have no idea what cause to help or support. I will help out as soon as I can make enough money to cover the mortgage. Sure, I get it. This might not be for everyone. I’ve heard every excuse. If you think long enough, you can come up with some reason not to do this. But, as I am discovering every day, it doesn’t take a lot of effort on your part to make a difference in someone’s life. And to your community.

Still need to be convinced? Want a few more reasons to commit you and your business to a “giving back” strategy? Here are just a few:

1. Great PR for you and your business.
2. Exposes you to new people, new people that are not in your usual business circles.
3. Helps you build community.
4. Gives you important things to talk about on social media.
5. Great potential blog content!
6. Helps dramatically with your company storytelling!
7. Strong means to strengthen – and live – your brand.
8. Doing so helps you stand out amongst the clutter.
9. It will differentiate you from your competition.
10. It will give your customers something to talk about.
11. The opportunity to use your association with your charity, non-profit, etc. as a way to engage your customers and community, such as hosting events/promotions where percentages of the revenues are donated to a cause.
12. Allows you to do some real good for the local community.
13. Social media makes it very easy to serve your community – easier than it has ever been.

     

    What do you think? Agree? Disagree? What are ways you have given back to your community?

I am asked every day whether a person should build a brand around themselves personally, or around their business. That question, without knowing the bigger picture, is difficult to answer.

But, to be honest, I generally lean towards building a desired brand identity and positioning around YOU. People like to buy from someone they know, trust, and have a good relationship with. Obviously, this is more difficult if you are part of a larger organization…

What you MUST understand is this: you can’t simply create a “brand” out of thin air. You have to earn it. And the market determines what your brand is, because of the reputation you have earned in achieving it. You can say you are the “customer service” company, but if your customer service is poor, the market place will determine otherwise.

That said, here are a few ideas on things you can do to help strengthen the relationship your market, your customers, and your prospects – have with your brand:

1. Be honest. Always.
2. Do what you promise. Always.
3. Think about your customers first. With every decision. I mean every decision.
4. Have all stakeholders in your organization bought into the same, consistent organizational message.
5. And then deliver that message consistently.
6. Think service first, selling second.
7. Live your positioning. If you say you are a green company, be green.
8. Give back to the community.
9. Be yourself.
10. Admit fault. And seek to fix it.
11. Focus on the little things. They matter…
12. Strive to be perfect in every way. From big picture stuff to the mundane…
13. Be intrepid. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t play it safe.
14. Don’t embrace the status quo. You will die a slow death…
15. Seek to stand out. Make it easy for people to distinguish you.
16. But make it easy for people to know you.
17. Be accessible. Communicate well.
18. When using social media, truly engage with people.
19. Listen.
20. Live up to expectations.
21. Be sure your marketing tells a story…
22. …And pushes emotional buttons.
23. Provide a strong pre-purchase customer experience…
24. …but don’t forget the post-purchase experience.
25. Does your product or service deliver on what you promise?

You can make a choice to do nothing, and let the branding chips fall where they may. Or you can choose to earn your brand, and make the choice to strengthen your customer’s brand relationship.

What will you choose? And what other ideas can you share?

Be Intrepid.