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You are not a brand.

You are a person.

Too many 20-somethings on social media tell me I can build a personal brand just by being myself.

Bad advice in my eyes… lazy and vague…

A brand doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

An individual is not automatically a brand.

Sorry, Twitter bros…

I’ll side with the branding OGs like Seth Godin, Tom Peters, Debbie Millman, and Marty Neumeier.

Debbie Millman once said in an interview:

In a 1997 Fast Company article, Tom Peters famously wrote:

A CEO must understand their business and take strategic action to grow it.

So must an individual understand who they are and use strategic action to grow.

Just look at how these cats did it…

How Three Solopreneurs Built their Brands

See how these folks developed their personal brands over time:

→ Nardwuar

Nardwuar (aka Nardwuar the Human Serviette) got his start as a quirky interviewer at UBC's CiTR 101.9 FM.

Over time, he cultivated his unique persona and interview style — to become quite eccentric and enthusiastic.

Nardwuar always surprises people with his extensive research, obscure questions, and delightful gifts (e.g. giving Snoop a rare VHS tape he had been looking for).

→ MKBHD

In 2009, while still in high school, Marques Brownlee (aka MKBHD) started uploading tech review videos on YouTube.

He focused on the topics that he enjoyed, and he had fun doing it.

Now he’s got around 19.4 million subscribers across all channels and 3.61 billion total video views (as of April 2023).

Marquee is recognized for being detailed, insightful, and entertaining, and he keeps a balanced perspective.

→ Amy Porterfield

Amy Porterfield got her start by working for Harley Davidson in their marketing department.

She then transitioned to online marketing and social media for Tony Robbins.

Eventually, she started her own business as an online marketing strategist and consultant.

Known for being practical and approachable, Amy now has 50,000+ students and 49 million+ podcast downloads.

In 2022, she finished her first book: Two Weeks Notice.

What does all this mean for you?

This is How You Build Your Brand

Your individual brand emerges when you:

1. Identify your core values, beliefs, and attitudes.

2. Focus on one niche, industry, or purpose that drives you.

3. Define your unique strengths and value proposition.

4. Determine where you want to be in 5-10 years.

5. Write a narrative that reaches your ideal audience.

6. Design a unique and memorable visual style.

7. Deliver on your promises consistently.

8. Be genuine and stay true to your values.

👆

Doing these things allows you to find your self, build your identity, and influence how people see you.

It takes a lot of hard work and self-realization.

Don’t just be yourself… understand yourself.

Then take action.

Find your inner CEO.

Need help building your brand?

Hit me up and let’s chat…

I’ll ask you a bunch of really good questions to help you figure it out.

🤖 Robert

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