Your Online Identity: Using Your Middle Initial

In a world where many people share the same first and last name but not family, it is important to have a clear identity.

Consider using your middle initial.

Now, I can't take complete credit for this: this really came from Mike D. Merrill, a social media consultant in Dallas with a history with Dell. The guy knows his stuff and speaks from experience.

My personal experience is that when I Google my name, a number of people with my first and last name come up that aren't me. Same for a search on LinkedIn and Facebook. However, my middle initial set me apart. It makes me, me.

In this fast-paced, ever-changing information-savvy world, we all need every edge we can get. Your identity and personal brand are yours to manage and you should do so carefully and deliberately.

Relentless

First Impressions

They only come along once, so be sure and make a good one. First impressions, that is.

Whether you are meeting someone at a networking situation for the first time or your new boss at that new job, there are some things to remember:

• Understand expectations
• Demonstrate who you are
• Know the environment
• Actively listen
• Be organized
• Know your brand

Knowing what to deliver is important. before you go to that event, know who to talk with or who is going to be there. If you are starting a job, ask the boss what she expects of you (make a list).

Demonstrating your abilities, either in the microcosm of the event or the first few days of a job helps build momentum. People remember effective people. Be concise (but polite) with conversation and take leave appropriately. Complete the work assigned to you clearly, accurately and completely.

Knowing where you are and how to react means knowing processes: which hand to shake with or what software to use.

Actively listen to those you meet. You'll remember more than you might believe and you will be memorable ll the same.

Be organized. Business cards. Check. Short intro speech. Check. make sure your office looks and feels like the workspace of someone who knows what they are doing.

And knowing your brand. In this day and age of controlling your digital footprint, be sure you are consistent in message from platform to platform and from time to time. This is Product You, so be careful how you position and advance yourself. It's up to you.

Relentless

A great example of personal brand

Jamey Wozniak is the best example I've seen in sometime of someone doing two things well:

• Creating and managing her personal brand
• Using her skills to transition from one career to another

Jamey is the owner of Joe's Hitch, Trailer and Truck Accessories in Dallas. This former human resources professional really took a sharp turn in her career: HR manager in the cosmetics and home fashion business to CEO of an automotive parts and accessories company.

Her skills as a human resources professional allow her to speak and interact with her employees and customers as few know how to do, applying her knowledge to the day-to-day operation of her company.

She also did a makeover of her appearance: from suits to jeans and boots--business to biker.

While it might seem extreme, from what I've read and learned of this smart businessperson is that it more suits her personality. She makes it clear in the consistency she shows from contact to contact: a Dallas Morning News story and photo, her Facebook and LinkedIn pages and profile, her image associated with the business in advertising and other media.

Consistency is a must when projecting one's brand image. Great work, Jamey.

Relentless

This is extracted in part from Cheryl Hall's story in the Sunday, 8/9/09 edition of the Dallas Morning News. Thanks, Cheryl.

Observing: More on Building Your Personal Brand

A great exercise in helping define your personal brand is to pay attention to what others say and note what they observe about you.

Our colleague, Robin McCasland of Buck Consultants, says to try this at home: sit with a colleague and use three words to describe each other. On paper:

• Describe yourself in three words
• How do others describe you? (in three words)
• Ask someone to describe you (in three words)

The results might be surprising, but it will give the both of you a simple starting place on who you are and what comprises your brand.

Relentless

Extracted from a presentation by Robin McCasland to IABC Dallas on July 10, 2009

Building Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand is who you are to the world. It is up to you to define it and shape it...and control it.

Robin McCasland of Buck Consultants advises that there are five things to keep in mind when you are building your personal brand:

1. Be choosy, be specific
2. Having an ego is not a crime
3. Pay attention to what others observe
4. Become part of a clique (get involved)
5. Get outside inspiration if you need it.

We'll take these on one at a time over the next few entries. This is good stuff and we all need to pay attention about how we are perceived by the world.

Relentless

This is an extract from a presentation by Robin McCasland of Buck Consultants given to the IABC Dallas chapter on 7/10/09.