ignite wilmington #6 | branding you
DESCRIPTION
Are you tired of business card ninjas? In this short Ignite Talk, learn how to stop blending in and stand out. We all make interesting stories, so talk from your heart, don't lie and leave the sales copy at the door. Your brand is so much more than what you do at work, or your fancy title.TRANSCRIPT
Grab a drink. Here’s the agenda for the next 5 minutes.
Stop blending in.
Why are you here?
What is a brand?
Business Card Ninjas.
Why Dr. Seuss still maters to you.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Why are you here?
You’re tired of lame business cards.
Your resume resembles an Old
Christmas Sweater from Goodwill.
You want to be a rockstar.
Or, you’re just curious about why
branding should matter to you.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
What is a brand?
A brand is not a logo, not an identity, not a product. A brand is a person’s gut feeling about a product, service, or organization.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Is your brand “smashable”?
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Business Card Ninjas.
They stalk every chamber event, come to events with their business cards rubber banded, and love a good speed networking session.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Top 5 Reasons to Avoid Being a Business Card Ninja.
01 | You’re more than a flimsy business card can convey.
02 | You value your time.
03 | You value my time. (Important!)
04 | You understand value is in the relationship.
05 | And Finally, you don’t have enough hand sanitizer to shake that many hands.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
So, who are you?
Senior Vice President, Principal,
Junior Lackey, Intern, Gofer,
Sales Representative, Customer
Service Specialist, Graphic
Designer, General Contractor,
Nurse Practitioner, Consultant,
HR Genius, Director of
Something Awesome, President,
Dishwasher, Bartender...
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Luckily, you’re none of them.A title gives little meaning to who you actually are, or what you do well. Sure
it looks nice on a resume or business card, but why should I care?
I used to be a Graphic Designer, an Art Director, a Creative Director, a Barista, and a Lawn Care Specialist.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
What makes you tick? Are you an organizer? Do you like to lead groups? Walk Dogs? Play Sports?
Write? Kill time on the internet? Think of 5 things you do really well, and
write them down.
I’m an artist, a dog walker, a coffee enthusiast, a community activist and a traveler.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
What makes you tick? Are you an organizer? Do you like to lead groups? Walk Dogs? Play Sports?
Write? Kill time on the internet? Think of 5 things you do really well, and
write them down.
I’m an artist, a dog walker, a coffee enthusiast, a community activist and a traveler.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
So what does that mean?It turns out all the things I like to do, and do well correspond to a few core
principles that guide both my personal and professional life. When I talk to
people I relate the things I love to how I do them well. They are:
Problem Solving, Collaboration, Project Management, a Constant Desire to Learn, and to see the World through Various Lenses.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
So what does that mean?It turns out all the things I like to do, and do well correspond to a few core
principles that guide both my personal and professional life. When I talk to
people I relate the things I love to how I do them well. They are:
Problem Solving, Collaboration, Project Management, a Constant Desire to Learn, and to see the World through Various Lenses.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Be Real &Don’t Lie.
Step One
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Lesson’s Learned.
Step Two
Tuesday, December 6, 11
List 5 thingsyou Love.
Step Three
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Clear & ConciseStep Four
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Leave out thesales copy.
Step Five
Tuesday, December 6, 11
We want emotion.I’m not talking about a new Nicholas Sparks novel, but you’ve got to draw in
your audience bit by bit. You’re not a robot, or list of titles, you have great
strengths, so highlight them.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
Invest in You. Remember, if you're the brand, now and then you have to do some
maintenance, take a class, buy some new clothes, travel, etc. Don’t let what
defines you be what you do at work. Work is very small part of your brand.
Tuesday, December 6, 11
And remember to be you. Not a fancy suit, or Business Card Ninja.
Take a chance.
Tuesday, December 6, 11