Hey... it can happen to the best of us.
I’ve been asked a few times if all of this is valuable for those that are currently employed and who may actually enjoy or really feel comfortable in their current job and role.
The answer is a definitive yes, you should always be thinking about managing your online brand regardless if you’re looking for a new job or not. Most people think that personal online branding is for those that are self-employed or for those that are looking for a career change and/or move and that’s simply not the case.
You should always curate, manage, and control your personal online brand – maybe even so that you can keep your current job today! But here are some additional benefits of having an incredible personal brand even in your current situation:
1. Add More Value to Your Employer
The fact is that the more branded you are the more traffic you’ll get to your personal properties and the more traffic your employer will get as people walk through your links to see what you’re currently doing and where you’re currently employed.
Just think about it for a second; imagine if all of your employees had incredible personal brands and who provided links to your business’ website? Wow! That’s a lot of traffic, free marketing, and is essentially a channel strategy for sales! This, of course, is a good thing.
I’ve heard of some employers even encouraging their team to work on their personal brands and even providing templates (like the ones I’ve given for free) to their staff. Now that’s pretty darn neat!
2. Stay Internally Competitive
The fact is that most of you are still competing for continued employment at your job against some of your peers and colleagues. Whether you think about it explicitly or not you’re personal brand is both offline and offline and perhaps a better curated and managed online brand could keep you competitive when reviews come up.
The more invaluable you are as an asset to your team the more valuable you are as a team member. Bringing food to the table, so to speak, via your personal brand could keep you employed. The larger your network the more difficult it is to lose you.
In an ever-increasing competitive work force economy you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by managing your online brand. And some of the collateral benefits are increased confidence, marketability, and heck, swagger!
3. Stay Prepared, New Opportunities
You may really like your current role and job but you never know what life is going to throw your way and you could get laid off for whatever reason. Having a personal brand will help you stay prepared for that terrible situation if it does in fact happen.
And to be honest, it’s one of the reasons I’m able to press on quickly when my career takes a turn unexpectedly – which appears to happen for me quite often!
But, it can also be a proactive way of networking with other businesses and individuals who may value (and need) your skills more than your current employer. There’s nothing wrong with getting ahead of the game and keeping on the lookout for your next gig.
Managing your online profile is just as important as managing your own career, right? No one’s going to do it for you.
[This is part of the Personal Branding Series.]
John, I definitely agree with you on this one.
Recently a person in class was like, oh, what do you do?
So I showed them.
They were absolutely impressed and even thought about creating their own website to showcase their work, achievements, etc — sort of like an online resume.
I think nowadays, to really stand out, you have to go beyond the bare minimum. If there are a room full of people trying to be employed, and you are the only one with a website that really showcases your talents and achievements, I think that separates you from the rest.
Very insightful post, and definitely a good heads-up for people everywhere.
it does give you a leg up on your competition, that’s for sure.
LOL, at least they let him keep his uniform!!!
John, do you know Danny Choo?
hmm… where from?
His website is on the image and he lives in Tokyo, Japan.
Since you were there at one time, I thought you might have met him earlier.
Tokyo is a great place with good memories; my wife and I had our engagement dinner in a restaurant at the top of a highrise building. It was awesome being able to look out over the city at night with all the bright lights.
hmm. not sure. i was there in the mid/late 90′s…
Good advice here, John.
It can happen to anyone.
Without sharing all the ugly details I went from a Project Engineer position (enjoying developing and designing products) to a fabricator position (taking flat pieces of metal and making bent pieces of metal) at another company. Of course there is nothing wrong with being a fabricator if that is what you want to do for a living.
And no matter how valuable you really are to your company, it is the perceived value that your employer will go by in their head. And believe me, a brownie point today will become doggy poo tomorrow.
So yes, you definitely need to always have a plan “B”, because I guarantee your employer does. It is usually a temp agency or a filing cabinet full of resumes from people who want your job.
Whew!! I need to end on a lighter note.
The one good thing about making 1,000 or more pieces of the same thing, is that once you get in a rhythm and you are pretty comfortable that you are not going to cut your fingers off, you can think about other things.
I was really getting tired today, which is a 12 hour shift, when on break I pulled out my smartphone and saw the Storm Trooper image.
Thank you, John; that was all I needed to get my mind to mutating. Two things resulted:
1. I imagined a cartoon sketch. The caption read – “The real reason the Death Star exploded.” First frame – Darth Vader holding an iPad. Cloud bubble above the iPad saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t recognize that command.” (because of his muffled I am in a fish tank sound voice) Second frame – Death Star exploding. Any way, was funny the way my mind saw it.
Please see if you can get Wes to draw that.
2. I imagined what would happen if Veggie Tales did a Star Wars themed video.
They could have a character named “Darth Tater”. He would also have to have this line – “Luke Cauliflower, … … … I am your spud.”
Sigh…I miss Veggie Tales. Why did my girls have to grow up so fast?
… because they are girls and god made them to freak out dads.
Yes, they are teenagers now and one of them drives! :0
I heard a comedian give some “good” advice. He said to shoot the first boyfriend and leave him on the door step. It will deter the other would-be boyfriends.
I like the point on adding value to your business or the company you work for. This is something I don’t do enough of. Great read John
sure thing joshua!
This is an often overlooked part of most employees. The tendency is to stay who you are because you “already have a job”.
But you’re right, there needs to be continues growth and brand development. The only “day of completion” is the one where we die.
Thanks for the reminder, John!
sure thing alex! how are things going with you?
Thanx again, John. It’s been a while I was thinking about personal branding. Basically, you provided us with the step-by-step implementation plan. It’s great to read your blog.
awesome! enjoy!