An Interview With Personal Branding Expert Dan Schawbel
Dan has changed the game of personal branding forever. He has transformed the way we look at our careers and managed to convince us that we really need to be conscious and keep our focus on our personal brands – something that brand managers have long done. In this interview, he shares with us his thoughts on how YOU can build YOUR own personal brand without shelling a lot of money.
What is it exactly that YOU do?
I help people and companies build brands using the latest and greatest technologies in order to become more successful. I provide resources, such as the Personal Branding Blog, Personal Branding Magazine and my book, Me 2.0, as well as speak and consult.
Define for us what a Brazen Careerist does. What's the key difference compared to others?
My affiliation with Brazen Careerist is that of a paid evangelist, but I've been promoting the brand since inception because I believe that young professionals should unite to bring more value to the world at large. Brazen Careerist is the social network for Gen-Y and the number one recruiting center for companies looking to hire that generation. Other social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook cater more to the population at large, where as Brazen focuses on Gen-Y.
Tell us more about the Personal Branding blog. Where did YOU get the inspiration to build a resource site like this?
I've been marketing myself since before I became self-aware of my personal branding passion. In College I had 8 internships, 7 leadership positions in organizations, my own company and straight A's, so I became highly marketable. After reading The Brand Called You in Fast Company on March 14, 2007, I realized that I could become the leading Gen-Y voice on the topic and then immediately started the Personal Branding Blog.
Were YOU ever scared?
I was always confident in this area because I knew I could win. Previously, I was always scared of public speaking and was quite an introverted character, but my passion awoken me and now I feel empowered to make a difference.
If there's one person in the world that YOU'D like to meet, who would it be? Why?
I wouldn't consider myself a fan of anyone, which actually allows me to interview celebrities without worshiping them. I would like to meet Steve Rubel though because he's been a great supporter of my work and believes in the concept of personal branding because he's a success story.
Tell us who's the most interesting person YOU'VE met/interviewed. Why?
Hands down Marcus Buckingham, even though I've spoken to Timbaland, Jerry Springer, MC Hammer and Kathy Ireland. Marcus said something that I'll carry with me the rest of my life: "people don't change, they become more of who they already are." After my five year high school reunion, I realized that he's 100% correct. You can't change people!
How can we maximize social media tools to build our personal brand?
You create a system for yourself, so that you start using one tool and that assists you with the other tools. For instance, my world starts in Google reader, where I take a shower in information, which I then tag and organize and share on social networks and use for blog posts.
What metrics are YOU looking at to say that someone has a strong personal brand?
I think the latest and greatest metric is how many Twitter lists you're on that categorize you as the brand you want to showcase to the world. I'm not that into web traffic and subscribers as it relates to influence, but I'm into how it builds your perception and gives you a pathway to making money.
Who has the best personal brand today in YOUR criteria?
There is a difference between the biggest and the best. I would say that Obama has the biggest influence and reach, yet his approval rating is poor. I think Oprah or Trump has the best personal brand overall because their brands have stayed consistent even before they were celebrities (authenticity).
Who are YOUR personal heroes? Why?
I would say my grandfather is my hero because he worked 24/7 to build a support system for my family and he established a lot of our values. I also dedicated my book to him.
What are YOU hungry for?
I'm hungry to grow my web properties and write another book!
About Dan Schawbel
Dan Schawbel is the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He is the bestselling author of Me 2.0, as well as the publisher of both the award winning Personal Branding Blog and Personal Branding Magazine.
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