The Person to See

Every Owner In Every Company Should Worry About Every Employees Personal Brand

I can't tell you how many times I hear from people "Personal Branding is not really important to me because I am not in sales."

This morning I went to rent a truck from Public Storage.  The Company's posted hours for Sunday are  10am-2pm.  I along with several other folks arrived ten to fifteen minutes early.  At varying times we each peered into the window to see if anyone was there.

I can't say I was surprised to find a gal sitting behind a desk just hanging out waiting for 10am to come.  If we want to be sticklers for time she open the doors five minutes late.  But who is counting.

When we went in the gal was equally uninterested in our needs.  It was quite obvious she wasn't interested in serving customers.  Instead she was just logging the hours necessary to collect a paycheck.

What do you think, would working on your receptionist's, clerk's or other non-sales related person's personal brands help?

The Best Personal brands Are Unflappable

I have a client who is working on his temper.  You see, losing your temper is bad for your brand for three reasons:

• It makes you look out of control
• It is a waste of valuable energy
• Most of the time it is destructive to those around you

So here's what I told him to do.  Pick someone who you admire who you think is unflappable in the face of pressure, conflict and frustration.  Try to model that person as much as possible.  If you stick with it you may find yourself making more progress than you thought very quickly.

People I look to are Peter O'Malley, former owner of the Dodgers, James Baker III, former Secretary of State and Colin Powell.  Who do you admire?

The Priceless Value of the Golden Rule

I am pleased to report that so far this year we have continued to have much success despite all the doom and gloom in the marketplace.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we invest in people not transactions.  Even if things should take a turn for the worst I don't expect the same disaster some have experienced.

One of the biggest mistakes I witness in the business community is the how poorly many business people treat others calling on them for business.  It amazes me how many people complain about how disrespectfully they are treated by their prospects and than turn around and treat their own prospects exactly the same way.  It happens with me and my own clients all the time.

Prospects will come to me and tell me about how they'd like it to be with people they are calling on and then I see them do exactly the same thing to people calling on them (sometimes me included and they don't even realize it!)

Every successful person I've ever done business with has told me the same thing, "You reap what you sow."  If you want to be treated like class than treat others the same way.

Personal branding has less to do with products and services and more to do with relationships and people.

The Priceless Value of the Golden Rule

I am pleased to report that so far this year we have continued to have much success despite all the doom and gloom in the marketplace.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we invest in people not transactions.  Even if things should take a turn for the worst I don't expect the same disaster some have experienced.

One of the biggest mistakes I witness in the business community is the how poorly many business people treat others calling on them for business.  It amazes me how many people complain about how disrespectfully they are treated by their prospects and than turn around and treat their own prospects exactly the same way.  It happens with me and my own clients all the time.

Prospects will come to me and tell me about how they'd like it to be with people they are calling on and then I see them do exactly the same thing to people calling on them (sometimes me included and they don't even realize it!)

Every successful person I've ever done business with has told me the same thing, "You reap what you sow."  If you want to be treated like class than treat others the same way.

Personal branding has less to do with products and services and more to do with relationships and people.

Americans Would Be Well Served To Heed The Advice Of Gordon Hinckley

Quoting the former and recently deceased leader of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley:

"During recent years, polls and circumstances have suggested that an unprecedented majority of Americans believe that the private lives of public officials need not be considered a factor in their eligibility for public office, and that private morality has no connection with public behavior and credibility.  I am more deeply concerned about the growing moral deficit than I am about the monetary deficit."

This excerpt is from Mr. Hinckley's New York Times Best Seller, Standing For Something.

Let's remember, public office is something you seek.  It is a privilege.  If you can't behave in a manner befitting of a lady or gentleman we just don't need you.  Seek a career in private life.

Money Can't Buy You Love

If you think personal brand appeal boils down to money, power or title how about these apples...

Mayor Giuliani spent more than $60 million dollars campaigning in the Republican primaries and won a whopping one delegate.

While this may have shocked many it didn't me.  Every time I attended a Giuliani event it was always the same story: he came in really late, made a few brief remarks and than out the door.  The guy completely lacked any ability to develop any meaningful one-on-one rapport with the voters.

The lesson here is don't take your audience for granted.  They are who matter. Not you.

Learning From Other's Mistakes

Today at the start of the Super Bowl my brother in law and wife came into my house, returning from a Barack Obama pep rally at UCLA.  Being a loyal Republican my brother-in-law and I immediately got into a good natured back and forth.  Unfortunately, my sarcasm didn't go over too well with his wife.

What was in good fun turned sour for her.  She summarily picked up her kids and swiftly departed.  Bad for her personal brand.  I speak from personal experience.  You must always keep your cool and be tolerant of others' point of view.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, too often freedom of speech and open mindedness means "As long as you agree with me."

Ever Heard Of Military Time?

Early is on time.  On Time Is Late.  Late Is Unacceptable.  I don't care how much money you have, how powerful you are or what your title is lateness kills your personal brand.

So Do You Think This Is A Good Idea?

A client of mine was sharing with me the story of his Company's CEO's Christmas present to all of the brokers in the Company.  The CEO sent out a beautiful white box and inside was a bobble head doll of the CEO with his foot on a globe of the world.

Now here's the good part.  The CEO is actually the CEO of a company that bought the company my client works for. That's right, the CEO of the company essentially said to the people who he took over, "Just so there is no misunderstanding I am the king of the world."  Way to get off on the right foot bro.

Now tell me again who on his team thought this was a good idea?  Probably no one but he has in all likely surrounded himself with a bunch of sycophants.

I'm telling you, be sure to surround yourself with a couple of trusted advisers who are not afraid to tell you the truth.  Especially as you become more and more successful. Your personal brand credibility depends upon it.

When It Cmes To Personal Branding Sweat The Small Stuff

At the outset of 2007 I made a commitment to send 365 handwritten Thank you notes.  Well the count is in and the number turned out to be 371! 

The significance of this accomplishment is not the number itself.  It's the fact that my team and I were the beneficiary of at least 371 acts of kindness and generosity.  How lucky are we.  It's no wonder our business grew 14.9% in 2007.

My next door neighbor Dick Mercer once said to me "No one is a success unless an awful lot of people want that person to be".

This year I'm going for 500.