Comments

Tom, Thanks for this! I have been answering emails that come to you on this subject for years, and from now on I can just refer people to this blog post. It's my impression from reading all those emails that more people have misconceptions about Brand You than get it (tho' I suppose the ones who get it don't write in asking about it).

Posted by cathy mosca at December 30, 2009 11:28 AM

Tom, the clarification is greatly appreciated. Interesting how those who criticize do so from a self-imposed position of altruism. Thanks again, I'm off to the stable.

Posted by Mike Cassidy at December 30, 2009 12:12 PM

I keep a copy of the Fast Company article with me at all times. Now more essential than ever, as if then was any less essential or relevant.

Posted by tom wilson at December 30, 2009 12:38 PM

I came across and embraced the Brand You article a couple of years ago. Whenever I pull it out and read it again it continues to refocus my mind. Now as a partner in the firm I used to be an employee of I've started using the article to try and have our sales teams think of their roles in a different way.

Ego-centric and anti-team? Couldn't be further from the truth. Such comments suggest these people are a mile off 'getting it'.

Posted by Gregg Utting at December 30, 2009 8:57 PM

BrandYou is about OTHERS!

In my experience, here's why. It "raised the level of perception" of my EMPLOYER, helping them "with entry into new business and in closing bids." It helped CUSTOMERS receive outstanding new value. And it makes my PROTEGES say they're "shaped to face any challenge." [I've placed some of these quotes at PradeepHenry.com]

Like the paragraph above, it might sound like bragging, but primarily it is about value/success for OTHER stakeholders.

Thank you, Tom, for BrandYou!

Posted by Pradeep Henry at December 31, 2009 12:34 AM

I am so glad to see this post from you. Unfortunately a commodity of personal branding "experts" hit the internet but they are in fact promoting self promotion. I understand why so many are confused.

This has crossed over to brand in general. Too many think brand management is new. Yikes. The word brand"ing" is the issue. When used, writers mean marketing and self promotion. We need more people launching and raising a brand rather than posting blogs about it. Then we will get it. Keep up the great work.

Posted by David Sandusky at January 5, 2010 9:03 PM