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March 22, 2006

Brand YOU–What’s the BIG IDEA?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 10:25 pm

What’s Your Big Idea?

Personal Branding logo

Now that you know how to capitalize on your strengths and make your weaknesses irrelevant, you can work on the big idea of your personal brand.
What’s the big idea? People talk about the big idea of someone’s personal brand quite often really. You’ve probably even made big idea statements yourself. They sound like these.

  • Call Mario. He can do anything.
  • That Vanessa, she’s so sweet.
  • If you want it organized, Anne’s the one.
  • Martin’s a whiz. He’ll have this figured out in minutes.
  • I don’t know about Cat. She can’t find anything. Look at her desk.

There’s no question that folks who make such statements have a big idea about the people they’re describing. The descriptions might be accurate, or they might not be. The point is that the people talking believe them. The people being described have communicated those traits strongly over time.

The big idea of your personal brand is the most powerful point of your unique value. It’s the one sentence that folks can believe in it and can share with others easily. As I said earlier

Everything about you contributes to your personal brand–everything you say or don’t say, what you wear, your tone of voice, the look of your space, the look on your face, the way you shake hands. The quality of your work is an immense part of your brand, but not, by any means, all of it. Even there it matters whether it’s on time, done with friendliness, with teamwork, with innovation and flexibility.

I Promise

Now is the time to decide the answer to this question

If you were known for one attribute, skill, or competency what would you want it to be?

It’s a tough question, I know. However once you decide, you will have found your big idea–the focus of your personal brand. That will be what everyone sees when they see you, your work, your signature. It’s the promise that you stand for. Think of your big idea as a promise that you know you will always keep.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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15 Comments to “Brand YOU–What’s the BIG IDEA?”

  1. March 23rd, 2006 at 5:01 am
    Martin said

    Are you talking about me … Are you talking to me (paraphrasing one Robert DeNiro obviously).

    Hmmm, a one sentence unique value statement on yourself … the 2 second elevator pitch.

    “I’ll have it figued out in minutes” Yep, I like it. Seriously, I think that’s my personal brand. Thanks Liz for making my brain churn over on this one but, yep, I’m no whiz but given a challenge (big or small) I go full on at it till I figure it out.

    You’re more than the nice one Liz … I get this feeling you’re a good reader of people.

  2. March 23rd, 2006 at 6:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Martin,
    I don’t do bad at reading people. You’re right on that count, but you must be good at that too for picking that out.

    People pick out a big idea for other folks all of the time. Those examples I used are real, but I changed the names to protect the innocent. :)
    Liz

  3. March 23rd, 2006 at 7:06 am
    Martin said

    “protect the innocent” - Oh man, so you don’t see me as a whiz ;-)

    Yeah, I’ve got this thing called a highly sensitive BS barometer - give me a few minutes with a person (in person or reading them) and I’ll give you a reading.

    And yes, Liz, you’re very low on my BS barometer :-)

  4. March 23rd, 2006 at 7:27 am
    ME Strauss said

    Martin,
    Of course I see you as a Whiz. I was protecting the other guy, who really was not one.

    I have blue eyes Martin . . . that registers low on most BS barometers.

    I’m moving along on my BIG IDEA blog.
    Liz

  5. March 23rd, 2006 at 7:35 am
    Cotton-Pickin’ Days » Blog Archive » One Smart Cookie said

    […] Over at Successful Blog, Liz asked another of her penetrating questions: If you were known for one attribute, skill, or competency what would you want it to be? […]

  6. March 24th, 2006 at 10:41 am
    Successful Blog - Brand YOU–You Are What They See said

    […] Related article Brand YOU–What’s the BIG IDEA? Personal Branding: Strengths Assessment Tool Building a Personal Brand–YOU Technorati Tags: big idea branding BRAND YOU image personal brand personal branding promotion […]

  7. March 27th, 2006 at 11:07 pm
    Educational Technology and Life » Blog Archive » Building a Personal Brand-YOU said

    […] Brand YOU-What’s the BIG IDEA? (Via Successful Blog.) This may be the heart of the personal brand philosophy: “The big idea of your personal brand is the most powerful point of your unique value. It’s the one sentence that folks can believe in it and can share with others easily.” […]

  8. June 21st, 2006 at 11:20 pm
    Cat said

    “If you were known for one attribute, skill, or competency what would you want it to be?”

    For years, my ‘one thing’ has been organising groups of people. You see, from the beginning of Creative Latitude, I knew I had to develop strong project management skills or we’d fail. On a good day my team calls it ‘cat herding’. I’ve been able to use these talents on other projects so it’s stood me in good stead over the years.

    For my future “If you were known for one attribute, skill, or competency what would you want it to be?” … my next trick (as I’ve mentioned before) will be to learn how to write with competence. So I guess my answer is ‘to be known for presenting well thought out ideas, in a precise and cleverly crafted manner’.

    For without the ability to communicate clearly, our brand will be a shallow and useless bowl of luke warm milk. Fine if you want to attract kittens, but we’re more interested in tiger gathering.

    As a twist, I’d so love to have someone sit over ME with a whip, as I’m finding it MUCH harder to accomplish then cat herding.

    ps: I don’t have a desk …

    :-D

  9. June 21st, 2006 at 11:25 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Cat,
    That’s so funny. When I wrote this post, I didn’t know anyone who was called Cat and everyone I knew had a desk. Now I know someone called Cat and she doesn’t have a desk. There you have it!

    I think I’d have to agree with the ability to express your ideas clearly. Gosh you’re good at that and always willing to do your part. Just look at how well you jumped right in to answer the question asked in this post!

    PS I find I need a “keeper” too.

  10. June 21st, 2006 at 11:49 pm
    Cat said

    Hey back Liz,

    Your post was so interesting I just had to contribute! After reading and thinking it through with a response, I was surprised to discover what I felt my one thing was.

    Yes, there are other skills I’ll have to tackle if this new project is to work. But perhaps as this one seems to be the most difficult, and the one looming over me like a black cloud (it’s tough!), it’s moved into first place?

    Side note: I didn’t check the date, but thought your comment about a desk hilarious as I recently participated in a blog called ‘On My Desk’ where I explained at length why I have one, but really don’t … http://on-my-desk.blogspot.com/2006/06/catherine-cat-morley_114940412518024076.html

    I contributed in part as I needed the writing practice and it seemed a fun exercise. Also, Linzie, the owner of ‘On My Desk’, is a very talented lady (Illustrator) and I enjoyed helping out, if just a little bit.

    cat

  11. June 21st, 2006 at 11:54 pm
    ME Strauss said

    I think this post is a really good example of the place where our minds meet. I don’t think that I would have been able to see that question and not answer it. I would have had to think it through until I found my answer just like you did.

    That’s how I came to write my blogging goal story. I just had to write it because I needed to when the idea came up — not because of Darren’s project, because of the idea that I needed to know once someone mentioned it.

    I do think that the desk sentence and your post is getting funnier by the minute.

    I’m going to have to read it.

  12. June 22nd, 2006 at 12:36 am
    Cat said

    I agree, Darren’s project was another ‘ah hah’. And for me, just like your query above, it was something I felt I needed to do once I read it.

    In this past month I’ve discovered that being involved actively with blogs where there is a constant flow of ideas twigging the brain is important for my new venture.

    So once again, thanks Liz!

  13. June 22nd, 2006 at 8:24 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Cat,
    Sorry I missed this last night.

    Bloggers are good for each other. We keep our brains going strong and stronger. I think that is the single most exciting thing I like about blogging.

    That and getting to know people like you, who push my brain and drink G&Ts for me. :)

  14. June 13th, 2008 at 6:10 am
    Show Your Workspace Some Love - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    […] articles Brand YOU–You Are What They See Brand YOU–What’s the BIG IDEA? Don’t Let Burn Out Singe Your Brand Tags: personal brand, Productivity, success, thinkingShare […]

  15. June 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
    Critical Skill 10: The 4 Keeper Traits of Productivity — Are YOU the New Killer App? - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    […] to Your Future Finding Ideas Outside the Box Personal Branding: Strengths Assessment Tool Brand YOU–What’s the BIG IDEA? Tags: 10_Critical_Skills, Branding, BRAND_YOU, critical_life_skills, […]

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