• 22 Comments
  • October 3rd 2007

Using your personal brand to your advantage as a young go getter

Personal Brand

Guest post by Dan Schawbel, owner of the Personal Branding Blog and publisher of the Personal Branding Magazine.

Personal Branding applies to everyone throughout the world, but who really benefits most? As a youth, you have the flexibility and lack of responsibilities necessary to focus on your brand and improve it. The faster you can discover who you are in your youth, the more prone you are to a successful career. As you age, your responsibilities increase, such as leasing an apartment, purchasing a car, marrying your fiancé or having your first child. When these milestones in your life occur, they force you into making decisions outside of the “branding realm.”

As a Young Go Getter who has branded him or herself on a specific topic, you have the ability to allocate most of your time into your brand than those that are older. Those that discover their brand later in life will miss opportunities they would have received if they had known what they wanted to do. I say this because if you have discovered your brand, you will be able to carve out a development plan for career acceleration. Also, as a Young Go Getter, you have enough leeway to take business risks, which could either be failures or successes. Those that are older and further along with their careers must examine business situations to see what the impact would be to their financial life and family. To be a Young Go Getter is to fail, recover from the failure and learn how to make better business decisions the next time around.

A few tips to help you develop your brand at a young age:

  • Seek a mentor that can guide you through the brand discovery process. Don’t just get advice, but have a conversation that will unearth what you are actually interested in.
  • Communicate with your peers and join them at networking events.
  • Research, both in your school library or over the internet, to find resources that could help you identify a career path.
  • Work hard, keep motivated and always seek ways to push ahead with your career and remain competitive.
  • Don’t be afraid of failing over a new idea, but rather use it as a learning experience.
  • Keep in tune with what is going on in the news and if you are leaning towards a career in marketing, be sure to examine the latest trends.

“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible — and achieve it, generation after generation.” - Pearl S. Buck

  • http://www.rollettmarketing.com greg

    There is no better time than now to act on your brand and make a decision to go ahead and start your company. Restrictions come fast (marriage, kids, mortgages) and sometimes unexpected (pregnancies, loss of family member, etc). Take action and learn from mistakes. I know that I still am. Everyday I learn, network and try again and I almost got it right. Here’s to the Young Go Getters!

  • http://www.rollettmarketing.com greg

    There is no better time than now to act on your brand and make a decision to go ahead and start your company. Restrictions come fast (marriage, kids, mortgages) and sometimes unexpected (pregnancies, loss of family member, etc). Take action and learn from mistakes. I know that I still am. Everyday I learn, network and try again and I almost got it right. Here’s to the Young Go Getters!

  • http://www.skanwar.com Satish

    It’s not even about starting your own business though, mastering your personal branding can make you the “it” person for something in all aspects of your life.

    Around me, many know and believe (hopefully with some truth to it) that I know a thing or two about marketing and technology. I’ve become the go-to resource for all things related to those topics - whether it be to go to an event with someone, to lend advice on a job app/interview, to get a review/perspective on a trend/product, or - and this one is where the biggest return is - to get my opinion on and buy-in on business ideas.

    The tips outlined here make perfect sense, and I’ve practiced most of them over the last year very successfully (some without even knowing it). Get serious about your personal brand and you’ll see the value coming back - everything from how you talk, what you blog about, and what Google results return on your name.

  • http://www.skanwar.com Satish

    It’s not even about starting your own business though, mastering your personal branding can make you the “it” person for something in all aspects of your life.

    Around me, many know and believe (hopefully with some truth to it) that I know a thing or two about marketing and technology. I’ve become the go-to resource for all things related to those topics - whether it be to go to an event with someone, to lend advice on a job app/interview, to get a review/perspective on a trend/product, or - and this one is where the biggest return is - to get my opinion on and buy-in on business ideas.

    The tips outlined here make perfect sense, and I’ve practiced most of them over the last year very successfully (some without even knowing it). Get serious about your personal brand and you’ll see the value coming back - everything from how you talk, what you blog about, and what Google results return on your name.

  • http://www.freshpeel.com Chris Wilson

    Tom Peters, The Brand You 50 is a great book for getting a grasp on just how important your personal brand is to and the company you work for. It was written in 1999 so it is a few years old, but it is a quick read.

  • http://www.freshpeel.com Chris Wilson

    Tom Peters, The Brand You 50 is a great book for getting a grasp on just how important your personal brand is to and the company you work for. It was written in 1999 so it is a few years old, but it is a quick read.

  • http://www.stylishlabs.com Ryan Stamper

    Hi! That’s a great article, very useful and good tips, Your personal brand is very important and yous hould always improve it and make it better. ;)

    Ryan S | StylishLabs

  • http://www.stylishlabs.com Ryan Stamper

    Hi! That’s a great article, very useful and good tips, Your personal brand is very important and yous hould always improve it and make it better. ;)

    Ryan S | StylishLabs

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Eric

    I’ve been working on my personal brand for many years, probably since I was 17 or so. It’s always on the top of my mind. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometime not so much, but it definitely takes charge of my decisions sometimes. I think it’s important to maintain a consistent brand and if you focus on it as much as I do sometimes it’ll make decisions for you while what you really feel sits in the background going “wtf?”.

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Eric

    I’ve been working on my personal brand for many years, probably since I was 17 or so. It’s always on the top of my mind. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometime not so much, but it definitely takes charge of my decisions sometimes. I think it’s important to maintain a consistent brand and if you focus on it as much as I do sometimes it’ll make decisions for you while what you really feel sits in the background going “wtf?”.

  • http://www.scribblesheet.co.uk JohnN

    Good advice, I think a mentor is key, if you want to know which path to follow. Its easier to learn from others mistakes

  • http://www.scribblesheet.co.uk JohnN

    Good advice, I think a mentor is key, if you want to know which path to follow. Its easier to learn from others mistakes

  • http://www.greengem.net Steve M

    Definitely good to give things a go while you are young. Just remember when developing your brand to let the real you shine out. Your unique personality and combination of skills and experience is what differentiates you from the competition

  • http://www.greengem.net Steve M

    Definitely good to give things a go while you are young. Just remember when developing your brand to let the real you shine out. Your unique personality and combination of skills and experience is what differentiates you from the competition

  • http://www.looktotheright.com Noah “Like the Ark”

    Great post. I wouldn’t knock the oldies though. Although were young and have a lot more time, some of the older people, out of necessity, having kids, etc. are forced to be much more productive with the amount of time given. And depending on their already established knowledge and network can out work us young cats by productivity. ie myspace and old man Murdoch.

  • http://www.looktotheright.com Noah “Like the Ark”

    Great post. I wouldn’t knock the oldies though. Although were young and have a lot more time, some of the older people, out of necessity, having kids, etc. are forced to be much more productive with the amount of time given. And depending on their already established knowledge and network can out work us young cats by productivity. ie myspace and old man Murdoch.

  • Brandi Amone

    Dan - I think that you are right to point out to younger people that taking the time to build their personal brand early is important for career and business success.

    But do you think that people like Jack Welch, Richard Branson and Oprah have missed out because they were not personal branding at a young age?

    The fact is they were - it was just that did not have a name or label for it.

    And its never too late for the older generation to start clarifying their personal brand either. Boomers are now looking at 2nd lives after retirement from their first jobs to do a second one - and likely it more connected to their true passions.

  • Brandi Amone

    Dan - I think that you are right to point out to younger people that taking the time to build their personal brand early is important for career and business success.

    But do you think that people like Jack Welch, Richard Branson and Oprah have missed out because they were not personal branding at a young age?

    The fact is they were - it was just that did not have a name or label for it.

    And its never too late for the older generation to start clarifying their personal brand either. Boomers are now looking at 2nd lives after retirement from their first jobs to do a second one - and likely it more connected to their true passions.

  • http://piotrj.wordpress.com Piotr Jakubowski

    I would have to agree with Brandi in terms of the old school victors. I think Welch, Branson or Oprah saw a goal and just went towards it, learning and building their brand along the way. In people with that kind of charisma, I think the personal brand comes naturally, it already is an aspect of their go-getting lifestyle.

  • http://piotrj.wordpress.com Piotr Jakubowski

    I would have to agree with Brandi in terms of the old school victors. I think Welch, Branson or Oprah saw a goal and just went towards it, learning and building their brand along the way. In people with that kind of charisma, I think the personal brand comes naturally, it already is an aspect of their go-getting lifestyle.

  • http://www.houstoncommercialagent.com Eric Gage

    Great article and tips for young up-and-coming go-getters! Many of your tips I have been practicing since my freshman year in college! So 11 years now, and I am still touted as a young-go-getter. I often try and teach younger peers the importance of being out in the community, making a presence at political events and always be on your guard because you don’t know who is watching!

  • http://www.houstoncommercialagent.com Eric Gage

    Great article and tips for young up-and-coming go-getters! Many of your tips I have been practicing since my freshman year in college! So 11 years now, and I am still touted as a young-go-getter. I often try and teach younger peers the importance of being out in the community, making a presence at political events and always be on your guard because you don’t know who is watching!