Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital

World

Carmen TurnerNorthwestern University Black Alumni Association

– January 23-25, 2015Ft Lauderdale, FL

About MeTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Marketer

Digital at The Weather Company

Spelman Alumna

Kellogg Grad

Memphis Native

Key PointsTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

● What is personal branding?

● Why personal branding matters

● The O.P.E.N. Branding Approach

● Opportunities to establish your brand

● Your passion at the center of your brand identity

● Why education is the key to your brand’s relevance

● Networking and making branding happen

Personal BrandingTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

A personal brand is what the world thinks of you (and you of yourself) – your identity.

Personal branding is the way you get the world to identify with you the way you want them to.

Personal BrandingTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Why personal branding matters:• Gives you self-identity• Gives your career direction• Opens up opportunities• Gives your passion a process• Gives your learning an outlet• Gives networking a precise

purposeInstant Exercise:

Tweet 3 words that describe yourself with hashtag #TimelessBranding

The O.P.E.N. Branding Approach

Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Components for personal branding excellence:

OPPORTUNITY

PASSION

EDUCATION

NETWORKING

OpportunityTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Opportunity: (noun) a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something

Branding OpportunitiesTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Why: For the increasing awareness of/for your business/ministry/mission

Where: At work, school, online/social, networking functions

When: Whenever you walk out the door

Just remember that eyes are always on you

Insert embarrassing photo here.

Snowball OpportunitiesTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Snowball Opportunities: Tiny Opportunities That Grow Into Large Opportunities

Characteristics:Easy to spot – Easy to lose

Seem to come out of nowhere

Snowball OpportunitiesTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

How One Opportunity Leads To Another:

1. Being 100% Present2. Overcoming Shyness3. Possess Skills of Value4. Learn More Skills5. Move (Network)6. Share Your Knowledge7. Remain Humble

PassionTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Passion: (noun) an object of desire or deep interest

Your PassionTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Passion is the glue of the O.P.E.N. brand framework

Connect your career to your passion

Passion must shine through your work in order for you to achieve authentic career excellence.

Finding Your PassionTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

What do you enjoy within and outside the scope of your current job?

You know you’ve found your passion when…-Work doesn’t feel like work-Resistance doesn’t stop you

-Resistance actually becomes the way to excellence

-Learning curves flatten-Networking opportunities increase

Passion Meets OpportunityTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Leverage passion to seize opportunities by:

1. Finding and embracing your passion

2. Confidently, respectfully push through being told “no”

3. Humbly display what you know during the opportunity

4. Do the work

5. Network like crazy while the opportunity is still present!

PassionTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Opportunity is the engine. Passion is the fuel.

Education(Beyond Degrees)

Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Link Your Education and Your Passion(and your brand excels).

Why?

1. Work is more enjoyable.

2. Your focus is increased.

3. Helps your brand innovate.

L.E.A.R.N. (And Keep Your Brand

Relevant) Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Listen: A mark of wisdom is being able to learn from others.

Engage: Consider new sources for learning new things.

Acquire: Collect information from your learning sources.

Reflect: Imagine what you can do with your knowledge.

Nurture: Share your knowledge with others.

NetworkingTimeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Gives legs to the previous branding components

Networking = New Career Opportunities

Networking = More Opportunities to Find and Express Your Passion

Networking = More Opportunities to Learn and Give Value to Others (Education)

Social Media and Your Brand

Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

How Social Media Boosts Your Brand:

1. Extend your reach

2. Distribute your content

3. Create more relationships

4. Learn more

Social Media and Your Brand

Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Twitter -The news feed of the Digital Age

-Great platform for automated content sharing

-Easiest social network for creating new connections

Follow me at @Carmen_C_Turner

Social Media and Your Brand

Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

LinkedIn

-More than a network for finding a new job!

-Create and share brand-building content

-Leverage social proof & increase authority

Social Media and Your Brand

Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Quora -The Best Q&A Network

-Show your smarts and build authority

-Learn more by asking questions

Network with me!Timeless Personal Branding in Our Digital World

Carmen Turner

Twitter@Carmen_C_Turner