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- There are great books out in the market that will teach you personal branding lessons if you listen closely enough. You can learn about teamwork, word-of-mouth, reputation, passion and thinking of others when building your brand.
- There are great books out in the market that will teach you personal branding lessons if you listen closely enough. You can learn about teamwork, word-of-mouth, reputation, passion and thinking of others when building your brand.
Are you ready for summer? It's almost June and as the weather gets warmer, I am getting ready for reading business books by the beach or in my next conference hotel room. Here are 10 books (and quotes) worthy of being in your carry-on for any of your summer travels that teach us about building a strong, memorable personal brand.
1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
"Confidence, I’d learned then, sometimes needs to be called from within. I’ve repeated the same words to myself so many times now, through many climbs. Am I good enough? Yes I am.”
An intimate memoir by former first lady Michelle Obama on everything from race to womanhood and becoming the person you are meant to be. Filled with many interesting and very personal life anecdotes. The idea that confidence must come from within (instead of outside validation) is a powerful truth.
2. Lifescale by Brian Solis
"Disney had to overcome many obstacles. Receiving only an eighth-grade education, he chased after whatever he needed to know to pursue his dreams. He never stopped learning. He sought apprenticeships, taught himself animation, and invented new technologies, systems and processes to bring his ideas to life."
A book away from the "regular" Brian Solis fare is this book, a treatise on finding the healthy space away from distractions (digital and otherwise). In a chapter on rekindling the creative spirit, Solis reviews the fascinating life history of Walt Disney (one that I deeply admire) for all his twists and turns and how Disney never failed to find the next step by thinking beautifully creatively.
3. I Am by Amy Blaschka and Bruce Kasanoff
"I'm selfish enough to need the people around me to do well, for if they suffer, the quality of my life will suffer, too."
A first book by Amy Blaschka and Bruce Kasanoff that speaks to slowing down, taking a step back and finding peace in a busy, tiring world. An interesting aside on selfishness and the need to strongly hold onto values in order to live a full life.
4. The Creative Curve by Allen Gannet
"Creative formulas provide shortcuts. They are reflections of countless generations of creative people working through, absorbing, and replicating the patterns of success. Ironically, constraints free up creators to focus on the novelty portion of the creative curve."
Allen Gannett's book on creativity comes from the perspective of a data-driven entrepreneur and marketer. Instead of focusing on a more traditional creative filter - feelings - Gannett's book dives into creativity with hard case studies, data and repetitive patterns. With that in mind, understand how to build a brand using successful previous repeat patterns can ease the pressure of creating a powerful brand from scratch.
5. The Breakthrough Speaker by Smiley Poswolsky
"If you want to get paid to speak, you have to speak about something that matters, and something that other people are passionate about. You need to speak about something that other people (specifically people that are in a position to book you to speak) are obsessed with. This is the single most important lesson to keep in mind when building a paid speaking business."
A follow-up to Smiley Poswolsky's popular book on the quarter-life crisis The Quarter-Life Breakthrough, this guide focuses on how to build a successful speaking career. As my own journey served as a fascinating content case study in this book, I have personally read it several times to better understand how I can grow my nascent speaking career. The idea that you should speak on a subject matter that others find interesting instead of solely what you, yourself find interesting is a solid piece of advice that has held true in my own career.
6. From Poop To Gold by Chris Jones
"But if you love the product for real, then that will show in the writing of the script, the acting and the video editing in indefinable, but powerful ways. So be an authentic fan of what you sell."
An interesting deep-dive into the magical world of the Harmon Brothers, one of the most successful creative shops in the ad industry to date. With successes that include the unicorn poop commercial for Squatty Potty and the egg-tastic mattress commercial for Purple, the Harmons have defined viral creative ads for an entire industry. How they run their shop is a reflection of the time and care they take with the clients - and choosing actors and creatives who are fans of the products they promote is part of that. When deciding which brands to partner with for your brand, choose ones that you genuinely like and use - it will come off as feeling authentic (and not in a buzzword-y way).
7. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
“In an online world, our online words are our emissaries; they tell the world who we are.”
In this marketing primer by Ann Handley on good writing that attracts clients and brings positive attention to the table, it's great to see what other writers say about writing. Handley also spotlights, "If you want to be a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot," Stephen King writes in his book On Writing. In an online world (which we are undeniably in), we are defined by the tweets, posts, pictures, stories and videos we share. Being careful with the word choice and intention behind the writing of your content helps create a defined brand that you are ultimately more in control of.
8. Talk Triggers by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin
"Talk triggers aren’t gimmicks; they are business choices.”
The novel concept of a "talk trigger" - a shareable element that increases word-of-mouth - is the core exploration of Jay Baer's most recent book. Understanding and moving a brand's audience or demographic towards a verbal choice helps you stay in control of your brand and helps to provide a clear path of brand intention.
9. Pick Three by Randi Zuckerberg
"In order to set myself up for success, I know I can only realistically do three things well every day. So, every day when I wake up, I think to myself: Work. Sleep. Family. Friends. Fitness. Pick Three. I can pick a different three tomorrow, and a different three the following day. But today, I can only pick three."
Randi Zuckerberg's book on "lopsided balance" explores her work (building Facebook Live) and personal life and the understanding that "having it all" is an unhealthy myth. The idea that you pick three life components to focus on each day (so you can do them well and with good intention) applies to building a brand as well. A brand can suffer from having too many elements placed inside and far less focus on narrowly what it is known for and what it does.
10. Together is Better by Simon Sinek
"The true value of a leader is not measured by the work they do. The true value of a leader is measured by the work they inspire others to do."
Simon Sinek's "little book of inspiration" is a joyful picture book meets marketing life lesson. In it, a trio goes on a journey and learns lessons about teamwork, leadership, failure and success. I received this book as a gift after a community-building event I hosted for creatives of color. It is a lovely tribute to the idea that working together makes an individual stronger and more successful in the long run.
There are great books out in the market that will teach you personal branding lessons if you listen closely enough. You can learn about teamwork, word-of-mouth, reputation, passion and thinking of others when building your brand. It is these elements that create a strong, indelible and delightful personal brand.
