Today I was given the distinct honor of addressing the LinkedIn Dayton networking group at Champps in Centerville, Ohio on the topic of leveraging web based tools to build your personal brand. I want to thank everyone who attended the event. I hope you found it to be fun and informative. I know that I had a blast and made a number of professional connections in the process.
I was given this opportunity by responding to a call for speakers put out by Joe Durbin and Michael Morley, who organize much of the LinkedIn Dayton group’s actual face to face meetings. This was the first breakfast meeting, and they sent out an email request for speakers, which I responded to immediately. I thank them for allowing me to be the first, and hopefully not the last, speaker.
As for the content of the presentation, I offered my 2 cents on how to leverage the emerging web to build your brand and further your career. I talked about my recent job changes, and the valuable lessons I learned about the importance of both knowing people, and more importantly, being known. I have given similar presentations before, but have never related the personal history of how I even got into blogging and social networking relative to the crazy events of my life.
My message in a nutshell was this. We live in a new age. 40 Years of “doing good work and getting a gold watch at the end” are done. You have to take ownership of your life and your career. Building a network plays a huge role in determining your ability to control your future. This applies to all areas of life, not just finance. The web makes it easier and more affordable to build your brand, and to leverage your strengths to create your future career.
I spoke about how individuals can leverage everything from Microblogs like Twitter and Plurk, to Blogs using WordPress, Podcasts, Squidoo, Social Networks, and other free and easy tools to join the conversation and establish an area of expertise. I tried to deliver enough explantion of these tools to make them understandable, without being too technical in how they work. We discussed numerous ways to utilize LinkedIn, beyond just an online repository for contact information. (Research Database, Employment Tool, Sales Information, Communication Vehicle, Information Source) In summary, it was a high level overview of a broad swath of web 2.0 tools that can benefit those who seek to leverage the web as a personal branding tool.
Blogging and social media have changed my life in so many ways. They led me to my current job at LUCRUM — where we use blogs, social networks, wikis, and podcasts to build the company both internally and externally. They have generated countless connections with other people around the globe, and put me in touch with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet. I love what I do, and I am delighted that I not only get to do it, but that people are interested in hearing me talk about it too.
Thanks again to all who came to the event today. If you have questions about anything I covered, or did not cover, in my presentation. Please drop me a note. I am happy to help in any way that I can. I look forward to the next LinkedIn Breakfast, where I will get to eat, socialize, and enjoy watching the speaker.
Today, I had the distinct honor and pleasure of listening to David speak. It was extremely informative and entertaining. Lightbulbs could be seen glowing over many audience members heads. I am excited by what he taught me about Web 2.0 and look forward utilizing the gift he gave me.
Of course, David, I will be picking your brain as I go through the process.
David gave an inspiring talk today. I have been in marketing for more than 20 years. Even as an “old timer”, I believe that you can never learn everything there is to learn nor know of everything there is to offer. However, David gave a lot of food for thought and great information to catalyze my networking experience for my new marketing/public relations business startup–Windward Design Group. Thank you, David! It was a fantastic Tuesday morning for me!
David, Regrettably I didn’t have the distinct pleasure of listening to you speak this Tuesday morning, however given that I live in the UK, it would needed to have been one hell of a breakfast to justify the commute! The topic you covered is of particular interest to me at present, and whilst the overview you’ve provided is a great starting point any more detail you may be able to provide would be much appreciated. As such should you have any slides you could share I would be extremely grateful. If not no problem…just thought I would ask.Thanks Stephen
Stephen,
Well with gas prices over $4.00 a gallon I suppose I can forgive you for not jumping on a flight across the pond to Dayton. While it was pretty good, and they did have free bacon, I understand. I do have some slides, but they are primarily visual cues. I Alone they might not make much sense, but I am happy to send them to you. However, you have given me a great idea. Perhaps I can put together some posts related to the content of the presentation. I will try to get these put together in the next few days. Thanks for visiting the site and for sharing your thoughts.
I look forward to reading your posts. I’ve recently been researching around the idea of building a personal brand, so another point of view will allow me to make a more informed choice as to what strategy/tactics will work best for myself.