The Road to Me 2.0: How I Was the Chosen One

September 17, 2008 at 11:10 am | In Me 2.0, Personal Branding | 3 Comments


Subscribe to my podcast series

My first post talked about how I got the idea to write Me 2.0 and how I confronted adversity head-on to claim my publishing deal with Kaplan. Today, I’m going to enlighten you on a few coincidences that are ironic and really set the stage for the future (and my future).

Passing the torch

Tom Peters wrote “The Brand Called You” in Fast Company Magazine on August 1st, 1997.

Wendy Marx wrote “The Young Yurks of Personal Branding” in Fast Company on August 1st, 2007. The article highlighted everything I was doing in this field, such as this blog, the launching of Personal Branding Magazine, etc.

10 years later, as we celebrated the anniversary of Tom Peter’s article, introducing personal branding to the masses, I was selected (I made my own luck, but it must have been fate) to take Tom’s visions, break them down, add in some technology (social media), and then make them consumable for Gen-Y. See back then, personal branding was an idea that few people really believed in and could apply to their own lives. As mentioned in my prior post, we were all me 1.0’s, who had to stand in back of our corporate brands. By my application of personal branding to social media, I was able to carry to torch from Peters onto you.

The publisher expected Me 2.0?

A week before I submitted my 6-page proposal to Kaplan Publishing, they were thinking about doing a book on career developing using web 2.0 tools. How funny is that? I’m a little bit more religious after hearing this from my editor. This book was obviously meant to be written by me and written now!

A millennial talking to a millennial

When it comes to differentiation for career books, this book is absolutely dynamite. A lot of books that are written about and for millennials are done by Gen-X’ers and baby boomers, but never a Gen-Y’er. Since I’m in Gen-Y I can totally relate to everything this group deals with on a regular basis, including stereotypes, etc. My voice is familiar to one of their peers, so it’s logical they will listen to the advice that flows throughout the book.

Even though this book was originally written for Gen-Y, it’s obvious that others groups can benefit greatly. This blog and my magazine have attracted just much attention from the other groups as Gen-Y.

A Sense of Humor is Worth Big Money in the Workplace

September 17, 2008 at 12:22 am | In Book Reviews, Career Development, Interview, People, Personal Branding, Success Strategies | 3 Comments

Today, I spoke to Adrian Gostick, a bestselling author, who gives us a lesson in the importance of humor in the workplace.  He has some excellent and eye opening research for you that proves people need to loosen up in the workplace in order to establish trust.

What is a personal/corporate/product brand without a personality? Why do you think humor is a key part of one’s personality and what is the perception of those are that are humorous (will it benefit their career)?

The Harvard Business Review found that executives with a sense of humor climb the corporate ladder faster and make more money in their careers.

Why? The traditional wisdom suggests that serious people are given more credence in business. After all, who would want a goofball handling finances, dealing with an upset client or piloting your plane? But levity isn’t about being silly, it’s about lightening up a presentation, workplace or relationship to enhance communication, trust and credibility. It really does work. After all, who would you rather be managed by, sold by or taught by: someone who is fun to be around or someone who thinks lightening up is rolling up his sleeves?

What are 3-5 benefits that humorous managers will get by being light-hearted and funny with their employees?

We found an overwhelming amount of evidence that trust is significantly enhanced with levity. And we are all looking to increase the trust levels with our employees. Other benefits are better communication, since when we are laughing we are listening. Also, creativity is stronger. Boeing uses fun to drive creativity in their organization, which is a fascinating case study in the book.

Can you name a few managers that have succeeded because of humor/a strong personality?

You bet. The book is laced with them. One great example is Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Empire and a really, really rich guy. He’s crossed dressed, bungee jumped, hung out in bars and done about everything possible to connect with and have fun with his people. He’s a billionaire who got there by building an organization that is serious about winning, but serious about having fun along the way.

Can you reveal a few statistics from your book that connect a fun workplace to business results?

The Great Place to Work Institute was kind enough to share some amazing data for our book, The Levity Effect. As they cut their 1-million person research study, they found that the top 100 organizations every year (Fortune’s top 100) have more than 80 percent of their employees who say they have fun at work.

In the companies that try to make it to the list but don’t—still very good companies—the number is just 60 percent who say they have fun. That is one of the largest gaps on the survey. Great organizations take time to think about fun from a strategic standpoint. Strange, but true.

What are the drawbacks from holding back on your personality and by sticking with a boring 9-5 day workplace?

Not much, as long as you don’t care about enhanced trust, stronger sales, better communication or greater creativity. Oh, and the evidence also shows you’ll live longer and be happier. And Harvard says you’ll also make more money. And Scott says you’ll be taller and better looking if you follow our advice, but I think he’s pushing it with those two. After all, though he’s really funny, he’s no George Clooney. Just don’t tell him I said that.

—–

Adrian Gostick is the author of several very successful business books including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-seller The Carrot Principle. His latest book, which is coauthored by Scott Christopher, is called The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up.

He also wrote the bestsellers The Invisible Employee, A Carrot a Day and the 24-Carrot Manager. His work has been called a “must read for modern-day managers” by Larry King of CNN, “fascinating” by Fortune and “admirable” and “startling” by the Wall Street Journal. Adrian’s books have been translated into 20 languages and are sold in more than 50 countries around the world. As workplace researcher, author and presenter, he has appeared on network television programs and has been quoted in dozens of business publications and magazines.

Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.