This hits so hard. When I was working corporate, I started blogging on Medium because I was getting so much outreach on LinkedIn and I simply needed a way to scale myself (it was the cool companies I worked at, not me). Out of that experience, I developed a stronger writing voice, a clear POV and it became clearer to me what my brand was. It evolved really authentically and I know if I was impatient with it or tried to do too much, too soon with it, it would have been a massive miss.
Yes yes yes, and THANK YOU. I almost believed I was the only one to think that by not being a Justin Welsh-molded social media maniac bursting with a daily portion of ‘10 best things to do at 5 am to boost your passive income’ I’m technically wasting my life’s potential
The teacher appears when the student is ready. Thanks for your backstory of how public speaking led to solopreneurship, which led to content creation and built your online brand. A logical order easily replicated over the long term
Love the idea that personal branding should be a lagging indicator after doing great work. However, I directionally I think there are a lot of reasons you *do* need a personal brand more today than ever before.
1. the way I'm evaluating candidates to hire is by looking at work, rather than how they show up in a behavioral interview, and so having published your great work in the past gives me a lot more to go off.
2. I'd argue that there's an increasing trend toward solopreneurship, and so if you do think that's something you want to pursue (rather than staying in pure big-company FTE roles) that having a personal brand is going to help a lot.
I love this part :"So instead of worrying about how you’re perceived, focus on sharing what you know. Whether that’s through writing, speaking, or mentoring, giving away your knowledge helps you become recognized as a thought leader. When you consistently contribute to your community, your brand builds itself. People start associating you with expertise and generosity, rather than a manufactured image."
I'm on this journey and this part hits home :) Thank you Elena
I think it’s valid even if you want to be an influencer. You have to offer people something behind yourself - some kind of value, whatever that is. Or maybe I’m not a target for the influencer market and I don’t really understand following people who don’t create any value besides just showing themselves?
2 years ago, I lost focus on LinkedIn when I started seeing all the LinkedIn gurus posting about 'How to go Viral' , How to Make Money on LinkedIn and what not.
I immersed myself in their courses, hopped from one $150 course to $1,250 workshops and hook books.
Gosh, I was devastated because I wasn't seeing the results that they said I would see.
So earlier this year, I decided to leave LinkedIn, well since I thought it wasn't working for me.
This October, I woke up one day scrolling through my LinkedIn Posts of many years ago
5 years ago I was just a girl on LinkedIn who was sharing all the ways she was making an impact with her business. I saw real traction then. I won awards and got speaking engagements. Infact 4 years ago I got my first International Speaking Gig In Russia.
I decided to study what I was doing right
Well, It turned out that I wasn't posting for vanity likes and comments.
I was genuinely trying to build my business not the other way round.
Last week, I unfollowed all the LinkedIn Gurus and decided to focus on building my business , talking about the impact I am making for my clients and allowing my excellent work speak for me.
Elena, your mail dropped into my inbox at the right time, when I was still second guessing my decisions.
Infact, A LinkedIn Guru approached me and told me to pay her some $$$$ so she could increase my engagements for me me. She said my likes were too low.
I told her not to worry about me because I am just getting started building my business and was nowhere in a hurry.
This hits so hard. When I was working corporate, I started blogging on Medium because I was getting so much outreach on LinkedIn and I simply needed a way to scale myself (it was the cool companies I worked at, not me). Out of that experience, I developed a stronger writing voice, a clear POV and it became clearer to me what my brand was. It evolved really authentically and I know if I was impatient with it or tried to do too much, too soon with it, it would have been a massive miss.
beautifully said. so much of the process is finding your own 'pmf'
I like to call it product market "maker" fit :-)
Love that!
Yes yes yes, and THANK YOU. I almost believed I was the only one to think that by not being a Justin Welsh-molded social media maniac bursting with a daily portion of ‘10 best things to do at 5 am to boost your passive income’ I’m technically wasting my life’s potential
You build a personal brand where it matters by doing a great job and building positive relationships. Everything is else fluff. Great article.
You're telling me that NOW after I bought all these courses from the Linkedin Bros. Ffs.
no refunds, obvi.
The teacher appears when the student is ready. Thanks for your backstory of how public speaking led to solopreneurship, which led to content creation and built your online brand. A logical order easily replicated over the long term
Love the idea that personal branding should be a lagging indicator after doing great work. However, I directionally I think there are a lot of reasons you *do* need a personal brand more today than ever before.
1. the way I'm evaluating candidates to hire is by looking at work, rather than how they show up in a behavioral interview, and so having published your great work in the past gives me a lot more to go off.
2. I'd argue that there's an increasing trend toward solopreneurship, and so if you do think that's something you want to pursue (rather than staying in pure big-company FTE roles) that having a personal brand is going to help a lot.
I love this part :"So instead of worrying about how you’re perceived, focus on sharing what you know. Whether that’s through writing, speaking, or mentoring, giving away your knowledge helps you become recognized as a thought leader. When you consistently contribute to your community, your brand builds itself. People start associating you with expertise and generosity, rather than a manufactured image."
I'm on this journey and this part hits home :) Thank you Elena
I think it’s valid even if you want to be an influencer. You have to offer people something behind yourself - some kind of value, whatever that is. Or maybe I’m not a target for the influencer market and I don’t really understand following people who don’t create any value besides just showing themselves?
Wow just wow
If only I could see Elena to hug her right now 🫂
2 years ago, I lost focus on LinkedIn when I started seeing all the LinkedIn gurus posting about 'How to go Viral' , How to Make Money on LinkedIn and what not.
I immersed myself in their courses, hopped from one $150 course to $1,250 workshops and hook books.
Gosh, I was devastated because I wasn't seeing the results that they said I would see.
So earlier this year, I decided to leave LinkedIn, well since I thought it wasn't working for me.
This October, I woke up one day scrolling through my LinkedIn Posts of many years ago
5 years ago I was just a girl on LinkedIn who was sharing all the ways she was making an impact with her business. I saw real traction then. I won awards and got speaking engagements. Infact 4 years ago I got my first International Speaking Gig In Russia.
I decided to study what I was doing right
Well, It turned out that I wasn't posting for vanity likes and comments.
I was genuinely trying to build my business not the other way round.
Last week, I unfollowed all the LinkedIn Gurus and decided to focus on building my business , talking about the impact I am making for my clients and allowing my excellent work speak for me.
Elena, your mail dropped into my inbox at the right time, when I was still second guessing my decisions.
Infact, A LinkedIn Guru approached me and told me to pay her some $$$$ so she could increase my engagements for me me. She said my likes were too low.
I told her not to worry about me because I am just getting started building my business and was nowhere in a hurry.
Thank you Elena , this mail has been starred ⭐