Time for a Personal Re-Brand? Here’s What You Need to Know.

It’s no secret to any reader of this blog that an intentional, carefully-managed personal brand is critical to take control of your career in today’s professional landscape. As Mark Schaefer elaborates in his most recent book KNOWN, “You need to be known for SOMETHING in a relevant space that’s large enough for it to matter. You need to create content in a way that makes a difference and builds an audience that you can activate.” By following Schaefer’s advice, and the four steps in his book, you can build an enduring personal brand and become a recognized thought leader in your desired field. But what happens, when your passions and career experiences change over time? In Dorie Clark‘s HBR article on this topic, she quotes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.” Clark emphasizes, “Your path may make perfect sense to you, but how can you persuade others to embrace your new brand and take you seriously?”