By Jon Michail
“Stepping out of the shadows and taking ahold of the reigns is daunting for many, and the idea of building a personal brand is almost nauseating — being something only those in the media spotlight do”, said a recent client on a first coaching session. My role as his coach was to inspire him to re-evaluate his view and consider new possibilities.
Building a personal brand is not just for show, and isn’t only for the rich and famous, but can be a wise investment for anybody that has the courage to step up and stand out.
In the past making money simply via your name has seldom been taken seriously, even for those with a personal brand that could potentially be monetised immediately, if the correct measures were taken. Some people still see a personal brand as something only for show, with the only attribute granted to you being that of notoriety, that view is quickly changing and it’s important that it changes because this stops people from both growing and monetising their existing brands, and not fulfilling their true value.
People are also dissuaded from building a personal brand because of a belief that it involves selfish promotion with the only goal being to garner utter praise and adoration. While this is the case for some, it absolutely isn’t the only option for everyone. Personal branding is about being authentic, being your true self, and showing an audience who you are and what you stand for. It is your reputation. It is sharing things about yourself, your life experiences, your beliefs, and what you can provide to the world.
Monetising your personal brand is not only for financial reasons. It may include reputational value, power and influence or legacy.
Being personable is one of the keys in building a personal brand. People will respond better to things you produce and will actively seek to invest their time and money in what you have to offer. Honesty will build trust with the consumer, and being relatable only magnifies this feeling. Having the confidence to open up about yourself in front of anybody is important, but it is crucial to have clarity in what message you would like to send.
Here are 3 easy ways you can monetise your personal brand:
- Ebooks
If you find it too nerve racking to publish a book, why not start with an ebook. Many have found exceptional success writing ebooks in their respective fields of interest or expertise. There are online personalities with large brands behind them that have been created largely off the backs of their ebooks. Tim Ferriss is one of these; someone who has had multiple best sellers, and accumulates thousands of new followers on Twitter every day.
Tip: Ebooks does not mean ‘lightweight’. Make yours different in tone from all the ‘me too’ free versions on the web and put a value on it.
- Seminars
Seminars are not only for the motivational speakers like Anthony Robbins, but can be used by anyone with an ability to public speak. Even a convicted criminal like Jordan Belfort of ‘Wolf of Wall St’ fame turned his past escapades into a profitable business with internationally sold out seminars because he embraced the power of public speaking. If your seminars are creating a buzz, organisations will offer to pay you to speak at their events, creating another pathway to monetising your brand…. Just ask Richard Branson – who is also doing public seminars these days. Do you think he does it only for the money or is it a much bigger thing for him? Reputation, legacy etc.
Tip: Differentiate yourself from the pack. Speak from your truth – Ted Talks are great to study on what works well and get audiences hooked..
- Coaching
If you have a knack for teaching and guiding others, providing professional coaching is something that can yield fantastic results and I should know as it’s been my vocation for over twenty five years.
Monetising your personal brand is about empowering yourself by growing your reputation, gaining or enhancing financial independence and cementing your legacy, which gives you the tools to continue doing the work you’re most passionate about.
By monetising your personal brand you will turn your life from being lived on the outskirts to sitting right in the driver’s seat making your own choices…. it’s never too late to start.
Get on the field and play, it’s more fun than being a spectator in the stands.
Tip: Get some professional coach training as coaching is distinctly different from advising and consulting.
Remember, only diamond can cut diamond. Only a leader coach knows how to coach leaders.
Have you monetised your personal brand?
Jon Michail is Group CEO of Image Group International, Australasia’s No 1 image coach. Image Group International supports executives, entrepreneurs and their organisations to become iconic and monetised leadership brands.
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