Guy Kawasaki is always an inspiration and always Future Ready.
- Make Meaning, Not Money. If you’re into personal branding with the goal of making money, stop now. You will attract the wrong kind of people into your life. Instead, start with the goal of making meaning. What better way to align all your actions with your long-term goals. What kind of meaning will you make? Kawasaki suggests two ideas for inspiration: 1) right a wrong, or 2) prevent the end of something good. What will you do to make the world a better place?
What meaning are you making?
- Make a Mantra. In three words or less, what are you all about? Kawasaki believes that mission statements are useless. He says, make a mantra instead. FedEx stands for “peace of mind.” What do you stand for, in the simplest terms?
What is your mantra? Mine is Future Ready.
- Polarize People. Personal branding pundits often advise against being a “jack of all trades,” or a generalist that isn’t very good at something specific. What does Guy believe? He suggests being great for some people rather than trying to please everyone. Do not be afraid to make people react strongly for or against you. As my former business partner used to remind me, you’re not doing something right unless you’re pissing someone off. That doesn’t mean be a jerk. That means just don’t try to appeal to all people, or you’ll end up a mile wide and an inch deep, mediocre to everyone.
- Find a Few Soul Mates. We’re all on this journey together. It’s silly to think we are alone in our careers or in our life. Find people who balance you. Then make time for them. If you’re busy, make plans in advance so you have to schedule around them. You’re only one person, so surround yourself with people whose skills round you off.
Who are your sole mates?
- Don’t Let the Bozos Grind You Down. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone will always agree with you. That’s a fact of life. So don’t let criticism or doubters bring you down. As you live out your mantra, it’s your responsibility to be strong in the face of “no,” and “you can’t do that.” Guy says, ignore people who say you won’t succeed. Use negative words as motivation. Prove people wrong.
I like it all! The key there is MEANING. Sometimes I think of it as responding to a calling. Why do I spend much of my off-work time and energy in consumer-health information? It’s because we need to advocate for ourselves and help our overworked doctors help us. Why do I think history and genealogy are important? It’s because if we humans know where we’ve been, we can figure out where we should and shouldn’t be going, and genealogy is the personal side of history, the side that tells us that we should all be proud of our heritage, even though, back up our family trees, there are people whose actions we shouldn’t emulate as well as those we revere as role models. Only one thing: every time I see Kawasaki’s name, I think of motorcycles. You know, those loud, shiny things that make Philadelphia even noisier than it already has to be. Oh well. What’s in a name, right? Besides, some of those vehicles are truly gorgeous.
Still working on a mantra, but I think I’m getting there: Learn, Teach, Advocate. Or maybe Knowledge Is Power. (Actually, it’s the source of power, but why be picky.) Sometimes I try Knowledge Empowered, to see how it rolls off my tongue. Lord knows I believe it! (Besides, it fits with everything I do.)