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Great thread by @hvpandya! Want to add a couple things I’ve picked up about
“Working on your core skills” vs
“Building a personal brand”
1/n https://twitter.com/hvpandya/status/1255381676747882498
“Working on your core skills” vs
“Building a personal brand”
1/n https://twitter.com/hvpandya/status/1255381676747882498
The very first thing that you absolutely need to know
Working on your skills: Mandatory
Working on a personal brand: Optional
A personal brand should ideally be a byproduct of the great work you do.
Working on your skills: Mandatory
Working on a personal brand: Optional
A personal brand should ideally be a byproduct of the great work you do.
Let’s unpack the words “personal brand” too, what does it mean?
- Followers on IG/Twitter?
- Giving talks at conferences?
- Having a personal website / logo?
- Design influencer?
Nope. It’s about one thing
- Giving value by sharing what you know. The clout is a byproduct
- Followers on IG/Twitter?
- Giving talks at conferences?
- Having a personal website / logo?
- Design influencer?
Nope. It’s about one thing
- Giving value by sharing what you know. The clout is a byproduct
For sharing what you know, you absolutely need to know stuff.
Spending your early years trying to gain likes and followers (external validation) might keep you away from skill-building (internal validation)
Choose wisely
Spending your early years trying to gain likes and followers (external validation) might keep you away from skill-building (internal validation)
Choose wisely
Here’s a caveat though: @garyvee’s phrase of “Document don’t create”
There is definitely value in sharing your learnings especially if you’re a beginner. Your perspective will be unique for someone two steps behind you VS that of an expert
Related:
There is definitely value in sharing your learnings especially if you’re a beginner. Your perspective will be unique for someone two steps behind you VS that of an expert
Related:
However, be careful of your mind playing tricks on you.
The purpose of documenting: building a paper trail of your work, working in public, setting up feedback loops, support systems and peer network
The possible pitfall: seeking likes and followers for validation
The purpose of documenting: building a paper trail of your work, working in public, setting up feedback loops, support systems and peer network
The possible pitfall: seeking likes and followers for validation
Want to connect this to the idea of introverts vs extroverts. Some designers feel worried that they might not be doing the “right things”
It’s way more important to “do your own thing” than what the design janta believes is the “right thing” https://twitter.com/abnux/status/1255204281436606464
It’s way more important to “do your own thing” than what the design janta believes is the “right thing” https://twitter.com/abnux/status/1255204281436606464
PS: Please feel free to AMA / chime in with your thoughts!
Building a personal brand is something I’m very passionate about and want to help more creators build.
But I also want to help find the balance. It can’t come at the cost of your core skills
Building a personal brand is something I’m very passionate about and want to help more creators build.
But I also want to help find the balance. It can’t come at the cost of your core skills
Personal brand done well is a “Personal moat”
- Networking with peers gets easier
- Freelance clients find you instead of the other way around
- Job opportunities come your way organically
- Content creation is design with the quickest feedback loop
- Networking with peers gets easier
- Freelance clients find you instead of the other way around
- Job opportunities come your way organically
- Content creation is design with the quickest feedback loop
Recommended reading is @eriktorenberg’s thread on Personal Moats.
To define: a personal moat is a competitive advantage that is durable and compounds over time.
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg/status/1068037464336605184?s=21 https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg/status/1068037464336605184
To define: a personal moat is a competitive advantage that is durable and compounds over time.
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg/status/1068037464336605184?s=21 https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg/status/1068037464336605184
Keep in mind that we’re still in the early MySpace days of personal brand.
Notice the uptick in live events? The uptick in design YouTubers? The new podcasts?
It’s still early. There’s a big shift coming, but it isn’t here yet.
Notice the uptick in live events? The uptick in design YouTubers? The new podcasts?
It’s still early. There’s a big shift coming, but it isn’t here yet.
Design schools and bootcamps won’t teach you this.
It’s 2020. So why do design programs pretend like the Internet doesn’t exist?
It’s 2020. So why do design programs pretend like the Internet doesn’t exist?
