This was a question I got Saturday at my workshop. I had one gentleman attend :) and he had years of executive leadership development under his belt. At big companies such as AT&T and ThomsonReuters. While he spoke to many a C-level audience, he didn’t see where his personal stories fit in the talks.
This was my counterpoint:
When I started in television in 1997, cub reporters went to tiny towns, with small viewership to make mistakes. I had already grown up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, so going to a Detroit or a Raleigh, held no allure.
I wanted to go on an adventure.
It was April 1999. My ‘first’ television on-air station was in Casper, Wyoming, population 50,000. There were 2 minorities in town.
I was the second.
I started out as a general assignment reporter and weekend anchor. I delighted at the stories I got to cover: Goat tying competitions. County fairs. Local school events. In six months, I was asked to anchor the 6pm news. The former anchor had moved on to Minot, North Dakota.
My general manager gave me a piece of advice as I took the anchor chair: “Stop trying to be what you think a news anchor should be. And just be yourself. That is the most unique thing you bring to the table.”
He was a transplant from Texas. I think his bar tab eventually sank the station, because its no longer. But to this day, I repeat his advice. Me, my personal story, my personality. That’s what builds a powerful personal brand..
And that is the advice I shared with my lone gentleman attendee on Saturday. If you wish to build a powerful #personalbrand with me, my next Mastermind event is April 1st 1:30–4:15.
Join the waitlist here
