CareerScribe

In a recent comment to the Smaller Indiana question above, I offered these thoughts:

The term "personal brand", is a bit lame... but it has begun to stick. I live in this space, and I can tell you, that in just the last 30 days, I have heard the term "personal brand" used and recognized more than in the last 6 months. I'm willing to wager, you are going to hear it more in the next year, and it will be nothing new in 3 years.

Call it what you will, the concept is about the information that is available to everyone about you. Information that forms a basis for who people think you are.... whether it is your hobbies and interests, your religious affiliation, your family, your education, your career, charitable work, where you grew up, etc., etc., etc. Organizaitons use this information to screen employees. Fair or not, all of these things collectively allow others to form an opinion of you. An opinion that you can't discuss with them.... not that they would even give you a straight answer if you asked them anyway.

Everyone should consider being proactive with this. You will have a tough time removing much of the information on you that can be found on the internet, but you can make a conscious decision about what you would like others to think about you in the next 5-10 years, and try to manage that impression. Develop an online professional portfolio of your best stuff. Over time.... you can likely change your "brand", much like Target did.... but it takes time.

Most are going to talk about personal branding, but many aren't going to take the long term steps necessary to really make a difference. I believe that there is great opportunity here.... obviously (CareerScribe), to get ahead of your competition, at least for a few years.... then who knows.