Blogging for t5m.com

I am now running a channel for t5m - the fabulous digital and broadcast site. Apart from my blog :-), you can also find coverage from the BRITs, documentaries, sporting events, and in-depth profiles of actors, musicians, writers and designers...

You can read all about it here: t5m.com

Louise

Web 2.0 Expo NY: Gary Vaynerchuk - Building personal brand...

Gary Vaynerchuk talks about building personal brand within the social media landscape.

His PP message - patience and passion ring true. So many are questioning what they are doing, whether they have a true passion for it. Gary's message: if you are not doing what you do with passion, stop doing it!

There are a few seminal moments in life when we get to take a step back from the day to day and really ask ourselves if what we do with most of our time is something that we are truly passionate about. More often than not, those seminal moments come with change. And usually, we are not in the driving seat. It comes out of the blue - often it seems harsh, unfair, difficult. The rug is pulled from under our feet and we are left floundering, gasping for air like a fish out of water.

I see this day to day with my clients, and have experienced it myself on too many occasions. If we don't live our passions, if we are not prepared to take the risk and change what we are doing, then life comes along and changes it for us. And all too often, its downright uncomfortable to say the least.

I'll leave the expletives for Gary - suffice to say that its a little like a spring clean - grab the opportunity, claim the space that loss presents and take a stance. Work out what you love to do and then begin. And don't stop until you find the flow, are in the groove, totally in the zone. You will know when you get there. The feeling is awesome.

Life Changing Events in May

Are you a Leader, Entrepreneur or dealing with change in these tough economic conditions?

We are delivering three life changing evening workshops on the 18th, 19th and 20th May to hone your soft skills - vital in these difficult times.

Click on the appropriate link for more info and to reserve online - places are limited so do book early to avoid disappointment.

18 May - Leadership Brand
19 May - Entrepreneurial Brand
20 May - Vital Transitions

And feel free to contact me if you have any questions or queries: louise@mowbraybydesign.com

Beyonce 100 Single Ladies Flash-Dance Piccadilly Circus, London for Trident Unwrapped

You've got to love this, what fun!

Bob Quick resigns

Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick resigned this week after he was photographed entering Downing Street carrying a secret briefing note detailing an undercover anti-terrorism operation - codenamed Pathway. The operation was brought forward, a house was raided on Wednesday and twelve men were arrested.

What should have been a good news story has now turned into what will be remembered as a blunder - and from all reports, it really is such a pity. Mr Quick has a solid reputation and has contributed vitally to our collective safety and security over a solid career spanning thirty years.

Inevitably, being in the public eye presents a unique set of challenges, extremes and rewards that most people will never experience. And with it, a great deal of responsibility. One could argue that Mr Quick is not your typical celebrity, however, anyone who is going to be photographed walking in and out of Number 10 should take note.

The world we live in is media driven and relentless. Even today, Gordon Brown has had to apologise publicly on behalf of junior aide Damian McBride. McBride is reported to have sent rather juvenile smear emails to Derek Draper who runs a Labour supporting website and we will probably see these in print in the Sunday papers tomorrow.

And so the lessons in the tales - we all have a personal brand or reputation to protect - not only for our own gain, but for the health of the organisations that we represent, whether commercial or political. The only way to be in control of this is to create a level of self-awareness, a firm understanding of how our actions relate to how we are perceived. If you are the person in charge, the one who heads up any group where your people's actions may have a direct effect on the success of the organisation, then send them all back to school. Personal branding school.

What do Microsoft, Dyson and HP have in common?

Is this the right time to start a new business? We are expecting the largest reduction in GDP since 1946 in the next 12 months - and unemployment levels are set to rise to over 3.25 million by the end of 2010.

And interesting to note that Bill Gates founded Microsoft in the recession of 1975, James Dyson launched his vacuum company in the early 90’s and Hewlett-Packard emerged out of a garage at the end of the Great Depression. According to Ernst & Young’s ITEM Club, the recession may well be the catalyst for the next generation of UK entrepreneurs.

The current situation may well fuel an increase in entrepreneurial activity, which will undoubtedly play an increasingly important part in re-energising the economy. On the other hand, investors are cautious and unless the people driving the ideas are creative and persistent, they may not find the funding they need. Low start up costs, quick routes to market and a high perceived value are vital for customers and investors alike. But without charasmatic, passionate people with strong personal brands leading the way, it will be tough, very tough.

Amanda Wakely - 30% off their Spring/Summer collection

Do join us on the 23rd April for a fabulous few hours at Amanda Wakely's flagship store in London for drinks, canapés and 30% off their current Spring/Summer collection.

RSVP: louise@mowbraybydesign.com

Personal Branding Masterclass

Our next personal branding half-day workshop is coming up - this Friday 27th March 09 in Knightsbridge. There are still a few places left so do book now if you want to learn how to use your personal brand to your advantage.

We will focus on the current market conditions and how best to position yourself either in the organisation that you work for, with headhunters and prospective employers or, if you are in the public eye - with the audience that you need to appeal to.

And feel free to give me a call or send me a mail if you have any questions or queries on +44 776 800 2840 / louise@mowbraybydesign.com.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Louise

Piers Morgan interviews Sir Richard Branson

"I think reputation is really all you have in life - and that's something which you've got to fight to protect." Sir Richard Branson responding to a question from Piers Morgan on Piers Morgan's Life Stories - ITV.

I often refer to Branson when speaking or presenting - call it an enduring, compelling fascination with a powerful personal brand doing it his way. All the way. Sir Richard gets it, in the way that I believe Piers Morgan himself gets it - another one to watch.

This interview is a must see.

Public Speaking & Presenting

Does the thought of presenting or speaking in public rock your very core? So many are paralysed - reduced to a hyperventilating, sweaty fight or flight muddle by the very thought of getting up in front of a group. And yet, having the presence to deliver your intended message in an impactful way is a vital foundation skill that we can all learn. I think that they should teach this stuff in school. And not only in the debating society. The ability to perform with passion and conviction is all about a simple change in focus - from ourselves to our audience.

So as a start, with a focus on your audience, you need to apply the power of PIE. That is Persuading, Informing, Entertaining or Educating. I'm not too keen on yet another acronym, however, we all like the power of PIE/Pi/pie.

This particular PIE is all about the purpose or objective of your talk - whether you are delivering to the members of the board or at a conference of thousands. What are you trying to achieve? Do you need to persuade; are you simply informing; does it need to be entertaining or is the purpose to educate? Once you are clear in your own mind, you have the flavour or tone of your presentation. The secret here is to keep the focus, don't waiver.

The charismatic Steve Jobs does it best:



Job markets - so many are electing to step out

So what's the world going to look like in the next three to five years? Along with the tough economic climate right now, so many are choosing to extend their education, embark on further education or take time off to see the world. In other words, they are electing to step out of these difficult, competitive job markets. But what happens when they need to step back in again. All at once? A plethora of well educated and school of life candidates on the market. A great shift - what impact will it have on job markets and how difficult will it be for those who are left behind in the education stakes?

I am not psychic, but I predict two things - the great divide between the educated and uneducated will increase dramatically, and with it all the socioeconomic stuff too. And the even greater divide between the developed and underdeveloped world will become almost insurmountable. Two parallel, totally disconnected streams that will shape things to come.

Kate Winslet's Oscar

I was up bright and early on Saturday morning in a London studio for BBC Radio Wales with Gareth Lewis, Sian Pari Huws and film critic, Damon Smith to discuss the do's and don'ts of award season acceptance speeches. Notably Kate Winslet's recent blunder at the Golden Globe awards where she apologised to Anne, Merryl, Kristen and forgot Angelina. I believe that this clip is now fast becoming a youtube classic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJGRnO93MXg.

I was delighted to see that despite a lot of rambling and rumbling in the press about insulting Hollywood royalty, Kate's blunder did not cost her an Oscar. And too that Slumdog got there - what a great night for the best of the Brits.

Leadership brands - the banks

I was watching the Treasury Select Committee's grilling of four former bankers last week. The interesting face of this story is the perception of banks in the broadest sense. When we look at the global brands that had until September last year have been synonymous with institution, due diligence, risk management, trustworthiness, solvency - we are now faced with an entirely different perspective. Bankers on the other hand have in recent years been perceived as risk-takers, financial wizards having a magic touch earning bonuses in multiple millions. The two have never really been congruent.

And with bankers bonuses being limited in bale-out banks, and the banks themselves being institutionalised, I believe that we are going to see very different leadership brands.

The premise of a strong leadership brand is that the leaders in the organisations they work for personify the aspirations of the corporate brand - and the successful application of this has a direct effect on the bottom line. So we expect that those working for Nike, swoosh, just do it - will in turn display the fundamental characteristics and personality of this well known brand - if they don't it, it has a negative effect on investors and customers alike.

And how will this now translate to the banks... with a whole new set of criterion, will the leadership in turn change dramatically to reflect the current situation? Somber leaders for somber times?

Job Losses

Whilst trying to get a feel for the numbers of job losses à la crunch I stumbled across an article in the Telegraph by Jamie Dunkley on the 2nd February titled Financial Crisis: Job Losses. It's worth a read as he diligently lists the 83,368 job losses in the four months prior (UK). And according to an influential report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development due to be published tomorrow, it seems that two out of five employers plan redundancies in the next three months.

This all begs a key question - what criteria will those who decide the fate of this soon to be unemployed workforce use to make their decisions? The obvious - closure of unprofitable business units will see unnecessary, un-transferable skills and expertise go first. The fat will be cut and under performing individuals will be next on the list. Plans for growth and expansion will be shelved for the time being and with it the associated headcount. And then the difficult bit. The bit that is based on how people are perceived vs. any of the above.

I was consulting with a client who was employed by one of the financial giants that lost its footing recently. He and a number of his team were subsequently reemployed by the organisation that bought out selected business units. He described the agonising process of picking the few who would stay. The cut was 30 out of an original team of 100. The under performers and skills mismatch were a no brainer, which left him with 60. Losing the remaining 30 was difficult to say the least. All qualified, experienced, skilled - all technically right for the roles.

It eventually boiled down to perceived soft skills and relationships. Now we all know that perception is reality. Or I should say, perception is a form of reality. It can be demonstrably false, and all too often it is. Those with the perceived soft skill smarts stayed, and those without, left.

There could not be a more urgent need for all of us to take a good look at the impressions we are creating in the minds of those who can and may affect our success in the future. And I am talking all areas that have an influence - our bosses, clients, investors, employees, suppliers, business partners, colleagues. Its not rocket science, its not complicated - but it does need attention, soonest.

At times like these, extraordinary times, some settle into an inertia born of a perceived lack of control over their destinies. And others reach determinedly for the next rung. They both take the same amount of energy with very different outcomes.

Learn how: Personal Branding - The Competitive Edge

Personal Branding Masterclass

The next personal branding masterclass is coming up on the 3rd February 2008. This is a half-day interactive workshop, from 8:30am - 12:30pm in Knightsbridge, London. Suited to those in business or the public eye, we will work through the same methodology that we use when consulting with clients on a one-to-one basis.

Places are limited so do book yours now: http://personalbrandmc.eventbrite.com

And Jonathan Isaby, Co-Editor of ConservativeHome.com writes about his experience of personal brand coaching in the February edition of Total Politics magazine - you can read his article here: Decontaminating your brand

Seven personal branding essentials for 09

Whilst many are focused on a dry January, nil-per-mouth and a gym membership to shift the holiday pounds, I thought I'd add to the mix with seven personal branding essentials for what promises to be an interesting year...

1. Perception is reality - spend some time discovering how you are actually perceived by your audience or markets - what you learn will give you invaluable clues as to anything that might be creating obstacles for you.
2. Really focus on what is distinct, different, memorable, unique, and ultimately compelling about who you are and what you do and find ways to demonstrate this to those who can influence your success.
3. Turn the tables and examine each market or audience that has an influence on your success from their perspective, and ask yourself what they want from someone like you – adapt how you deal with them accordingly.
4. Ensure that all of this is authentic and consistent – anything less will be perceived as untrustworthy and unreliable.
5. Take the lead in a variety of ways appropriate to your role and markets to demonstrate your brand - from initiatives to focus groups to keynote speaking or new endeavours – you will be associated with the topic and perceived as the person to go to in that field.
6. Relationships are key… ultimately we tend to go with those that we feel that we have some sort of emotional connection with – let your personality shine through in order to give others something to buy into.
7. Make sure that your image is not standing in your way… first and foremost it needs to be appropriate, which will communicate how you value yourself, leading others to value you in the same way.

Above all, don’t attempt to be anything other than yourself - just do it better.