cultivating a 'village of support' for your personal brand
TRANSCRIPT
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
It’s one thing to have a network of professional contacts to make introductions on your behalf or invite you to corporate events …
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
… it’s another matter entirely to have a vibrant and engaged ‘village of support’
underpinning YOU.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
And not just you, the person, but BRAND
YOU and all that comes with it – your
reputation and standing within the
professional community.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
Your village of support is way deeper than the simple exchange of business cards (do people still do that anymore?)
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
It represents the groundswell of people who know, like, respect and trust you … and you, them!
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
… you have contributed value to their lives – relentlessly, over time – without the
expectation of getting anything in return!
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
SHOWN UP and been 100%
genuine about everything you’ve
done (online as well as in real life).
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
… and both would be better off for the experience of having known each other.
CONNECTED individuals with one another if you felt there was common ground …
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
ATTENDED other people’s events, tweeted proceedings or maybe even given up your time to speak.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
CONTRIBUTED to online conversations (offline, too).
Answered questions on
Quora
Participated in hashtag
Twitter chats
Provided comments
in LinkedIn Group
discussions
Commented on other people’s
blogs
TIRELESSLY CREATED rich online content that has
struck a chord with people (so much so they’ve shared your stories and ideas with
their friends).
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
INSTIGATED coffee catch-ups with people whom you’ve developed an online rapport.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
INVOLVED yourself with community-based
committees and working groups, and
freely shared your experience and advice.
SHONE the spotlight on other people’s work, stories and ideas via social media.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
COLLABORATED on cool projects that have created buzz in the community and attracted like-minds.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
AGAIN, YOU’VE DONE ALL THIS WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION OF GETTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
Anyone can develop, build and cultivate a vibrant and rich village of support.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
It’s not a case of being born into the ‘right’ family or going to the ‘right’ university.
The combination of social networking technologies and online publishing platforms means that anyone can develop and nurture a meaningful village of support based on trust and mutual respect with scale, in real-time, and virtually for free (personal effort notwithstanding).
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
Leverage the power of social media to give relentlessly, without the expectation of getting anything in return. That will happen, it always
does. It’s known as the Law of Reciprocity, and it’s what fuels
your village of support.
www.trevoryoung.me | @trevoryoung
START TODAY! Build your village with heart and purpose. It will serve you well over your professional journey.