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Introduction
The world of work has suddenly changed. Thanks to the meteoric
rise of the Internet, traditional methods of communication and
career development are evaporating. As a result, businesses of
all sizes, from small firms to corporate enterprises, cannot
survive based on legacy systems alone and will not recover from
these changes without harnessing the power of online technology.
In addition, the Internet itself is changing—evolving into a tool that allows any user to command his or her future with the click of a mouse. It’s no longer just a place to research and discover information, or to purchase products and email your family, friends or business colleagues. You can connect with people from all over the world, regardless of age, race, gender, religion and social class, to meet, discuss ideas, and do business.
Amidst all of these exciting changes, a new breed of worker is
emerging—one who feels energized and empowered by the exciting
new world that the Internet has created and is eager to make a
difference. Those with confidence, drive, and the ability to use
the full potential of modern technology—including creating a
powerful personal brand
to define themselves and achieve their goals—will be at the
forefront of this bold new world.
This book is targeted at college students and young
professionals who feel doubt, emotional stress, and fear of
failure when approaching the current job market. I firmly
believe that this book will help any individual who is
determined, hard-working, and excited to realize his or her
personal and professional goals.
The strategies
and plan of attack that I have developed and detailed in this
book will help
you be
among these successful individuals. I
provide you with all the tools necessary to define and achieve
your goals. Me 2.0
describes the history of personal branding, how the Internet has
revolutionized career development, and how individuals can
leverage social media for personal empowerment, self-management,
and networking. It
includes a proven 4-step process for
discovering,
creating, communicating,
and maintaining your
personal brand, and shows the results of using this plan. It
also takes the element of time into account—the sooner you
develop your brand, the more prepared you will be for your
successful
future. It
is divided into three main sections:
It also covers my personal branding success story, a framework
you can use to achieve similar success, and expert quotes and
research to provide you with an even broader perspective on the
topic.
You’ll also get insight into how to use blogs,
podcasting, and social networks to put yourself in a position of
recruiting power—so that employers will come after
you for your passion and expertise. Bottom line:
this is
your handbook for surviving and thriving in the
digital age, your guidebook for making your personal and career
dreams a reality!
I wrote this book for many reasons. It is mainly the result of my never-ending passion for personal branding, and my responsibility to teach others how to protect and promote their own brands. I also saw a real need for a book like this. One thing I’ve learned after giving lectures on personal branding to global corporations, organizations, and colleges is that most individuals don’t understand how to successfully manage their careers in this new Web 2.0 world, nor are they prepared to properly utilize emerging media to achieve their goals. With this book, it is my aim to help individuals unlock the secrets of personal branding, unleash their career potential, and make the world a better place—one brand at a time.
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