The Strategy Behind Branding Yourself

I’ve managed to secure more than 25 speaking engagements thus far this year—even in the midst of a global pandemic. Here’s the real secret and steps you need to know to start getting paid to talk about your expertise. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Your own beliefs are holding you back from the success you seek. When you overcome these 3 fears, you allow yourself to transform into the person required to show up and properly serve your audience. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Ever heard the saying content is king? They weren’t lying. Grasping the foundational elements of content creation can be intimidating. I’ve pinned down this simple method I like to call R.E.I. that’ll help you know EXACTLY what you need to be posting to make your followers want to hit SHARE. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Understanding the difference between social media marketing and social selling is CRUCIAL in business. Your business isn’t getting the engagement that you want because you’re trying to make the sale TOO QUICKLY. Here’s how you can adopt the concept of social selling to increase your visibility, opportunity, and income. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Wondering why you lack self discipline? Amplifying your impact will make you uncomfortable, and a lot of you have NEVER placed yourself in an uncomfortable situation. Discipline is uncomfortable but it isn’t impossible. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Your identity might be siloed but you are NOT confused. You’re just exercising your passions in different ways. Prioritization is key—so here’s a few questions to ask yourself and a couple of frameworks you get you started. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Wondering why your entrepreneurial spirit is feeling DRAINED at work? Your job isn’t a waste of time, no matter how much it might feel like it. Make the work you do more meaningful and amplify your brand both inside and outside of the office. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

Finding yourself in an everlasting loop of trying and failing when it comes to your side hustle? Listen in as we discuss a few roadblocks you might be encountering and how to get over them to experience consistent success. 

NOTE: This episode was originally recorded during a weekly live video training session on business and branding. 

I hope you're as excited about season 3 as I am! If you've been rocking with me since EP1—THANK YOU!  

If you're new here—baby, welcome to the PARTY! We're kicking off season 3 with a quick intro as I answer the most commonly asked questions I get, about myself and branding. 

How did I get started in business? 

If I’m looking to get started with branding myself, what’s the first step I need to take? 

Should I get a website immediately? 

How do I balance my business and my career? 

How old am I? 

Then we dive a bit into what you can expect this season from The Strategy Behind Branding Yourself! 

Dan Lorenz is the Founder of SynyrgX Strategic Solutions, Franchise Consultant with FranChoice, and military veteran turned entrepreneur. Dan helps transitioning veterans, experienced investment groups and individuals with a desire to create wealth navigate the complex and saturated world of franchising. In this episode we discuss:

• The steps of branding a franchise business
• How a franchising allows you to buy a brand, versus building one yourself
• What is franchise consulting?
• How to get started with your own franchise business
• How working with a franchise consultant is FREE
• The common myths associated with franchising
• The costs of starting a franchise business
• How to create an identity for yourself following military service
• How to translate the skills learned in the military to entrepreneurship and business
• Returning to school to earn a MBA following military service

How do possibly begin building a cohesive brand when you have varying interests? In this episode we piece a part some questions you can ask yourself and activities you can do to accomplish a polished brand that isn't confusing for your audience.

Nate Gray is the Founder of FORTHEWXNNERS, an online marketplace that connects businesses with social media professionals. He is quite literally a guru when it comes to marketing and making an impact online. In this episode we chat about:

• What is marketing psychology?
• How to build an influence online and offline?
• The difference between marketing and branding
• Whether you should think about branding or marketing first when starting your business
• How to build an online marketplace of your own
• Using marketing psychology to influence others to commit 
• How to build social proof
• What is social proof
• Why you should be doing things for free (at first)
• How to properly price your products and services
• Marketing tactics to use to drive sales (other than constantly reducing the price of your offering)

OK, so this topic doesn't necessarily relate to branding or business—but I like to think that my culture and background play a huge part in my purpose and how I run my business. This episode is the audio capture of a late-night Instagram live session I did with one of my friends, Jovan Paige—Founder of Stay Jotivated. 

Here's a glimpse into what we discuss:

• Why going to therapy is a crucial aspect of healing
• The impact the absence of a mother or father may have
• Whether we extend enough, or too much, grace to black men and women

If you don't know B.Simone by now, you should. 

B.Simone started out as a social media influencer and through her charismatic personality, comedic skills, and GRIT she's earned the title of CEO of B.Simone Beauty, Comedian, Actress, and Artist. Late February 2020 she made a very bold promise to herself of becoming a millionaire by the age of 30. To any of us, this is a bold goal. However, coupled with the fact that her 30th birthday was less than 2 months away, this was obviously a feat.

By April 5th, 2020, she officially had $1M liquid cash in her account.

Check out this video to understand what we can learn from her journey over the years, her mindset, and leading a team.

On March 19th the WHO declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As we continue to love forward, how will network marketing be impacted and what can you as a network marketer do to remain successful? 

In this episode, I provide the common mistakes I see many individuals in network marketing make and 3 tips that can be used to increase the exposure and sales within your network marketing business!

--

You want what's desired without doing what's required.

Everything takes some level of sacrifice; whether it's your personal goals, your business, or your career. It's easy for us to get hung up on the big picture of it all, without breaking down the tasks and events that need to take place in order for us to attain what we desire.

In this #BRANDBITE we break down desires versus requirements, and exactly how to shift your mindset to account for both.

--

#BRANDBITES are short and sweet episodes that you offer you tactical tips to build out your brand strategy.

Look, it’s been a minute, I know—but WE ARE BACK! 

Listen to this episode for a few updates on what’s been going on in my life and why I’ve been MIA for a bit. From buying my first home to starting my Airbnb business, and constantly iterating on my brand. I knew I owed you an explanation. Let's get this show rolling for 2020, new episodes are on the way!

--

This episode was recorded at the Boost with Facebook conference event in Atlanta, GA - please excuse background noise.

This week I'm sitting down with Audrey Korshoff, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Adaptable Strategy. As a Marketing Strategist with over 20 years of experience, Audrey shares her lessons learned through turning her side hustle into a thriving full-time business. You don't want to miss these marketing and mindset tips!

This season we’re introducing #BRANDBITES — short and sweet episodes that you offer you tactical tips to build out your brand strategy. In this episode I cover how your potential clients and customers use social media as a search engine, and how you can ride that wave.

WE MADE IT!

You're listening to the Season 1 finale of The Strategy Behind Branding Yourself Podcast. Feel invigorated yet?

In this episode I give you insight into my recently launched business, The Brand Table, and how (and why) it's so very needed in this space. We also chat about the 3 steps you need to take when thinking of launching YOUR business and brand.

I hope that Season 1 has provided you with some tangible tips for your brand, insight into MY brand, and a little inspiration along the way. Be on the lookout for season 2 of The Strategy Behind Branding Yourself Podcast, and let me know what you think of the show in a review!

Change is constant, and everywhere around us. Unsurprisingly, this concept also applies when building your brand. On your journey of deciding who you want to be, your interests, passions, and skillset will change. 

In this week's episode, I sit down and chat with Thomas Kuegler about his brand evolution from college graduate, to corporate dropout, and now a successful digital nomad. You may have caught his viral NowThis video on Facebook that detailed his road trip across the US that covered 12,000 miles, 23 states, and 141 straight days on the road. (And get this: He's once made $2,000 in 24 hours JUST. FROM. BLOGGING). Tom now earns his living by documenting his travel experience and thoughts on his vlog, Finding Tom.  All of this was accomplished through building and scaling his brand online. 

Check out this episode and listen in to hear about: 

• Managing life as a solopreneur 
• How to create a successful career, even if you consider yourself a free spirit 
• Building an email list of dedicated subscribers from scratch Organic social media growth tips 
• Getting started (and PAID) for blogging/vlogging 
• ...and so much more! 

How far are you willing to go when building your brand? 

In this week's episode, I open up about one part of my journey with building my brand and the stress this particular aspect of the journey has caused me. People always say that we must push ourselves, but how do we know when we are pushing ourselves near the edge or toward a breakthrough? 

 This week I sit down with Brian J. Olds, Founder and CEO of The Black Speakers Network as we chat about what the process of building a brand from the ground up TRULY looks like. It's far from easy, and anything but an overnight process. Building a strong brand takes time, struggle, and lots of hard work; but we must appreciate the valleys of the process just as much as we appreciate the peaks.

If you're currently a speaker or looking to get into the paid speaking business, Brian drops some tips and tactics you do NOT want to miss! And if you listen to the end, there's a special, limited-time offer I provide to listeners for FREE.

In part 2 of this episode we cover:

∙ Maslow's hierarchy of needs and reaching a point of self-actualization

∙ Identifying your real passion versus your face-value passion, and how to focus on each

∙ Surrounding yourself with people who don't let you make excuses

∙ …and so much more!

Leave a review and let us know what you think!

This week I sit down with Brian J. Olds, Founder and CEO of The Black Speakers Network as we chat about what the process of building a brand from the ground up TRULY looks like. It's far from easy, and anything but an overnight process. Building a strong brand takes time, struggle, and lots of hard work; but we must appreciate the valleys of the process just as much as we appreciate the peaks.

If you're currently a speaker or looking to get into the paid speaking business, Brian drops some tips and tactics you do NOT want to miss!

∙ How that feeling of uneasiness means you're starting the process of something great

∙ Identifying your real passion versus your face-value passion, and how to focus on each

∙ Pinpointing your audience, even if you're not a speaker or entrepreneur

∙ …and so much more!

Leave a review and let us know what you think!

This week I sat down with Kyle Woumn — Atlanta native and creator of Drakestragram, Ideas 2 App Store, and Over The Top (OTT).

We're getting REAL this week!

In this two-part episode I had the chance to visit my alma mater, Indiana University - Kelley School of Business, where I connected with student-entrepreneur Omar, a rising junior studying Business Analytics and Data Science, and Co-Founder of Owl Tutors LLC. What initially started out as a few follow-up questions following my firm's campus event, turned into a massive exchange of life knowledge, experience, and lessons learned. We chat about:

• The role that your parents play in your guidance as a first generation student, graduate, or entrepreneur

• Why exposure is the key to continually advancing yourself and your community

• The difference between being selfish and being full of your self

• Getting to a place of self-awareness and attainment

• How you inherit more than your looks from your parents, but also their relational conflict

• ...and so much more!

This particular episode gives you a seat at the table to hear about Omar and I's experience being first generation and balancing entrepreneurship while in school or working full-time. I also drop some information that will allow you to know me better as a host and a bit of the journey I've traveled to get where I am, with one hell of a long way to go.