In the blogosphere, we love to throw the term “branding” around.  Well, I’ve had almost ten years of marketing communications experience, and branding – what it means and how to do it – has been burned into my brain from a young age.  I have been very careful that what I write on my blog and my website relates strictly to my brand as a professional, savvy, twenty-something workplace author and consultant.  For the most part, this approach has worked.  I’m considered a knowledgeable expert and get lots of requests to do speaking engagements and media interviews.

But I’ve noticed that it’s hard to get readers to join me in a conversation.  I’ll throw out a question or request for feedback from time to time, and usually, no one will respond.  I wonder about the reason for this.  I know people are reading my stuff.  Are they not commenting because they’re not sure who they’re talking to?  Would that change if I allowed them to see, to know, a little more about what drives me, what I fear, and what I think is really important?

In honor of  the 120 forthright, talented, and courageous individuals who are profiled in my new book on dream jobs, How’d You Score That Gig?: A Guide to the Coolest Careers and How to Get Them, I’m pledging to loosen the collar of my branding.  In the last episode of my 30/20 Vision radio show and podcast, I took a step in this direction when I talked about the insecurity I felt about my career now that I’ve had a baby.  How’d You Score That Gig? has just been released, and in talking to people about it, I want to share the true reason I wrote it (to rip the lid off the elusive careers that everyone wants but thinks are impossible to get and provide instructions for breaking in that are actually useful instead of the frustrating vagueries put forth by other authors) and the critical takeaway point (finding meaningful work is totally possible, but you’ll have to bust your butt to get there). 

Successful career change requires a certain type of personality – mainly, someone who is enterprising and persistent.  I’d like to think that I have those qualities down.  But in my relatively new career as a writer and blogger, I’m learning that authenticity and yes, even a little vulnerability, are assets that can’t be overlooked or faked.  I hope that some of you might be willing to help me reach my potential as someone you’d like to have coffee with on a Sunday afternoon.