I’m almost certain that I’ve met the happiest person on the entire planet. He works for the same investment firm that I do, and I cross paths with him every single day. His smile is permanent and his positive demeanor is ever-present. I would love to trade places with this fellow, if only for a day. Just who is this incredible model of self-utopian exuberance? He is our security guard. 
I will shamefully admit that even after speaking with him many times, I don’t know our security guard’s name. For the sake of this article, let’s call him Happy Hal. What can Happy Hal teach us about personal branding? One thing in particular, and it is incredibly important:
Always remember to ask yourself WHY you are building a personal brand.
So often, we become enamored with the “who, “what”, where”, “when” and “how” of building a brand.
- Who should I follow on Twitter?
- What should my personal branding statement include?
- Where can I find more Facebook fans?
- When is the best time of day to tweet?
- How can I write better blog articles?
Yet, very rarely do we step way back from the daily processes and ask the most important question of all:
WHY am I doing all this?
What is the end goal in mind that makes hundreds or thousands of extra hours reading, writing, and bettering ourselves ultimately worth it? For some, the end goal is financial stability. For others, it is praise and recognition. For others yet, it is the ability to help people in a way that would be impossible without a large enough platform. Have you ever considered what your real motivation is? Now, I can’t say for sure what motivates Hal, but I can say with certainty that he loves his job more than anyone I know. Would you love his job? Probably not. Would you love my job? Doubtful. The real question is: Do you love your job? If so, are you working towards keeping it? If not, are you working towards finding something else you will love? Happy Hal is a constant reminder for me that no single definition exists for “success”. Some would foolishly dismiss Hal due to his job title, and deem him “unsuccessful”. Yet, when viewed through a different lens, Hal just might be the most successful person I know. For me, personal branding success ultimately boils down to three simple steps: 1. Figure out your passion. 2. Build a brand around it. 3. Be able to follow your passion every day. For the “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, and “how” of personal branding, turn to the pros, like Dan Schawbel and Seth Godin. For the more important question – the “why” – look inward, and remember Hal, the happiest guy on Earth.
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Ryan Rancatore wants you to be the 2nd happiest person on Earth. Find out more at Personal Branding 101, and don’t forget to say hello on Twitter: @RyanRancatore.
Photo credit, himek8.
