Remembering Tim
Much has been written about the tragic death of Meet the Press host Tim Russert but I have some additional sentiments to share that I believe are relevant to our readers.
First, on a personal level, I wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming emotions I felt as I watched most of the memorial coverage. The outpour of sympathy from world dignitaries and his colleagues was unprecedented for a person that reported on news rather than made it. And yet, for so many years you weren’t a bonafide newsmaker of national note unless you had sat across from Tim Russert on any given Sunday.
Russert was the embodiment of the American dream come true. A working-class Irish kid from Buffalo, New York that made not just good, but really good. When JFK made a rare visit to Tim’s hometown there were few other thirteen-year-olds that could boast that they’d maneuvered their way to actually shake the President’s hand. Was it luck or a foreshadow of destiny? Possibly the spark that ignited Tim’s passion for politics? How fitting that at Russert’s funeral John McCain and Barack Obama sat side by side, unaccompanied by aides and handlers, and in a way we had never seen them before.
So what can we learn about personal branding from Tim Russert? First, the significance of authenticity. Russert was not your chiseled-featured variety newsman. He had a Columbo quality, both in style and manner — and it worked.
Yes, he asked the tough questions – but with a sense of fairness you could always count on. These qualities earned our trust and elevated his broadcast to the “must do” Sunday news show, if you wanted to be taken seriously as a political figure.
Second; his countless expressions of generosity. He was a great father, husband, role model and a mentor to so many. Throughout the memorial coverage dozens of Tim’s colleagues and competitors shared stories of his thoughtfulness. ABC News’ This Week host, George Stephanopoulos shared that on the occasion of his daughter’s birth, Tim sent his family a pillow engraved with her name. Russert was never too busy to forget time-honored traditions and honest gestures of good will.
Sundays won’t be the same without Tim Russert and neither will the political season. Let us learn by his example. The important things in life aren’t found in the achievements we’re taught that symbolize success but rather in simple expressions of thoughtfulness and service to others.
Allow For The Unexpected
In our goal-oriented Western way of thinking we often strive to shape our professional and personal lives to fit our pictures. Relatively recent exposure in the West to various Eastern philosophies has opened a new realm of possibilities in terms of how we approach our lives.
In the past we may have interpreted the course of our lives as being controlled by fate. In this age, we’re more likely to at least consider it possible that we play a significant role in how it all “turns out.” But how much of a role?
Most of us have experienced the frustration of wanting our life results to more closely match our mental pictures of what we think they should be. We want what we want when we want it. Anything less provides us with evidence that perhaps we’ve been conned into thinking that we could actually have what we set out to achieve.
Being successful at Branding Yourself, or any other endeavor for that matter, most certainly requires that you challenge familiar ways of thinking – and acting. You can’t expect different results from doing the same things.
However, I’ve come to a new understanding on this subject. With age I’ve had to learn to allow for the unexpected. Life rarely turns out exactly as you envision it. There is almost always a surprise ahead that you can’t anticipate. A chance encounter can lead to an unexpected business deal or a sudden shift in the economy can bring about undesired obstacles.
Focusing on your intention rather than current circumstance or a specific end result allows space for the unexpected. You can be very clear about fundamentals of what you’re up to and at the same time accept that there are likely to be detours and even shortcuts along the way.
Being rigid is what gets us in trouble. It causes us to misinterpret and invalidate our results when they don’t fit our pictures. Consider perhaps that there is a grander view that you can’t now see. Make peace with uncertainty. It’s an overused phrase, but there is great value in “trusting the process.”
Flexibility
Success at branding means being flexible in your response to unpredictable shifts in market conditions. What you offer can be a perfect fit for today’s economy and consumer needs and totally off the mark a year from now, when conditions change or your competitors may change the dynamics of the entire game.
Individuals and businesses often fail because they refuse to alter their approach in times of uncertainty. Travel agencies weren’t prepared for the advent of consumers having easy access to online booking. To succeed they’ve had to focus on areas where personal service is still an essential in the successful coordinating a trip, like group travel.
Similarly, the economy and the Internet are greatly impacting the fields of training, professional speaking and consulting. Rising costs are resulting in smaller budgets, as companies reduce their spending on expensive conferences and trade shows that require air travel and lodging.
Webinars and other less costly methods of electronic communication are becoming more commonplace. Participants log in rather than fly in and participate from the comfort of their home office, often while wearing their pajamas.
If you’re marketing your expertise to prospective clients in today’s economy, wait no longer on planning and implementing a strategy that involves video. Whether it’s a single streaming video greeting on your website, an entire series of video vignettes that you can email or a full-length program that you distribute via DVD – you’ll find that video is among your best calling cards. It allows you to concisely and professionally articulate and present your unique proposition to prospective clients in a compelling manner.
Strive for authenticity over style in your video presentations. Get comfortable with the camera lens and connect with your audience. Work with a company that will provide you with measurable data that track the results of your video marketing campaigns. Play close attention to what works in terms of response rates and sales conversions.
In all circumstances, remain flexible and willing to toss out what’s not working in favor of a fresh approach.