Home » Blog » Author: Hajj E. Flemings

Personal Branding Interview: Hill Harper and Hajj E. Flemings – The Conversation

Hill Harper who most notably portrays Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on CSI: New York, he recently released his third book, “The Conversation” which is number two on the New York Best Seller list. In his latest book he discusses the topic of conversations between men and women which has created a lot of buzz online.

Successful Brands Provide an Experience

One of the key characteristics of successful brands is that they provide customers with an experience. I recently interviewed Hill Harper after a book signing in Royal Oak, MI. Hill is a very grounded person with a magnetic personality, who makes every person in the room feel like they are the only one there.

After the book signing I saw how each person walked away with a personal experience after interacting with Mr. Harper, his command of the room is second to none. I walked away thinking about the experience I provide those I interact with and what do they walk away with. It was a moment of sobering reflection as I began to evaluate myself.

Hill Harper on Twitter

Hill is very active on Twitter, to follow him on the set of CSI: New York or to find out when he is coming to your town for a book signing or to extend the ‘”The Conversation” about his book follow him on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/HillHarper.

» Read more...

Personal Branding Interview: So You Want to be like Chris Brogan!

I recently interviewed Chris Brogan at the Detroit Zoo in Michigan and we discussed the topic, ‘So you want to be like Chris Brogan?’ I thought this would create a lively conversation with all the discussion on defining EXPERTS and fabricated followership (people gaming the system to inorganically add followership in Twitter and other social networks.)

Anybody with access to a high-speed internet connection has heard of social media guru Chris Brogan, author of the New York Times Best-Seller “Trust Agents.” After talking with Chris there were four big ideas that surfaced that I wanted to share with you that I think will impact your personal brand.

Four Big Ideas to Remember in Developing Your Personal Brand

• There is no Race – Most people focus on racing or competing against others to measure or define success in life, professionally, and in their career. Personal branding is first personal you have to personally and internally assess who you are and your objectives. Professionals always compete against themselves versus competing against others. People who occupy the same space that you want to compete in should be used as potential benchmarks. Only amateurs look externally to define who they are internally.

• Trademark Yourself – A trademark authorizes you as legal owner of the mark/signature that represents your idea which can be renewed as long as it is being used in commerce. Most people focus on being a cheap copy and try to duplicate someone else’s brand/signature versus being original. Trying to be someone else is costly. Focus on being the best you.

• Decide Where do you put your Juice - Everybody has the same amount of time in their day 24 hours, @GaryVee, Oprah, Bill Gates, etc.. The goal becomes to be more effective in the usage of your time and energy. You increase the value of your minute and your personal brand by deciding on the right place to put your juice (time and energy).

• Overnight Success – This is a misnomer, but the saying is true there is a such thing as an overnight success. The problem is that most people interpret it to mean that it is instant and it is not. Overnight success is typically years of overnights and then people who didn’t know you were practicing and preparing all of a sudden see the result of your practice.

In the world of online brand identity it is very easy to rip other people’s ideas, copy content, and artificially add followers, but remember influence can’t be bought. Be the best you that you can be.

» Read more...

Brand Camp ’09: Personal Branding 2.0 Conference Wrap-Up

What happens when you get a collection of true thought leaders, entrepreneurs, storytellers, tweeters, visionaries and a world-class athlete in a single room? You get the Brand Camp ’09 experience: engaging conversations with like-minded people that inspire change and transform gray matter with each spoken word and each character of every tweet.

Why Detroit? Detroit is a blue collar, manufacturing town that was built on the back of the automotive industry which was the Silicon Valley of its day. The cheese has moved and Detroit is currently going through a brand crisis. It is the perfect location to discuss how social media, personal branding and passion is changing the way we work and live.

Super Heroes/Professors

The list of Rock stars that rocked Lawrence Tech University providing nutrious content for attendees to consume for 7-hours and shared in short 140 character burst of information.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/manoian/4009145335/in/set-72157622580068302/

Mitch Joel, Ken Brown, Scott Monty, Rohit Bhargava, Hajj E. Flemings , Valeria Maltoni, April Holmes, and Robert (Bob) Fish (Not Pictured)

What others are saying about Brand Camp ‘09

  • Mitch Joel (@MitchJoel) - SPOS #175 - Personality And Authenticity With Rohit Bhargava
  • Mitch Joel (@MitchJoel) - The Key to Your Personal Brand
  • Nikki Stephan (@EstrellaBella10) - Personal Branding + Social Media = Brand Camp University
  • Brian Ambrozy (@icrontic) - BrandCamp University 2009
  • Mike McClure (@Mike KMcClure) - 10 Things I learned at Brand Camp `09
  • Andrea Freile - Marketable Myself Through Social Media
  • Chris Reed (@darealchrisreed) - Personal Branding, Live from Brand Camp University

Is Brand Camp a conference, an experience, or a movement? Only time will tell, but for now it is a passionate community of early adopters who are growing their personal brands and businesses with social media.

» Read more...

Nominate Someone to Attend Brand Camp ‘09 for FREE!

Nominate a Brand Icon.
Do you know someone with a strong personal brand? A person that really understands what it means to Grustle?

We want them to attend Brand Camp University 2009 on us.

Here is how you can nominate them to attend:

Leave a comment on this post with the name of the person you are nominating and why you feel should attend.

OR

Tweet their name and why they should attend (include the hashtag #brandcampu)

We will extend offers to attend the conference for free based on the nominations we receive.

(Note: You can only self-nominate if you recommend someone as well.)

Thanks for your participation!

» Read more...

Official Brand Camp ’09: Conference T-Shirt Release

Today we released the official design for the Brand Camp ’09 graphic tee design. The Brand Camp Conference t-shirts will follow the Air Jordan tradition and every year we will drop the hottest social media conference t-shirt design in the land. Be apart of the Brand Camp shirt genealogy and get your social media lifestyle wear.

Brand Camp II (2009): Design Specs:

  • Design: The design integrates: “I Grustle all Day.” and “Brand Camp”
  • Garment: American apparel 100% cotton garment will be used for a great fit.
  • Colors: Brown/Yellow/White

Note: To get your Brand Camp ’09 t-shirt you have to attend the conference. : )

» Read more...