My thoughts of Pros & Cons of 10 Ways Personal Branding Can Save You From Getting Fired

10 Ways Personal Branding Can Save You From Getting Fired

I network quite extensively, and in fact prefer to be private person. However, as an entrepreneur, one will have to get ourselves out there.  

Another view point I might add if its ok is also the 'balance', one need to be VERY careful of how much you 'want to give', I have come to a point where my database is now 15,000+, close to 2000+ contacts on linkedIn (mostly senior people) plus I am still meeting more people..  

challenge now is how can I stay polite and tell people that want to/are meeting me that I really don't have enough capacity (frequently) to give them the time that they deserve without sounding rude?  

Also, another challenge is that I would prefer my life to be private, as its fine being recognised, and all, but I don't want average joe also know about my life and come up & know everything about me!?  

And also, the ship is now sailed and challenge is how to keep it sailing with the right purpose to get enough value to help ourselves and our cause(s).  

Good article but approach with care and should develop a 'STRATEGIC Plan' of how to manage the growth, as no doubt NOT everyone want to be a Robert Scoble.  

Reverse of that is also true, namely, outside of Tech media, Robert might not be that famous, because in Telecom B2C, Finance, Insurance, Gaming gambling, he is NOT known (in my circle anyway), so, its brilliant that when I started using twitter finally in the last two weeks, I only then realise what the fuss was about when his account was closed on FaceBook.. didn't have time then nor now to look up the reasons but that illustrate another point. your strategy above mostly work within the Tech/media/PR sector (B2C??) that are linked by bloggers etc.  

Therefore, one should look at what are the influencer/networks compare to what they want to achieve in the short/medium/long term. I have not checked the grammar etc. above, hope this make sense.  

BR 

Gareth  

@garethwong (my twitter feed is private & twitter need 2 improve on privacy protection on the system).

Business school networking

The target audience of this post is for fellow MBAs of City/Cass Business School. 

Not having been an entrepreneur that long (only since 2002), but I have learnt many lessons, and one key one is to 'network' and build up a trusted network of contacts. It's corny but it is really "who" you know, in times more important than 'what' you know. 

Speaking from experience, I have founded a few initiatives for the senior executives cross sectors (CXO Europe/Asia), for the gaming gambling world (Gambit non profit special interest group, Gaming Money Summit at the London Stock Exchange) and also E/MBA club offline gatherings for City/Cass MBAs (+ online exclusive group where despite not being the 'official' community, we have now close to 800 people worldwide!)

It frustrates me when I see more top guys & girls that only join the network (on-line or offline) when they wanted the support of the network, but sadly I have to say, it is too late, when you are NOT the CEO/MD of a multi-national or major firm.  

It is sadly the human nature, if you can't spare the time to sow seeds, it maybe difficult to harvest as no crops. 

Therefore, please do it like other top guys, like those that already support and speak or attend top events at City/Cass or in more exclusive/private gatherings of E/MBA club.  (e.g. CEO of SG Hambros, MD of AON, President of Shell SA, MD Taylor's Port etc.)

or just click through and join the private network on LinkedIn (the one I founded), and most importantly update your details on the City/cass website.  It takes only seconds, well few minutes the most. 

I can tell you, there are some pretty great offline gatherings I am putting together for 2009, from 'business of olympics' to "business of Internet", as we have done before, it will be best place to stimulate your mind, build new or renew existing trusted relationships! 

Do The Green Thing

Do The Green Thing

Brilliant initiative.. its big, ambitious, and need all the support it needs!

this might be a fantastic charity that all CXOs should support, not only with money which a lot of charity are only focus on raising, but management/business time, resources, 

for example, why not one of our CXO that owns a channel just give a few minutes of airtime for this!? 

We need to work together to save our planet, but most importantly for our kids and their kids' generations! 

They have done the hard bit, we just need to work with them to create the 'fellowship' and 'reach'! 

All the DAZE - Toddler Resources

All the DAZE - Toddler Resources


This is one of the better resources that should come with our kids..

its rather interesting and should help.

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Longevity of success: CXO vs Artistic Talents

Finally, I chose to rest and not work/plan things last night. Whilst I was watching a couple of old programs (from last year) produced by RTHK (Hong Kong's equivalent of BBC) on the undying longevity of singer/ song writers coming from the ex British territory like Danny Chan, Lead singer of Beyond etc.

Surprising fact is that their brilliance and talent is even more revered and recognised once they are gone (both died young!).. Although, when they were alive, the public did appreciate them but not nearly as much as when they are gone!

It dawned on me that its a bit reverse in the business world, when the "star" business man/enterpreneur are usually only respected and liked whilst they are STILL at the top.. rather than when they become an "ex-certain company", but of course, if they were "poached", then that would be very different! Of course, as a multi-millionaire ex-any company would also get much attention (both good & bad!)

Rarely do one have likes of Sage of ohmaha Warren Buffet or Steve Jobs/Bill Gates/ that seems to be constantly at the very top... They are like "Ironman" of the business world!

But still, in many ways, it also surprises me that there are quite a few top CEOs/Managing partners of major corporations and even VCs/PE funds, that I was in touch with seem to reckon that they are like the forementioned Ironman, and can do no wrong, and in many ways could verge on becoming cocky and sometimes too full of themselves (both internally & externally).

Its usually these people that would tell me later that that they would like to get involve with my CXO network (as they lost their job!) and sadly by then due to not qualify, and their previous personality, I could not let them in...
Although I would still do my best to make some introductions which may help their endeavour.

Of course, its different for those that were already part of our network as we have a special program called "senior officer in transition" that they can join and should help in some ways to get them placed again.

This maybe a bit different for the talented Artists, which we as consumers can see, where they rarely like madonna that could stay on top by keep on re-inventing herself...

Key to success may seem to be different from the creative/artistic talents' perspective, as its about creating an artistic product(s), be it film, theatre, music or creating arts ... Which in many ways is under control of the artist themselves...

However, we have seen that the advent of technologies which accelerates globalisation and "reach" of product & services, means that previous "niches" or "indie" types has now geniunely somehow become less niche but mass market!

Combined with some business and street smart, artists could become business man (may need less 'hits') and move to production/business side.

And business man like steve jobs (or I would argue that he's more like an artist) can create something new using his vision and consequently create new markets and following...

Key however is the innovations and humbleness that we can and should try to adopt.

Let we all try to become the next generation of "artist businessman".

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

CNBC - The Business of Innovation

CNBC - The Business of Innovation

This was one of the better business based programs I have seen in the last year or so. I still have another program to catchup on my sky+.

They do ask a lot of appropriate key questions (mostly for midium size to conglomerate firms) which should be important even without studying a MBA!

However, it is rather US centric, but to be frank, its 50-100 times better than our dragon's den in UK, which is too much about life-style business.. and entertainment..

we really need some higher quality business programs in UK/europe.. surely, RDF and others can do something about it!

All in all, CNBC, great job!

Re: Writing an article on traffic and LinkedIn for CAP magazine

Ok Rasmus

How about:

Gareth Wong, founder of GamBond®, Gambit special interest group (www.TheGambit.info) and CXO Europe's thought on virtual networking.

I use various online social networks, from LinkedIn, Plaxo to facebook (only started a few months).

However, business wise, I use mostly LinkedIn due to the extensive number of senior executives across many business sectors and countries. As I network extensively both within and outside gaming gambling sectors (looking at Technology, media, entertainment, finance and governments), I thought the environment of linkedIn most appropriate (less complex, essentially linked CVs of different individuals). Although it has changed a bit and provide more messaging, questions & answers etc, I hope these would not scare off other senior executives.

However, a network is only as good as quality of people and the value they bring (rather than take!), therefore, I'm getting stricter by the day in terms of whom I would connect with. As I find too people who are "trying it on" and linking for linking sake or trying to contact my network for selfish reasons, so, I just cut them off. It may seem as drastic, but I want genuine & qualified requests to get the best response and don't want to waste anyone's time, especially my senior contacts!

In terms of Groups, in 2004, I chose also run the Executive MBA alumni group for my business school on linkedIn and in 06, I also founded the Gambit group there, for people that support and have previously been to Gambit events (as sponsors, speakers or those that bought our tickets) and buy into our ethos.

In terms of numbers, on my personal database, I have more than 12,000+ entries on my blackberry, and just over 1,400 people connected with me on LinkedIn, and 270+ on facebook.

Having founded and run CXO Europe, I find I have to be more selective now on whom I exchange cards with and whom I invite to join my networks, as I have so much lunch,telephone requests that are mostly requested on basis of meetings for meetings sake. I maybe writing too much already.

One thing is clear, networking is like farming, you cannot expect anything unless you spent time in cultivating & looking after the plants. Looking to start farming at time of a draught & femine is already too late!

Furthermore, meeting face to face cannot be replaced by how many people you know or connected virtually! The more senior people are, the less virtual network applies!! Therefore, CXO is focus primarily on our peer lunches & evening VIP invitation only gatherings.

Happy networking! (Virtual or otherwise)

Founder of Gambit (www.TheGambit.info), GamBond® ( www.GamBond.com) and CXO Europe (www.CXO.org)

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Strategic Business | M&A | Board Advisor | Mobile | Gaming Gambling | Consultant | Entrepreneur | CXO |
Personal website: www.GarethWong.com

From Gareth's BlackBerry


CXO (cross industries): Hope to welcome you to next CXO lunches in Nov. (for CEOs of £3m+ profit firms and CFO/CTO/CIOs of £30m+ profit firms and deal makers of £3m+ deals etc.), see www.CXO.org for more details

Gambit (gaming focused): or at the next Gambit on mobile & iTV developments £50/person only, on 7th Nov (6-9pm), it will be far reaching and thought provoking again, register for our newsletter to be informed, we are also giving away a free ticket at the Emerging market summit 3-4Dec, signup at www.TheGambit.info/re/ for a chance to win.

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