Comments on: Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity Applied to Building Your Personal Brand http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/ Improving the human experience one day at a time Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:53:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Whitney Hess http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3140 Whitney Hess Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:28:53 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3140 I appreciate your comment and I understand where you're coming from. The term "brand" makes me cringe, too. I use it here though because it is most broadly stands for "public persona," but I don't necessarily equate that with wealth and commercial success, as you put it. As I've said many times before, becoming a leader in the community is far more about access to the meatiest challenges and influential practitioners than it is about recognition. I want my work to have the widest possible impact and help as many people as possible, and I believe that in order to maximize my opportunities I need to be visible. This was just my way of doing that. I appreciate your comment and I understand where you're coming from. The term “brand” makes me cringe, too. I use it here though because it is most broadly stands for “public persona,” but I don't necessarily equate that with wealth and commercial success, as you put it. As I've said many times before, becoming a leader in the community is far more about access to the meatiest challenges and influential practitioners than it is about recognition. I want my work to have the widest possible impact and help as many people as possible, and I believe that in order to maximize my opportunities I need to be visible. This was just my way of doing that.

]]> By: Whitney Hess http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3136 Whitney Hess Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:16:02 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3136 I'm not speaking at FOWA, but I'll be there! Hope we find each other and can chat in person. I'm not speaking at FOWA, but I'll be there! Hope we find each other and can chat in person.

]]> By: Whitney Hess http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3137 Whitney Hess Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:15:01 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3137 Sarah, you're so sweet. Trust me, you are a role model to many. It's just the beginning for you. Can't wait to see how you flourish! Sarah, you're so sweet. Trust me, you are a role model to many. It's just the beginning for you. Can't wait to see how you flourish!

]]> By: sarahcooley http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3133 sarahcooley Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:11:07 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3133 I think your view is very accurate. Everyone goes through these steps. You definitely have been a mentor to me and I am grateful for that! I think your view is very accurate. Everyone goes through these steps. You definitely have been a mentor to me and I am grateful for that!

]]> By: Aaron Irizarry http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3132 Aaron Irizarry Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:07:19 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3132 Whitney,<br>Great Read! Thanks for this list very useful in taking personal inventory. I love the idea of developing your person as well as your personal brand. <br><br>I think that as people see something more than just self promotion it ad's value, and legitimacy to what you are saying/doing. <br><br>Life is more fulfilling when you are able to give back and invest.<br><br>Thanks for being transparent, and posting valuable content, that can benefit others personally and professionally.<br><br>I will be at fowa this next week, are you doing any speaking or just attending?<br><br>Aaron I Whitney,
Great Read! Thanks for this list very useful in taking personal inventory. I love the idea of developing your person as well as your personal brand.

I think that as people see something more than just self promotion it ad's value, and legitimacy to what you are saying/doing.

Life is more fulfilling when you are able to give back and invest.

Thanks for being transparent, and posting valuable content, that can benefit others personally and professionally.

I will be at fowa this next week, are you doing any speaking or just attending?

Aaron I

]]> By: bnunnally http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3131 bnunnally Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:54:54 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3131 For me personal brand is related to how much you are valued as a resource by both your industry and your peers. Wealth and commercial success doesn't really play into my overall concept of a personal brand.<br><br>In my attempts to build my personal brand, I try to add relevant and constructive content to the overall community. By doing this, it is my hope that when people are faced with a problem or question they need help with I am one of the resources they reach out to for assistance. Yes, gaining wealth and success may be a by-product of this, but it is not the intended goal. For me personal brand is related to how much you are valued as a resource by both your industry and your peers. Wealth and commercial success doesn't really play into my overall concept of a personal brand.

In my attempts to build my personal brand, I try to add relevant and constructive content to the overall community. By doing this, it is my hope that when people are faced with a problem or question they need help with I am one of the resources they reach out to for assistance. Yes, gaining wealth and success may be a by-product of this, but it is not the intended goal.

]]> By: JamesB http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3130 JamesB Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:29:30 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3130 I find this conflation of personal development and personal brand rather sad. By using 'brand' you're implicitly relating personal development to a commercial metaphor that is synonymous (however much marketeers might disagree) with creating an image which can be used to 'exploit' value. As brands and businesses are increasingly looking to become more human, more personal and learn how to be transparent, it seems odd you seem to have decided to explore the opposite direction. I think some of this may be a cultural difference bt the US and the UK / Europe. In the US there seems to be a far greater acceptance of personal ambition linked to wealth and commercial success, no? I find this conflation of personal development and personal brand rather sad. By using 'brand' you're implicitly relating personal development to a commercial metaphor that is synonymous (however much marketeers might disagree) with creating an image which can be used to 'exploit' value. As brands and businesses are increasingly looking to become more human, more personal and learn how to be transparent, it seems odd you seem to have decided to explore the opposite direction. I think some of this may be a cultural difference bt the US and the UK / Europe. In the US there seems to be a far greater acceptance of personal ambition linked to wealth and commercial success, no?

]]> By: Lea http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3125 Lea Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:44:11 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3125 Hi Whitney, first time reader and first time commenter. Matt Oliphant forwarded me this link and I'm delighted to have discovered the blog. I think the way you've outlined the process one goes through in putting themselves out there is pretty accurate. It also emphasizes that the happy consequence of giving is also receiving.<br><br>That being said, I feel like I've jumped around the hierarchy you've outlined here. I've already touched Level 2 and am striving for Level 1... but I still have trouble in Level 3? I still find it hard to approach a stranger unless they were smiling directly at me in the most non threatening manner or if they said Hi first. After that, I'm okay, but breaching the first hurdle to approach strangers, I still find uncomfortable.<br><br>Meanwhile, I do have a bad habit of Level 6; sticking to people you know and only giving a card when asked.<br><br>I guess what this means is that while climbing the ladder and _knowing_ what to do, and occasionally achieving it, doesn't mean we still don't struggle even with the most basic ways to promote and build our brand. Hi Whitney, first time reader and first time commenter. Matt Oliphant forwarded me this link and I'm delighted to have discovered the blog. I think the way you've outlined the process one goes through in putting themselves out there is pretty accurate. It also emphasizes that the happy consequence of giving is also receiving.

That being said, I feel like I've jumped around the hierarchy you've outlined here. I've already touched Level 2 and am striving for Level 1… but I still have trouble in Level 3? I still find it hard to approach a stranger unless they were smiling directly at me in the most non threatening manner or if they said Hi first. After that, I'm okay, but breaching the first hurdle to approach strangers, I still find uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, I do have a bad habit of Level 6; sticking to people you know and only giving a card when asked.

I guess what this means is that while climbing the ladder and _knowing_ what to do, and occasionally achieving it, doesn't mean we still don't struggle even with the most basic ways to promote and build our brand.

]]> By: Whitney Hess http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3124 Whitney Hess Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:00:54 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3124 Thanks so much for your comment, Michal. It's not about becoming a celebrity, which implies prestige and recognition. Instead for me it's much more about access to the most influential people and meatiest challenges. Glad you enjoyed the post and I hope you put it to work! Thanks so much for your comment, Michal. It's not about becoming a celebrity, which implies prestige and recognition. Instead for me it's much more about access to the most influential people and meatiest challenges. Glad you enjoyed the post and I hope you put it to work!

]]> By: Personal Branding « Soy un curioso http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/02/18/maimonides-eight-levels-of-charity-applied-to-building-your-personal-brand/comment-page-1/#comment-3113 Personal Branding « Soy un curioso Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:15:46 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=745#comment-3113 [...] Hoy os dejo la versión de Whitney Hess: [...]

[...] Hoy os dejo la versión de Whitney Hess: [...]

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