Business Book Review: You are the Brand by Mike Kim
Kim masterfully makes living your messaging, loving your work and leaving your mark on the world simple. That takes genius.
My Rating: ★★★★★
Length: 220 pages
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Released: June 2021
Favourite takeout for personal branding
Mike Kim’s best-seller, You are the Brand is a gold mine of practical and actionable wisdom. And is born from his experience working with world-class thought leaders. But one idea, in particular, stands out with genius simplicity.
It’s a concept you’ve likely heard described by others in one form or another. Have a key yearly focus. Valuable advice. Yet, also something you are likely to easily forget. Kim takes the same message and makes it unforgettable.
“Build your business like a Chinese Zodiac.”
The Zodiac system focuses on one animal each year. On the topic of ‘platform’, Kim adopts this approach. Advocating for focusing on one key area of business per year e.g.
The Year of the Blog
The Year of Book Writing
The Year of Speaking
He then focuses on adding a new addition to the lineup every year.
The hyper-focused compounding system builds habits, skills and experience for lasting impact.
Favourite Quotes
Music is like math—it’s replicable because there is form and structure to it. But music is also art—it touches the heart. It’s a lot like marketing!
Personal branding simply expands branding to include a person’s ideas, expertise, reputation, and personality.
For so much of our lives, we see ourselves through the lens of a company, organization, or role rather than the skills we possess or who we inherently are.
Live your message, love your work, leave your mark on the world.
“Blender gray” is exactly how our brands look if we’re not intentional about using personal stories in our marketing.
Whenever you are in someone else’s head, no one else is taking care of yours. Focus on what matters.
When you open doors for others, more doors open for you…Even if a doorman feels passed over, he sees everything. He knows everyone. He is observant, patient, well-mannered, and knows more than people think he does.
In the book, Kim describes a friend asking him a simple question. “What feeling do you want the reader to get when they read your book?” Kim’s answer - “Finally!” His mission is to make readers feel they have finally found what they were looking for. A step-by-step guide that would help them get to where they want to go.
Kim’s relatable writing feels like a friend guiding you through his experience. Magnificently putting the ‘personal’ in personal branding. If the Einstein effect is making complex ideas simple, this book is that. His approach is restlessly empathetic to readers. The hallmark of a writer truly trying to serve his audience.
Finally! is how I felt reading Kim’s book.
You are the Brand by Mike Kim: Available on Amazon.
