www.brandcamp.us/t-shirt-challenge/, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

Calling all Rock Stars. Designers. Creatives.

Are you tired of going to conferences and getting whack t-shirts that never see the light of day? Assist us in fighting the design disease of terrible t-shirt-itis. It is a chronic epidemic that attacks conferences, universities, and organizations worldwide with the explosion of terrible t-shirts. Millions of dollars are wasted each year on t-shirts that should never be printed. Create artwork that will live on forever by designing the first ever ‘BrandCamp University’ t-shirt.

* Submit your ideas to the Brand Camp University Flickr Group:

PRIZES

* $100 (US) cashier’s check.
* Free registration for one to attend the 2008 BrandCamp University- Detroit.
* Become internet famous.
* Become a friend of Hajj E. Flemings (Priceless)
* Recognition for designing the BCU T-shirt.
* A free BCU T-shirt with the winning design.

DEADLINE FOR DESIGN SUBMISSION

September 1, 2008
DESIGN CRITERIA
T-Shirt Design Requirements:

* Number of colors: 3-Colors (Max)
* Designs must be on colored t-shirt (No white T’s)
* Print Location: Front
* All designs should be based around the conference theme: Brand Camp University- Detroit, Personal Branding 2.0 Conference: Integrate ‘08
* Brand Camp University Colors: Orange + Gray (Just a note!)

This blog series ‘My Brand Story’ takes a look at some of the world’s most interesting and intriguing brands. I recently conducted a phone interview with Isaiah Washington and have greater insight into Isaiah, the person/the brand, not just the actor.

Who is Isaiah Washington? When asked, most people would immediately define him as an actor due to his powerful portrayals on stage and in movies. However, there is much more than meets the screen. Actor. Activist. Philanthropist. Father. Husband. All nouns that define him, but with each one a different meaning, a different role, a different responsibility, a different challenge.

Webster’s dictionary defines an actor as one who represents a character in a dramatic production or a theatrical performer.

At 23-years of age, he was in between jobs and searching for direction. He had just finished serving in the United States Air Force and was planning to attend the University of Maryland. It is at this point Isaiah had his defining moment. The light of direction and purpose came on when he saw Spike Lee’s, ‘She’s Got To Have It’. Compelled to go to Howard University, he went in search of the Howard Players - a theater company started by Ossie Davis that existed 40-years earlier. He ended up in a classroom on campus, looking at a picture on the wall of the Howard Players  (now an internationally renowned marching band). Feeling stuck but on a mission, he enrolled in the university, with the ultimate goal of becoming an actor.

The Power of Words

As an actor, words are an important component of Isaiah’s being. As we talked, I gained greater insight into how the power of words has had impacted his life.

o A friend challenged him to audition for a gospel play, ‘Frank & Beans,’ while he was working at IBM as a temp. He auditioned and got the role.

o In 1988, while working as a founding member of City Kids Repertory, a youth came up to him and said matter-of-factly, “You don’t smoke crack.” With a puzzled look on his face, Isaiah asked the youth what he meant.  “You look different.”  This had a profound impact on his life by challenging his personal discipline and reinforcing the importance of saying ‘No’.

o Grey’s Anatomy a successful run impacted by words.

o Dr. Rick Kittles told him his DNA is linked to the country of Sierra Leone. Isaiah traced his maternal ancestry back to discover he is of Mende descent and makes the decision to visit his ancestral homeland.

In a series of events, the power of words has marked his path. His life is much more than a theatrical production to be contained in a single character on television. As a personal brand, you can’t compartmentalize your personal life and your professional work. Isaiah’s purpose as an African-American actor is to transcend boundaries, portray characters with multiple layers, and make a positive change through his artistry. In September, he will meet with Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic Sierra Leone, as he continues to build his relationship with his homeland.

As a father, he understands how his decisions affect the lives of his children. They attend private school and don’t watch much television. Isaiah advocates experience, the importance of having a beat up passport and a world view of life. His oldest son has traveled to 23-cities, 9-countries, and has had a passport since he was 3-months old.

On a global level, he spends a lot of time with charitable organizations. Inspired by the discovery of his direct genetic link to the Mende people of Sierra Leone, The Gondobay Manga Foundation was born. His foundation advocates cooperative planning to achieve positive, timely improvements in the lives of the people of Sierra Leone.

As I look at Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey, they have both moved beyond making money. They are focused on making a difference and living a life of significance. Significance is not a paycheck. Significance is not a role. It is the legacy you leave. It is the footprint you make and the lives you impact. After talking to Isaiah, I could sense the same focus with a desire to live a life of significance.

The power of words has definitely steered Isaiah Washington’s life. If we truly reflect on our lives, the power of words has changed us all.

What’s your brand story?
Isaiah Washington (My Brand Story Blog Post) Originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings

How important is fashion + style + time to personal branding? Today, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts. I was out shopping over the holiday weekend and I discovered this watch for $95. If you need to get to your next meeting or interview on time and in style, the Fossil JR9641 is a great device to measure time which is the currency of life.

Peter Drucker said, ‘Know thy time.’   Hajj said, ‘Know thy style.’

Fossil Watch JR9642, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

Where in the world did the phrase ‘elevator speech’ come from? When was the last time you actually talked to someone on the elevator, try like never. You enter the elevator when the door opens, getting on trying not to make eye contact with anyone, and purposing not to invade people’s personal space. You are waiting anxiously for the door to open at your floor so you can exit. It is an unwritten rule, a code of honor that we all unconsciously follow. The phrase ‘elevator speech’ (a.k.a. Message-2-the world) is your 30-second message communicating who you are and what makes you significant packaged in an unforgettable way.

Every person (personal brand) will have an audience of one with a person of influence. But the question is what will you say? Will you be prepared? Will you tell that person your life’s story or your brand story (read the blog post, My Brand Story)? Your message-2-the world is the platform for your personal brand to stand out and be distinctive.

What is your message-2-the world?

‘My Brand Story’ is a new series that I will blog about telling inspiring stories of some of the world’s greatest brands. Of course my story is first.

What is a brand story? It is who you are packaged in an organic and authentic way that allows people to connect with the real you. Now, what you all have been waiting for my brand story . . . Relax, get a cup of Starbucks (White Chocolate Mocha of course) or Voss bottled water as I take you through the Genesis of the Hajj E. Flemings brand story. I grew up in a small town Roseville, Michigan with big dreams of being a gym shoe designer. When I was in high school, I had a passion for sketching sneakers. I started writing Nike during my senior year of high school and continued through my junior year of college without a positive response (I also wrote every footwear company in United States and was rejected by them all). The rejection letters I received from Nike serve as an inspiration and reminder that motivates me to this day. I found that wrapped inside of every ‘no’ was my ‘yes’. In 1992, I began working for Mavade Footwear, a growing sneaker company, in Wixom, Michigan where I designed the Equator, a cross trainer shoe. My book, ‘The Brand YU Life: Re-Thinking who you are through personal brand management’ was birthed out of my necessity to identify my purpose and live my dreams.

The Purpose of a Brand Story:
o Definition- It provides meaning, perspective, and focus to your life.

o Connection- People are emotionally connected to their favorite brands which is most effectively communicated through a story. As a mental realtor it is your job to own a slice of mental real estate in the mind of your customer.

o Value- Your story has the potential to increase your value and can effectively position your personal brand.

In conclusion, my brand story is about inspiring people to live a life of significances. I love assisting people and businesses in finding innovative solutions for common problems. I believe you will be defined in life by the size of the problem that you solve and addressing the issue of significances is a hugh undertaking with tremendous return. What is your brand story?

My Brand Story: Hajj E. Flemings, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

Developing a successful personal brand must be build authentically. Character is the fundamental cornerstone that every personal brand must be built upon, over time it will reveal who you really are. There is a lot of talk about reputation and how important it is to build. This blog post is about the great debate of character vs. reputation.

Character vs. Reputation

Reputation is an external assessment by others, which can be accurate or inaccurate.
The problem with focusing on reputation versus character is that it is an external perception and doesn’t get to the core of your personal brand.

What is character? Character is defined as the stable and distinctive set of internal qualities or moral attributes build into an individual’s life, which will determine his/her attitudes and behaviors in life’s circumstance. Simply put it is who we really are and how we act when no one is watching. The beautiful thing about character is that it is a learned behavior that can be developed.

Your personal brand mandates that you have high moral character, live according to a defined set of values, and dedicate yourself to a meaningful purpose. By understanding and embracing these qualities, you can position your personal brand to be respected and sought after.

Reputation is a by-product of character. You can have a great reputation and poor character and over time your personal brand will deteriorate regardless of the external assessment of others. Having great character with a distorted external perception of who you are, you can still build a good reputation. Poor character tarnishes good reputation and great accomplishments. Roger Clemens one of the greatest pitchers of modern history is linked with extramarital affairs and steroids allegations which have tarnished his reputation. Almost daily we read about politicians, businessman, and athletes with undeveloped character that impacts their personal brand negatively.

In developing good character thing about four things:

1. Think before you commit.
2. Realize that everything that you do will come to light.
3. Understand that character is a learned behavior that can be developed.
4. Realize that character not reputation is the true essence of who you are.

Remember the sustainability of your personal brand long-term is directly linked to your commitment to developing good character.

After 5 Detroit one of the hottest online websites about Detroit and events around the region recently did a write up about me in their, ‘We Chose Detroit’ section. The write-up focuses on me as a local brand strategist who has chosen the city of Detroit. I am committed to assisting in the branding of individuals and the city of Detroit. Check out the article it is a great piece (hit the link below).  For the latest happenings in the ‘D’ check out their website as well.

http://after5detroit.com/a5/features/we-chose-detroit-local-speaker-brands-the-best.html

Did ‘The Brand YU Life’ book cover inspire the new NBA commercial (‘There Can Only Be One’) or the new Time magazine cover design with Hillary and Barack. Who knows? Nevertheless, all three are great designs.

After researching the design direction of the commercial I found the following statement from the NBA:
“There Can Only Be One” is designed to bring to life the dedication, desire, and sacrifice that create the intense emotions and drama of one of sport’s premier postseason events: the NBA Playoffs & The Finals.

When I saw the ads the first thing I thought about was the dedication, desire, and sacrifice required to operate in your purpose as a personal brand. The split faces represented to me the split personalities that most people have: one of a person trying to get a particular job and not being fulfilled and the other operating in their purpose and loving what they do.

My reason for being a personal brand strategist is that I was tired of just working a job and wanted to live my passion and operate in my purpose. Operating in your purpose is the highest calling of personal branding opposed to just getting a job. Positions can be filled, people can be replaced, but ‘There is only one’ who can fill your purpose.

There Can Only Be One, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

I recently watched a commercial entitled ‘When You Let Everyone Play…Nobody Wins’ by ‘The Ladders’ which is an online job search provider for $100K+ jobs. The commercial embodied a topic that I planned to write on for a while that I term, ‘Maximum Capacity’. The video is a scene of a tennis match that is soon flooded with amateurs/people so that no one stands out. Have you ever felt in life and at work that it is impossible to stand out it the crowd? This video is funny but it is very real and very true. With the changing job market, downsizing, and outsourcing we all at times feel like we are stuck. There are more than 6.5 billion people on the planet and you are a mouse click away from your farthest competitor, so how do you stand out?

Personal branding is the new human capital, I will be developing a series of blog post on this topic covering the following content:

o Human Connections (Relationships)
o What’s my Human Capital?
o Your brand story

I will talk about how to develop your personal brand to increase your new human capital.
Are you ready to stand out?

Hello and I would like to welcome you to the 2008 Personal Branding Election. My name is Hajj Flemings and I am campaigning to be your personal brand strategist in 2008. Part of my charge is to help the American people to become more globally competitive. I believe that this is a season of change. I believe that common, average, everyday, working class people such as you and me can get uncommon results in their life.
My Platform
1. My platform is one of anti-abortion. I am tired of people aborting the vision and destiny for their life.
2. The price of Oil is increasing at an alarming rate. I am running into people everyday whose dreams have simply run out of gas, who don’t have the fuel to finish the race. I am here to restore hope, passion, purpose, and mission to all people of all races, all creeds, and nationalities.
3. War is Heavy on the hearts of many American- Many of you are @ war with the real you. Fighting who you were created to be.
4. Health Care is a major issue my personal branding plan is to restore the health of your personal brand.I have developed a 7-point Brand Plan:
1. Identify your Passion
2. Define your Mission
3. Count the Cost
4. Create your Voice

Let’s pause for a moment. Hilary was recently quoted on the cover of Newsweek, saying that ‘She has found her voice’. America Hilary is 60-years old, please don’t wait until you are 60 to find your voice. Had she just read my book. ‘The Brand YU Life’ she would have found her voice a long time ago.

5. Develop your Core
6. Be Authentic
7. Shift to Now

Go to my website and purchase my book, ‘The brand YU Life’ which outlines my plan to develop your personal brand. Vote for me as your personal brand strategist. My name is Hajj E. Flemings, your personal brand strategist and I approve this message.