Bernie Madoff NewYorker Magazine, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

America Made Madoff.  Bernie Madoff gets sentenced 150 years in jail for stealing $50B (up to $160B) of people’s life savings. The U.S. financial system is build on a house of cards which allowed him to do what he was doing for years. If he wasn’t so over the top when would this have ended? We are taught to live the American dream (purchase cars from bankrupt U.S. Automakers (Ford is the exception right @ScottMonty), purchase homes that are overvalued, and work a job until death do you part for a company that will downsize you before you get that gold watch). One of the problems that I see is that we make people icons that are bigger than life that at some point they will never be able to live up to those expectations.

What price are you willing to pay for financial success? Are you willing to live your dreams at any cost? As a personal brand if you show me a person with no character I will show you a failure waiting to happen.

The most important attributes in personal development are the things that people don’t want to work on, like Character. To often we chase things that sacrifice who we are for the pursuit of fame and fortune.

I will leave you with this point. The Most Important Personal Branding Tip is Character Development. PEROID. I understand you would rather work on a Facebook profile or add followers in Twitter, but strongly consider the words of this post.

Michael Jackson, originally uploaded by houlouis.

The King of Pop. Thriller. The White glove. The Leather jacket. The moonwalk. Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers and most influential artist to ever live. As I learned of his DEATH I began to think about the imprint that his LIFE made on so many people.

As a personal brand strategist I think in terms of legacy and human currency versus just dollars. There was a point in time where I thought it was more important to sell a million books then it hit me that it was more important to change a million lives, thus my mission changed to, ‘To inspire a million people to live a life of significance.

Let Michael Jackson life as an entertainer challenge you to think about the imprint that your life will leave. My question to you is what is your legacy? Your answer will be determined by what history says about the quality of life you lived.

Remember your life will be defined by the Dash ( -).

LeBron + Nike, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

With Plaxico Burress, Sean Avery, and Michael Vick’s recent incidents the value of personal branding has become a hot topic. Character, corporate brand image (leagues), and poor judgment are becoming PR nightmares for the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and NCAA.

Professional athletes are no different than the average person who suddenly comes into a lot of money and fame, which are magnets to things, people, and substances that can kill dreams. The idea for this blog post was birthed from a recent training session with the Detroit Lions lead by Char Goodsby and myself (and recorded by ESPN) called, Lions rookies go to charm school.

The Making of the Brand: The Professional Athlete
(Listed below are some random thoughts that are central to the making of the brand.)

o Passion: It is an athletes passion, drive, and competitive edge that’s draws us to them.
o Visual Identity: An athletes number on their uniform (Identity), being physically fit, and their athletic prowess.
o Going PRO: Doing what they were born /created to do and making a living at it.
o Field/Arena: The place where athletes hone their skills, where they perform, and display their greatness.
o Performance: The countless hours of development when no one is watching to perform under pressure, making big plays, and winning championships.
o Marketing: Endorsement deals (i.e. LeBron with Nike), Jersey sales, etc.
o Style/Swagger: It is how they wear their uniform, their confidence, personality, and how they carry themselves. It is the way they do what they do.

Reasons Athletes Need Personal Branding

o Targeted: Athletes change tax brackets seemingly overnight and walk around with bull eyes on their chest without a solid grasp of personal branding to help them navigate the treacherous waters.
o On Camera 24/7: Athletes have to monitor every move that they make and every word that they say. They are one soundbite or decision away from destroying their professional athletic careers.
o Risk: The risk of not optimizing their earning potential is too great to not handle professionally.
o To Shift their Paradigm: They have to view themselves as a player professional with a highly developed brand.

Think of the extreme scrutiny athletes have to endure. Imagine if you had to manage every aspect of your personal brand in a public forum, but in the web 2.0 world you and I will have to deal with the same issues. Interesting!!!

At the end of the day athletes are human beings like anybody else and they need development. Their performance on the field is typically not the issue it is the development of things that are non-related to their vocation that impacts them the most. I believe that athletes are the perfect metaphor for personal branding because every aspect of their life is amplified and lived in a public domain 24-hours per day.

For every athlete that doesn’t get it there is a LeBron, Tiger, or David Beckham that does.  I truly believe that if a person views themselves through the eyes of an athlete they would think and act differently. Athletes are the ultimate personal brand and I want to leave you with this thought, think of your self as a corporate athlete (the ultimate personal brand). It is time for you to perform in your field! As a corporate athlete it is time to be elite!

Hajj E. Flemings on ESPN, originally uploaded by Hajj Flemings.

With the recent incidents with Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick, and Pacman Jones the NFL has become increasing aware of the need to teach their players about personal branding. ESPN recently recorded a session that included the Academy of Protocol & Intelligence and myself (Hajj E. Flemings- Author of ‘The Brand YU Life’) working with the Detroit Lions rookies on Etiquette/Personal Branding.

We spent 5-hours with the team after practice providing information to help them manage their personal brand.  Most of us realize that it is the small things in life that impact the big.  Also had the opportunity to meet Jemele Hill an ESPN columnist that  I follow which was great.  To see the video footage clip or read the article written by Jemele Hill  Lions rookies go to charm school.

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

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.

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.

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.

This year’s Cinderella team is lead by the tournament’s most impressive player, Stephen Curry. He has had a ridiculous tournament, scoring 30, 40, and 33 points respectively. The ‘Curry Powered’ Davidson team has added flavor to the tournament. Their basketball program was virtually unknown nationally prior to March Madness, but the team’s incredible run has spiced up the month of March.

Now, the nation is watching. LeBron James was in attendance (near the Davidson section) at the Sweet Sixteen games in Detroit. Ironically, many of the Davidson fans were wearing the Nike, ‘I am a Witness’ t-shirt. As a fan at Ford Field Friday night, I sported my Davidson t-shirt and watched in amazement as the brand story of Stephen Curry unfolds.

Every personal brand has a story and Stephen Curry is no different. He started out as the son of a NBA sharpshooter and volleyball mom who was overlooked by major D-1 basketball programs and now he is the ambassador of the ‘The Davidson’ brand. As a personal brand Stephen Curry has put his permanent stamp on the Davidson basketball program, the NCAA, and college sports. Stephen Curry is one of four college players to ever score 30-points or more in their first four NCAA tournament games (including last years game against Maryland).

How far will the ‘Curry Powered’ Davidson Cats go? Only time will tell….

To Stephen, keep shooting the lights out and destroying NCAA brackets!!!

Stephen Curry Originally uploaded by j_visser

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has planned his first appearance since the text message incident broken last week. His press conference is scheduled for tonight at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit, MI.
A lot has transpired over the last week and many questions have yet to be answered.

Does your personal life affect your business life? This is a question that gets raised often, as a personal brand I don’t believe you can divide the two. There are countless cases where inappropriate decisions or character has cost people their careers and/or future earnings. As you elevate your personal life becomes less and less personal and people demand greater access, right, wrong, or indifferent it comes with the territory. Political officials are highly visible personal brands who are compensated by tax dollars, which requires them to live in a fishbowl. In this day in age you truly have to live your life as if you are on camera 24/7, with technology you are one sound bit, video clip, or text message (no pun intended) away from impacting the reputation of your personal brand.

He’s already branded, ‘The Hip-Hop Mayor’, can his reputation be impacted any further? What will his legacy be as the Mayor of Detroit? Can he re-brand himself? Will his effectiveness be compromised? Is he still capable? Will he have support? Can he be trusted? Can he be re-elected? Is his image tarnished? Are there any other issues that need to be addressed?

Does his personal life hamper his ability to function effectively as Mayor? In many cases people lose opportunities not because of their technical ability to carry out their responsibilities, but on issues that are non-related. Personal branding is anything but personal, it is how you personally package and position yourself for public presentation. Tonight the Mayor will address Detroit’s Nightmare.  Let me know your thoughts.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick  Originally uploaded by Sybil Star