LIVE CHAT WITH TIMOTHY MAURICE WEBSTER – 13 AUGUST 2009 Nazleyo: Hi everyone. Welcome to the live chat with international brand philosopher Timothy Maurice Webster. Nazleyo: The chat takes place in real time and Timothy will do his best to answer everyone’s questions. Nazleyo: Okay, let’s begin. Timweb: Hi Naz, thanks for moderating! Gillb: Zahra asks: In my line of work, I often have to attend work functions. I am always the youngest, least experienced person in the room and I struggle to work the room. How can I do this effectively? Timweb: Use your youth to your advantage and share new ideas and new innovations that will assist. Nazleyo: Kim asks: What should companies do to encourage effective mentorships, without mentors feeling insecure about their jobs and mentees acting like it is their right to be mentored? Timweb: Great question, Kim. The first thing I recommend is for companies to ask mentors to discuss what they think they can offer that is unique to them. This is an admirable approach that will suggest that they are appreciated and not being challenged or threatened. Then I recommend the mentees acknowledge that the experience of the mentor has a lot of value that they could benefit from. Nazleyo: Thami asks: Once you have done something that may be damaging to your personal brand, how can you go about rectifying this? Timweb: It’s called personal innovation. Acknowledge publicly that you made the mistake, then speak specifically about the new you and demonstrate evidence of the new you publicly as well. Then be patient! Nazleyo: Joan asks: How do you articulate a consistent ‘Personal Message’? Timweb: Align yourself with networks such as Facebook, newsletters, blogs etc. Then promote your three highest values. If you value writing, keep that at the top of your value system on a consistent basis! Nazleyo: Mandy: What was the most life-altering moment in your career? Timweb: Moving to SA! Nazleyo: Candice asks: What is the best way to market yourself?
Timweb: By firstly being authentic and then creating a PR strategy that is focused and innovative. Nazleyo: Lindy asks: Why is personal branding important? Timweb: Personal branding tells your story for you. It gives your values a platform and ultimately works for you even when you are asleep. It also increases your value, which increases your perceived worth. Nazleyo: Rochelle asks: I have to attend a fancy banquet next week and I’m nervous about the table etiquette. What should I do? Timweb: Research business function etiquette on the Internet, there’s lots of information available. Nazleyo: Michelle asks: Why did you move to SA and how does it differ to working in the US? Timweb: I moved here following a beautiful woman and then fell in love with the opportunities. I still work between SA and New York. SA offers the best opportunities in the world for personal change! Queenb: I am a new entrepreneur and while building my company brand, I am also trying to build my personal brand. How can I tackle this without confusing one with the other and still succeed at establishing both? Timweb: Find the values between your brand and your company’s brand and promote them simultaneously. Gillb: Nompumelelongubeni asks: It’s very easy to create a false personal brand because of how you wants to be perceived, but how do you go about finding your best qualities and putting those forward as part of building your personal brand? Timweb: The areas you are most passionate about and skilled at – that’s what you should be putting forward! Mjakajaka: Howzit Tim, personal branding seems to be a materialistic notion as it requires a certain degree of investment in material things. Should one not be investing in one’s personality instead, as it is a longer-lasting investment? Timweb: Personal branding is not materialistic at all. In fact, it’s about positioning your story, which deserves investment on many levels: how you present yourself, your network and your vision, goals etc. Gillb: Sixolisiwe: Who does personal branding apply to: business people or the average worker trying to make an impression? Timweb: Everyone has a brand. Some people have 10 stakeholders, others have 10 million. You need to realise that the way everyone reacts to you, even your kids, is because of how they perceive you. Nazleyo: Takudzwa asks: What are you future plans?
Timweb: To write more, design more and speak more! I have a new book coming out, published by Pan Macmillan, that keeps me busy at the moment. Then I’m headed to New York to seek funding for a documentary. SA is exciting! Nazleyo: Stacey asks: How can you ensure that your personal brand is bulletproof? Timweb: By focusing on three things: 1. Enticing the market with huge value that they need. 2. Staying focused on what you do best. 3. Aligning with solid partners who add additional value and protection. Nazleyo: Fehrana asks: What was the biggest mistake you made in your career? Timweb: The biggest mistake has to be underestimating the difference in doing business in SA and New York. The pace is different, but I have learned to adjust! Hazelmoyo: Hi Tim. How does a strong personal brand impact on the overall success of an organisation? Timweb: Imagine Nelson Mandela is CEO and SA is the organisation... there is your answer! People stay in SA because of how they see Mandela’s brand. Gillb: Sixolisiwe asks: Please elaborate on the steps on that I can follow to build a personal brand. Timweb: 1. Know and cultivate your unique value. 2. Research the market. 3. Give the market what they need. 4. Be willing to sacrifice. 5. Develop a strong partner base. 6. Be willing to re-invent yourself. 7. Honour your relationships. 8. Understand the power of traditional networking and social networking. 9. Blog, blog, blog. 10. Blog, blog, blog and blog! Nompumelelongubeni: How do you tell between a genuine personal brand and one that’s superficial? Timweb: Watch the brand consistently – fake ones will expose themselves! Nazleyo: Zodwa asks: I usually speak really well, but when in business meetings I often stammer and come across as wishy washy. How can I overcome this? Timweb: Practice Zodwa, more practice! My first time speaking was in church and the pastor stopped me, I was so bad! I kept volunteering to do it until I got better at it. Gillb: Sixolisiwe asks: Be willing to sacrifice what exactly and what strong partner-base should I develop? Timweb: Example: sacrifice means to be willing to give up some of your non-essentials such as watching TV. Great people spend more time at developing their skills. If you are a writer, then DESTINY magazine is a good partner, if you are an athlete, Nike is a good partner! Hazelmoyo: How do you, as an established author, keep yourself inspired while inspiring through your writing?
Nompumelelongubeni: Wow! Timweb: I listen to people’s stories. But firstly you must value people enough to listen. We are doing a leadership program currently in Hillbrow in Jo’burg’s CBD and an HIV/Aids orphan came up to me to tell her story. She couldn’t believe I listened. She is dying, but her life is still valuable. That gives me tons of inspiration! Nazleyo: Refilwe asks: I just graduated with my degree in fashion, but I don’t know anyone in the industry. How can I network with people I don’t know? Timweb: There are a million fashion weeks in this town! Just go and meet until you can’t meet anymore. Nazleyo: Kelisiwe asks: If there was one thing that held you back, what was it? How did you overcome it? Timweb: The only thing that ever held me back was how I saw myself. So I continue to re-program how I see myself – even now, on a daily basis I challenge how I see myself regularly. Gillb: Sixolisiwe asks: What keeps you humble and down to earth? Timweb: Knowing that God gave me a gift and He only gave it to me to uplift others. I didn’t give myself the gift. Hazelmoyo: Truly inspirational, if there was one piece of advice in terms of branding you would give to corporate SA and youth in general, what would that be? Timweb: We have all been slapped with labels that are not necessarily true or befitting us. SA was given a label of being crime-ridden, black people are given a label of always being late… The key thing is to be willing to re-label yourself. Nazleyo: Nonto asks: What do you enjoy most about your job? Timweb: Connecting with people and watching them grow. Watching people light up! I love that. Gillb: Emily asks: Where do you draw the line between building a personal brand and coming across as conceited? Timweb: Drawing the line between a big brand and being conceited is to show how your story, no matter how large it gets, is designed to inspire others. Think Oprah! Nazleyo: Noleen asks: I just want to know what and who inspires you? Timweb: I am inspired by you and the fact that you logged on to chat. This inspires me everyday. Ordinary people who know they are extraordinary deep inside!
Gillb: Sixolisiwe asks: How do you define personal branding? Is it in how people perceive you or by your personal achievements? Timweb: Personal branding is broken down into two essential quadrants: How you see yourself (selfbrand) and how others see you (perceived brand). You have to bridge that gap with your desired stakeholders. Gillb: Zamantungwa asks: Where do I begin in branding myself? When starting a business, how do you incorporate your personal brand to it? Timweb: You can start by leveraging your existing equity (or the area where you have strengths) and selling them to banks, friends, silent investors, the media etc. This will bring attention to your company personal equity, which is very important. Just knowing your story can inspire potential stakeholders to believe in your company. Think Khanyi Dhlomo! Hazelmoyo: Why did you choose branding, design and speaking? What was the motivation behind it? Timweb: It’s what I enjoy, but also because my background is in branding, psychology and design. I am inspired by internal values and the external execution of those values. Think iPod – they have internal value, but they make the value sexy. I want to bring sexy and luxury back to caring. Nazleyo: Anna asks: What motivates you? Do you have an idol? Timweb: I don’t have an idol, but I am motivated by ordinary people becoming extraordinary! Gillb: Jane asks: When should you start building a personal brand? School, university or work? Is it ever too early? Timweb: Never too early! A baby has a brand. The problem is that the parent is the one in control, but as soon as you have the control, take it to wherever you desire it to go. Nazleyo: Lelanie asks: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? And what’s your motto? Timweb: Wow, you guys ask great questions! My motto is “Challenge what you think about yourself – chances are you are thinking it because you were programmed to think it.” The best advice was probably by my friend Dr. Demartini who is in The Secret. He said: “Always give it all you got, no matter how small the platform!” Gillb: Sixolisiwe asks: Where did it all begin for you, was it chance or choice? Timweb: Choice. A choice to take the label my father gave me (manufacturer) and re-label or re-crown myself as author, speaker and designer. It wasn’t easy, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done! Gillb: Zamantungwa asks: Any books you can recommend for someone embarking on a journey to build personal brand?
Timweb: My first book: Thinking About YOU is available at Exclusive Books or www.timothymaurice.com Hazelmoyo: Thanks Tim, this is really insightful. In your own interpretation, how true is the adage it takes a village to raise a child, and how important is it to instill strong branding values within the children in our societies, given your work with the community? Timweb: The community is everything. I am scared, though, in SA. My friend who teaches at Stanford said that it takes one successful person every 2km’s to ensure you have a healthy society, and in SA, people want to move from neighbourhoods that are challenging, leaving townships desolate. This leaves the kids there with few people to look up to. We have to re-engineer this somehow. The village is important: it just seems people are forgetting about the village! Gillb: Sixolisiwe asks: You are in a league of your own – how did you build your success? Nazleyo: Tasneem asks: Is it acceptable to wear jeans and sneakers to work? I hate corporate attire! Timweb: Well, I don’t think I’m in a league of my own. SA has some unbelievable talent and successful people and I am humbled by them. But as I said in my column in The Star yesterday, it’s all about relationships. I honour relationships and pay homage to them. I have sneakers and a blazer on today. :) Hazelmoyo: Thanks for the great answers and for taking the time to chat to us. Timweb: Thank you! Nazleyo: Megan asks: When meeting a potential employer, how do you make the best first impression? Timweb: Before you go, check out their values, then align your values accordingly. The key is to know how they speak and what they care about and to then align your conversation accordingly. Know more than them about what they do, it will blow them away! Gillb: Bertha Modisakeng asks: How important is maintaining humility when you’re building your personal brand? How do you stay grounded and authentic? Timweb: Earlier in the chat, I said it’s important to demonstrate how your brand’s mission is ultimately designed to uplift others. So Bertha, help others along the way and you will be grounded. Nazleyo: Lee-Anne asks: Does anyone else’s work blow you away? Timweb: Yes, so many people: Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Thebe Ikalafeng, and many more! Lona: What would you say is an absolute no-no when it comes to personal branding? Timweb: Trying to be like someone else – carbon copies never last!
Lona: How long did it take you to get to a place where you were happy with the brand that is TIM? Timweb: I am inspired by my own growth. When I first moved to SA, I used to butcher people’s names. I have gotten so much better and am still growing. Even now, on my radio show on Monday’s on Radio2000, I still get nervous when certain people call in. But I am working damn hard! Gillb: Zamantungwa asks: my current brand is leaning more towards helping others than generating income for me. I want to change that, so I guess it is about researching and finding a business model for my personal brand? Timweb: Yes, but you can also connect with CSI departments and foundations and government, there are big budgets in helping others. Nazleyo: Unia asks: What is the first thing you notice about people in a corporate environment? Do first impressions last? Timweb: First impressions are your opening argument. Like an attorney giving her opening case, you have to establish your case upfront or you will find yourself being undermined, overlooked or taken for granted and working unnecessarily hard to have your value acknowledged. That’s what brands do; they work for your value. Gillb: Petra asks: As a business owner, how closely aligned must your corporate brand be with your personal brand? Timweb: Think Branson. He walks on the edge and so does his business! If you have a strong personal brand, use it! If not, no big deal, focus on your business values. Nazleyo: Ferial asks: I come from a traditionally coloured area and I have an accent that isn’t common in a corporate environment. I also have problems with my grammar. How can I come across as well spoken as my colleagues? Timweb: Ferial, you must work hard on it. Take your time, pause regularly, but don’t worry too much, use it to make people smile as you grow! Gillb: Lisa asks: If I’m insecure and still want to build a personal brand, how do I get over the insecurity? Timweb: Lisa, KNOW YOUR VALUE! The security will come. Get it out there. Allow yourself to affirm and others to affirm its value. Nazleyo: Five minutes left guys. Last few questions please! Lona: Any tips on how to get over a fear of public speaking? Timweb: Moderator, be nice to my friends :) Lona, go practise. Practise in your mirror, and find audiences to share with. I still practise when I am driving. Do it over and over again!
Nazleyo: Stacey: What are you reading at the moment? Timweb: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Gillb: Fran asks: How do you find motivation when you lack energy? Timweb: I focus on my goals and vision. I think about my story and that speaks to my mirror neurons and subconsciously my brain starts to export better energy. :) Lona: Will do – thanks for taking time to chat to us. You are an inspiration! Nazleyo: Pearl asks: Is there any value in having spokespeople endorse your brand? And why? Timweb: Yes, there is huge value. It shows that someone is willing to be an ambassador for you besides you! Timweb: Thanks Lona! Nazleyo: That’s all we have time for, guys! Thanks for all your questions. All unanswered questions can be submitted in the Q&A section on the Mentorship programme. Timweb: Thanks everyone, visit my website www.timothymaurice.com or add me on Twitter (@ timothymaurice) or Facebook. Nazleyo: Thanks for your questions and thanks Timothy! Have a great day!