Developing Your Personal Brand Without Promoting Yourself By Ronald Hedley
In 2001, when Dana Gerenda was a senior at Easter Illinois College, she won the Phi Sigma Honor Society Research Award for her genetic research project entitled “Microsatellite Primers Tested for Variation in A” She recalled her research project experience. “I did a lot of testing of DNA using electrophoresis gels to understand the mating patterns of flies and gnats. I showed how a female could mate with a male and save, per se, multiple male sperm.” In her groundbreaking research, Gerenda discovered that the female gnat (or fly) “selected” the sperm that would fertilize her eggs. Gerenda had no idea that her professor had submitted her research project for the Phi Sigma award, and she was shocked when she was named the winner. Young Gerenda may not have known it at the time, but her work with gnats and flies was the inoculation in the petri dish of life that would be the catalyst for the growth and development of her personal brand. “You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.” -Jeff Bezos
Almost 20 years later, Dana Gerenda is now Dana Small. Her name has changed, but her belief in hard work and humility remains. She credits her Midwest upbringing for her values. “To me, a ‘Midwest value’ is honest integrity. You don’t need to brag. You need to put your nose to the grindstone and put in a hard day’s work. This is very Midwest. You don’t need to go around telling everyone how great you are,” she explained.
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