2013 started off with a bang – some great new clients, a handful of speaking gigs, another blogathon, a new eBook, and some really kick ass blog posts. Half way through the year some personal things in life took over and everything came to a screaming halt. I stopped blogging, clients stopped coming in, and I almost (just almost) packed up my business for good.
But as I sit here just eleven days into the New Year, I reflected on how kick ass 2012 was. I remembered blogging about my top 10 kick ass posts of 2012. These posts truly were amazing, so I took the time to read all of them again and it dawned on me:
“My successes and failures are completely in my hands and within my control. I can choice to pack it in, or I can choose to forge ahead.”
I would be lying if I did not say the temptation to close shop is still very much on my mind, but I would be fooling myself if I also did not admit that the path I choose to follow a couple of years ago was the right one. Yes, I really have some deep thinking to do about 2014. But as I strategize for 2014, you can enjoy the top 10 posts on my blog for 2013.
So, according to my Google Analytics (and some other top-secret social sharing formula), here are the top 10 blog posts of 2013. Enjoy, share, and of course let me know what you think.
10. Vlogathon Day 24: Who’s Belaying Your Success?
Todd Nielsen created this video blog back in September 2012 and it continues to be a very popular vlog on this site. Learn how he relates the concept of ‘belaying’ from the world of climbing to personal and professional performance.
9. 17 Expert Tips to Fix a “Flat” Personal Brand
In 2012 I started an interview series called ‘Personal Brand Mechanics’. I wanted to share with the world individuals who I felt had a tool box of ideas to help any one of us to build, maintain, and even repair our personal brands. Although my questions were different for each ‘mechanic’, I did ask this one question to everyone: “Imagine someone’s brand has a flat tire. What advice would you offer this person to pump up their tire so that their brand is ready to ride again?” Find out how 17 experts answered this question.
8. 4 Steps to Create Your Personal Mantra
This post by Gini Dietrich was in my top 10 of 2012 and appears once again in 2013! Way to go Gini! In this post she outlines the clearest and most practical way I know to create a ‘mantra’ that will promote you at the top of your game.
7. Can a Personal Brand Cross Cultures?
In this post I took a moment to think about the traits of a personal brand that in my mind are embraced anywhere you go. Traits that enable a personal brand to cross cultures. Would you agree?
6. Your Branded Bio: The First Sentence
Another repeat ‘best of’ post from 2012 comes from Kirsten Vernon. Kirsten is a branded bio expert and in this post she explains how to brand your online bio to stand out and avoid being just a ‘commodity’.
5. 4 Tips to Pass the ‘Cultural Fit’ Test
In this post I point out that your qualifications and credentials are the table stakes that will get your foot in the door, but your character is what more and more employers are evaluating today to ensure the right fit. Can you pass the cultural fit test?
4. 10 Actions to Update Your Personal Brand for 2013
This was perhaps my favorite post I wrote in 2013. I offered the world 10 immediate actions to update your personal brand for the year. They all still apply for 2014!
3. 7 Creative Tools to Promote Your Personal Brand
Wordle, PowToons, and Vizify are just three of the seven really cool tools I recommended in this post to creatively promote Brand You! Take a look and have fun with them. If you have other creative tools that you use, please share.
2. Screw “Dents”…I’m Aiming for an Immense Gaping Hole!
For the second year, Todd Nielsen has two posts in my top 10. This post by Todd topped my list in 2013 bringing in close to 5,400 views. Even one year later it still pulled in close to 2,000 views. In this post he shares how simply making a ‘dent’ in the world just is not adequate. Todd explains why he wants to make a difference in people’s lives, do something useful, and create something meaningful.
And the most popular post of 2013 is…
1. How to Brand Yourself Like a ‘Harajuku Girl’
When I wrote this post in February of 2013 I never would have imagined it getting close to 4,000 views. Located in Tokyo, Harajuku is a place where every Sunday teens dress up in various unique and extreme styles of clothing and roam the streets. Mixing different styles and mismatching colors and patterns is encouraged. Basically, the only ‘criteria’ is that your outfit must be a thoughtful expression of your individuality. Do you want to dress your personal brand Harajuku style? Here are 3 Harajuku Girl tips that you can use to brand yourself.
