It’s been a while since I’ve given my personal website any thought. I’ve been so busy trying to keep up with a weekly blog over at CAKE – Consulting and Knowledge Exchange, that I have to beat myself into submission just to personally blog once a month. However, given my recent change in employment, I’ve been reflecting back on what’s important for my “personal brand.” A strong inherent belief I carry is to not conform to the standards of others.
In the past I’ve been advised to not share my religious, political or otherwise polarizing views publicly. While I understand and respect that stance, I’m not about to hide who I am and I don’t expect anyone else to either. My views are only “offensive” if you don’t believe the same thing. However, I don’t think it’s fair to judge someone as an overall person based on a couple of beliefs. Sometimes the worst people on earth go around and masquerade as the charitable and giving types.
BESIDES… What is “Offensive” anyways?
People who easily get offended take life too seriously. You mean to tell me with all of the war, famine, and poverty consuming this earth, you’re going to put a halt to your day just to address a few words? I think people who are offended easily have their priorities in life wrong. I feel bad for them, actually. They live in fear. Afraid that the world just might the perfect utopia they pretend it is.
While I am not going to be all “in your face” with my views, I’m not going to muffle my opinions when asked. I’m not afraid to create a little friction when the subject at hand is something I’m passionate about. I welcome the opportunity to learn from others, just as long as they are open to hearing what I have to say. I want to make my point clear: you can be passionate about something without getting offended when something doesn’t align with your views. I don’t judge people because they are different than myself or hold a different lifestyle. I also don’t falsely raise myself on a higher pedestal than other people either. At one point, I may have played along with that mindset due to the need to support my family. I apologize to anyone who I may have alienated. I did what I had to do to survive. Things have changed now! I feel like a new person while regaining a little bit of my old self.
So what the hell does that little rant have to do with my personal branding?
After going through my entire online presence, I realized that there was very little “me” out there. Also, there is very little content out there that embodies what I am capable of and the work I have accomplished. So my plan is to take derekWwyatt.com (the blog that you’re currently on) and morph it into more of a portfolio website featuring the work I have done, the work I am capable of, the opportunity to connect with me for consulting work, and my usual “personal” blogs.
I ran this idea by someone and their first question was the obvious one, “What if your blog posts offend someone and they don’t want to do business with you?” First: I’m not going to get too outrageous with my blog posts, so people shouldn’t worry. Second: If they do find something I say so offensive that they don’t want to do business with me, they can take a hike! I’ve learned that I would rather make a tad bit less money and enjoy the people I do business with than work with a bunch of miserable fucks!
I hope you check back at future iterations of this site and provide feedback. Even though I consider myself an Online Marketing Strategist, even marketers can use a marketer.
Doctors don’t operate on themselves, do they? 🙂
