In its December 25, 2006 issue, Time magazine announced the person of the year: this time it's YOU.
Given your access to a broad range of online tools for controlling the information age – from Wikipedia to MySpace, to YouTube, to flickr, to TypePad, to other sites – you now have the power to reach and influence others – millions of others!
Actually, this is not much of a surprise to the folks at trendwatching.com. They have been documenting important business and consumer trends including Generation C, the rapid proliferation of consumer generated 'content' on the Web, and MASTERS OF THE YOUNIVERSE, the power of new consumers to “create their own playgrounds, their own comfort zones, their own universe.”
I think these trends are terrific, not only for the unprecedented power to own your life, but also for the challenge to answer one of the fundamental questions of life: Who, exactly, are you?
The quest to discover one’s unique identity is a universal one – and a long one extending into mid-life and beyond. Indeed, Dr. Richard P. Johnson, founder of Retirement Options, has highlighted the fact that the fundamental question to address in retirement is “Who am I?” It is a critical question that directly ties perceptions of self worth once a person has given up a work identity.
Yet, I think there is a downward pressure on all people to define who they are, particularly for career success. While the traditional path to self understanding has been introspection, factoring in the perceptions of others has become equally important. This fact is underscored in the November 6, 2006 Time magazine article, "It’s a Brand-You World." The article features an instrument for gathering feedback from others, the 360Reach, which was developed by William Arruda, founder of Reach Communications and a leader in the growing field of personal branding.
As I see it, if you want to truly own your life, reaching self understanding through internal and external information brings critical clarity. The kind of clarity that is good for your career, good for your sense of self worth and direction … and even good for your next YouTube production.
Contact me if you would like to learn more about self assessment and if you would like to take the 360Reach Assessment.
Comments