The Personal Branding Evolution: Gen-Y vs Gen-X

Published by dschawbel on October 1st, 2007 in Blogging, Career Development, Employment, Productivity, Recruiting, Work | 10 Comments

Some Background

Personal Branding is a self-application form of marketing, where you articulate your value to an audience, with the sole mission to build a reputation and credibility for your niche or idea. For a more refined and respected definition of Personal Branding, you can view the wiki I created, where I collaborated with many of the experts in this field.

Like me, Ryan and Ryan have been a huge proponent of Personal Branding, as they have developed great Gen-Y personalities through Employee Evolution. I think it's important to realize that Personal Branding effects each and every one of us and the sooner we come to the realization that we have a brand, the more successful we will be.

Now for the comparison

As a member of the Gen-Y group, you tend to find new methods of success and creativity. Gen-Y members are more susceptible to technological changes, and with the growth and breadth of Web 2.0, there are no boundaries for achievement.

Many members of Gen-X have not been educated in these new tools and are still using tradition methods of marketing and career development. Although these methods have worked in the past, they have less reach than mediums such as YouTube and Blogs. Without new education based around these new arts, Gen-X is left to lose key opportunities that could expand their businesses.

On the other hand, Gen-X has professionals that have a brand name and enough income available to pay other experts for these services, such as blogging, podcasting and media outreach. Gen-Y has the tools available and is being educated on this new technology (Web 2.0) in classrooms, which is a huge advantage. Personal Branding will link Gen-Y to new opportunities and create the self-development realization that will make them successful. The sooner you discover your brand, the more time you have to develop a strategy that will position you as a leader in a given market segment.

Gen-X has had to work much harder to figure out who they are and what mediums they can leverage to accomplish their goals. As a matter of fact, the majority of Gen-X only understands and is comfortable with using few tradition tools, while Gen-Y is ready and willing to try new methods of communication.

One of the biggest advantages Gen-Y has is lack of responsibilities. Gen-X has already established themselves, possibly with marriage, children and pets. Gen-Y is free to try new things out, fail and then start over with little to no impact on others.

Personal Branding allows for members of Gen-Y to become successful early in their careers, so that they are set up for success later!