The Personal Brand Homework I Gave a Marketing Professor
This applies to anyone trying to turn what they know into something people remember.
Ciao Amici,
Had lunch earlier this week with a friend of mine… Let’s call him Dr. Winters.
Super smart guy. Marketing and eComm professor. Sharp as hell.
But like a lot of brilliant people, he’s stuck when it comes to his personal brand.
So I gave him some homework.
And honestly? It’s homework we all should be doing.
Here's what I told him to focus on:
What’s the BIG idea you want to be known for?
Not just “marketing professor.” That’s too vague.
What’s the sharp point of view that runs through everything you do—something that makes people stop and actually listen?
That’s your north star. That’s where we need to focus.
Who are you trying to reach beyond your students?
Peers? Collaborators? Conference organizers?
Define the audience and what you want them to do when they see your content.
No audience = no impact.
What’s already working that could scale?
What are the lectures, exercises, or stories that light your classroom on fire?
Those are your seeds. Don’t overthink it. Start there.
What do you want your content to do?
Build credibility? Drive student engagement? Attract opportunities?
Your goal informs the format—LinkedIn post, podcast, speaking gig, all of it.
This shit is hard. I get it.
But it’s not impossible.
It just takes a little structure, a little clarity, and a willingness to stop overthinking and start.
The best brand builders? They just keep showing up with purpose.
If you're sitting on ideas, expertise, or experience and don’t know where to start—
This is your starting line.
✌️🍕
- Steven
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