In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, host Paul Avins welcomes Chris James, a prominent figure in the realm of personal branding and digital marketing.

They dive deep into the significance of building and leveraging a personal brand in today's business landscape. Chris shares his journey from starting in sales to becoming a key influencer and speaker, emphasizing the transformative power of a strong personal brand.

Key Takeaways:

1. Importance of Personal Branding: - Chris discusses

how a well-crafted personal brand can distinguish you in a crowded market. He

highlights the journey of influential figures like Elon Musk and Lionel Messi,

showing how personal branding can surpass corporate branding in impact.

2. Steps to Build a Personal Brand: - Chris outlines actionable steps to develop a personal brand, including consistency in content creation, authenticity, and engagement with your audience. He stresses the importance of portraying your true self and sharing your unique story.

3. Leveraging Social Media Platforms: - A significant portion of the conversation revolves around LinkedIn. Chris explains why LinkedIn is an underrated platform and how it can be a goldmine for professionals looking to build their personal brand and network effectively.

4. Challenges and Overcoming Them: - Chris opens up about the challenges he faced in his career, from making cold calls to transitioning into digital advertising. He shares valuable lessons on resilience and the importance of not normalizing hardships.

Quotes:

- "When you put your personal brand out there, it becomes a lot more relatable than just a business logo." – Chris James

- "If you can't get excited about having a conversation, we probably shouldn't have a conversation." – Paul Avins

- "Personal branding is like an insurance policy; it makes you more desirable as a person and the company you are attached to." – Chris James

- "Don't normalize hardships. What you tolerate, you tend to keep attracting." – Paul Avins

Follow Paul on Social Media:

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/)

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/paulavins/)

Connect with Chris James and learn more about personal

branding and digital marketing:

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjames)

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/chrisjames)