I picked up Crush It! on a recommendation from my friend Jonny Arkin and the fact that I had followed the exploits of the author Gary Vay-ner-chuk over the last couple of years. Gary’s back story is that he took his father’s business, “Shopper’s Discount Liquors”, from a $4,000,000 a year business to $20,000,000 through his vidcast WineLibraryTV and his extensive use of social media.
Gary is an energetic and passionate guy, and this book essentially lays out his plan for how you can cash in on your passions. Very few people in the workforce have a job that is in line with their true interests (the ones you are excited to go home and work on). These are your passions and the niche that Gary says you can turn into money and happiness.
If that sounds pretty cheesy, it is. I also happen to believe he has the correct approach in need to build a personal brand. With the current financial instability the only thing you can count on is yourself. Building a personal brand creates value in yourself and gives you and identity independent of your employer. Being known in social circles as a php guru will be immensely helpful should you get laid off or the company folds.
The book is good on motivation and theory, but the actual “how to” chapter is little thin. The author makes a valid point (several times) that there is no 1, 2, 3 guide for building your personal brand and that everyone will be different. He points out some popular tools to utilize in your brand building and a couple pointers about each.
For a relatively quick read it gave me a lot to think about and apply to what I am currently doing as a designer and entrepreneur.
I would also add the Tim Ferris’s 4-Hour Work Week has a section that outlines the benefits of being perceived as an expert and a how-to guide on to gain expert status in 1 month.