Tag it
What’s your tagline? When people ask, “do you know so and so?” and someone says about you, “yeah, he/she is the ______?” What is the fill in the blank?
I guess the first question is “do you have a tagline?” I have one- “networker.” That defines what I love to do, and hopefully adds value to those around me. But it is the tag that most people use who know me well, as well as those who are simply acquaintances.
Let me give a few other examples, strictly based on my opinion:
John Maxwell- leadership; 21 Laws
Don Miller- blue like jazz
Tony Morgan- strategic blogger
Darlene Zschech- Hillsong worship
Lanny Donoho- funny emcee
Beth Moore- women’s bible studies
Rick Warren- Purpose Driven
Jeff Shinabarger- ideas
Mark Batterson- DC coffee shop
Marcus Buckingham- strengths
You may argue with some of the “tags” I’ve given to these folks, but the point is, whether you like it or not, you are being tagged. I believe “branding” and “tagging” are different. Branding is more about identity and emotion, where tagging is more about what I do. Sometimes they overlap, but most of the time they are closely associated but not necessarily the same. A tag is the subtitle of your book, if you were writing a biography. A tag is what comes to mind first when people think of you, that split second chance for someone to properly pull your file from their short or long term memory. A tag is no more than 10 words- a quick and concise snapshot of what someone sees you doing.
So are you creating your own tag, or is someone else creating it for you?
People tend to say Smalltown Poets guy, but in the future I’m hopeful they’ll say the ONE Atlanta guy. Still proud to be a Poet, of course.
well, here in DC ive learned that people seem to like to define you by your occupation…so, often, i am “sarah the flight attendant”. people cant seem to shake that one…but personally, thats not how i see myself. im so sick of that label, yet people introduce me as such and focus on it so much that apparently im stuck with it. makes me wonder what i’ll be labeled as when im no longer in this “career”…
Probably one of the three, which is kind of narcissistic of me:
Jon Acuff – Relentless
Jon Acuff – Hungry
Jon Acuff – Galvanizing
[...] Tag it [...]
I would say “Mr. Networker”… but thats you. I’ll have to phone-a-friend for this one.
[...] see a recent post from a couple of months ago on “tagging” vs. branding. Also, a great article on [...]