Turn Yourself into a Brand Name

Rock N’ Roll - and a Lesson in Personal Branding

Have you ever heard of Jane Scott? If you answered, “no”, it’s ok. I hadn’t either. Jane, however, touched so many lives around the world, most especially in Cleveland, Ohio. And I ran into her (or at least a tribute of her) back in 2014.

"If it wasn't for Jane . . . I wouldn't be standing here today,” said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Turns out, Jane Scott, a Rock Music beat reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer (the main newspaper in Cleveland), was instrumental in making the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame come to Cleveland.

I took this photo when I visited the museum back in 2014, during a trip to Content Marketing World (which I highly recommend). This is a statue of Jane sitting on a bench, positioned right outside the entrance to the Hall.

The smile, the glasses, the style. The statue drew me in immediately, and I had to take a selfie. I wanted to meet this person in real life. There was just something about that person, a spirit, an energy. Apparently, Jane’s personality, energy, and style grabbed attention in real-life (beyond the now statue version of her) as well, and people, including major rock stars like the Beatles, and regional stars, like Michael Stanley, loved her.

“She loved everyone, and everyone loved Jane,” said singer/songwriter Michael Stanley.

That’s the goal. Make the people love you. Be unique, be helpful, be kind, and have a personality (online and off) that stands out.

Jane was the first major female Rock Critic. She was often dubbed “the world’s oldest rock critic” as well as “the world’s oldest teenager.” People loved her, and she stood out. You can, too.

How Can You Stand Out Like Jane?

Jane Scott didn’t stand out by accident. She made intentional moves to be different. With those red glasses, you could easily pick out Jane in a crowd. She knew how to get the younger generation of the time, the ones who fueled the rock scene, to trust her and open up to her. She had that “something special.”

Good news is, that “something special” is something that can be replicated. You can make yourself stand out by following some of the things Jane did to stand out herself.

“She loved everyone, and everyone loved Jane.” - Michael Stanley

Let’s take a look at a few of the key things Jane did (that you can mimic) to stand out.

• Pick that one consistent thing (red glasses, a hat, super dope red hair - yep, that’s a “me” reference) and let it shine
• Put yourself out there - Jane was front and center in the action (even into her later years, as you see in the image below)

• Smile, a lot - people who smile are much more likable, and I think it goes without saying that you can build a personal brand more easily if you are likable.
• Lead the way - Jane broke through the door as the first major female rock critic, which inspired so many others to follow in her footsteps
• Learn to help others and get them to open up - Jane had a way with people, and even the bigger stars of the time loved to see her and were more than willing to open up during interviews

You can learn a lot from learning about Jane. Little did I know, when I took that selfie back in 2014, I would wind up learning a lot from a lady who blazed trails in red glasses. Jane was an inspiration to many. Let her be an inspiration to you in your personal branding journey.

Let’s connect!

If you have any questions, or you are ready to start working on your personal brand, email me at [email protected] or visit gaenzlemarketing.com.

Oh…and don’t forget to grab your copy of?The Business of Branding You: Invest in Your Personal Brand, Grow Your Career, and Gain Influence.