Review: The Importance of Being You
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 14, 2014
Mark Cijo’s info-packed book is a great introduction to the task of “personal branding.” From the George Bernard Shaw quote that sets the tone (“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Lif is about creating yourself.”) to solid tips for running a successful blog, Cijo’s advice is smart, succinct, and useful. Even when he seemingly wanders off topic—as with a section on job satisfaction and why it’s so important—Cijo has a point in mind and he eventually circles back to it.Cijo emphasizes honesty as a core component of successful branding and he returns to the topic frequently. This is not a book that suggests you “fake it ‘til you make it.” What this book does do, simply and effectively, is give a reader the tools for finding out the answers to two questions:  Who are you? “Who needs to know you?” While the author makes a case for the need to manage your “brand” online even if you’re not in business or looking for a job, job seekers will find his advice particularly useful.