#ask jasmin

:O Gasp! Thank you :DHmm…1. I like my creativity, and I really like the gifts I buy for my friends and the effort I put into the gifts I give. 

2. I like that I’m confident to talk to new people. I started off by simply pretending I was confident and it just became real.

3. I like my singing voice, when it agrees with me. 

4. I like that I’ve made some great friends online that like me for me. (I think I cheated the system with this one.) 

As Blitz's editor-in-chief, Chris Patterson's creative genius has made him a media heavyweight, but his candid blend of humor and honest prose garnered a cult following long before he hit Manhattan. Adopting a modern approach to his professional career, Patterson balances his leadership role with projects that reflect his dynamic repertoire, maintaining his own blog, StyleEdited, and serving as a writer and producer for cool concepts coast-to-coast. Get to know the multi-tasking man behind the headlines - and find out why I'm captivated by Patterson's personal brand. 

How did you begin working with Blitz? At the time I was already working with a radio morning show in Birmingham, Alabama, as a writer. I got a chance to meet Blitz's publisher, Kelly Reed, and convince him that I knew what the heck I was doing – though at the time I totally didn’t! We have been working together ever since to become a game-changing sports and entertainment publication. 

What things, people, or places inspire your passion and creativity? My wife. Experiencing what’s right now. And anticipating what’s next. I say that because we tend to project in our day-to-day lives, forgetting about the actual space and time we currently occupy. Keeping a fire burning for what is next - for your family, at your job, for your life - is what makes life inspiring and not tragic. No matter what, there will be a tomorrow. Why not be optimistic in anticipating what's ahead?

You recently moved from Dallas to the Big Apple; what differences and similarities have you observed when comparing the two cities? The transition wasn’t difficult at all, as both Dallas and New York have inherently kind people that make both cities incredible. The main difference is the pace of progress in Manhattan; it’s not called a New York minute for nothing! The best thing about both locales is that my Boston Terrier, Rufus, loves them both.  

What have you been craving during the transition; do you miss Big D's Tex-Mex, or will a classic New York slice suffice? Pizza, definitely! I prefer Salvos in Yorkville. Two napkins; one Coke. 

When you want to be influenced or learn about something new, what blogs, magazines, or websites do you turn to? They say the first rule of creativity is knowing how to hide your inspiration. You know, I try to surround myself with things that spark imaginative thought. I admire the work of Graydon Carter at Vanity Fair and David Granger at Esquire, and I am also motivated by the incredible work of Isoul Harris of Uptown Magazine. As for blogs and websites, my mainstays are Vice, The New Yorker’s John Cassidy, WNYC Here’s The Thing, and Geek Tyrant. Of course, I have to frequent my own blog StyleEdited on Tumblr, otherwise people email me mean messages. 

You seem to really embrace fashion and have a personal style that's all your own; how can the everyday working professional guy be stylish without breaking the bank? Wait, you can do it without breaking the bank?! No really, I just lucked into being considered stylish by anyone’s standards. I walk into stores, and I am the worst shopper – no trying stuff on, I won’t even look at myself in the mirror in stores. The entire process of clothes shopping feels akin to a panic attack for me. But I would say find clothes that make you feel like the best possible version of yourself. That energy is transferable, and everyone around you will take note. A $150 pair of Singh and Son slip-ons can have a stronger impact than a $1,000 pair of George Esquivel wingtips if you feel you can conquer the world while wearing them.

What can fans expect from you and Blitz in the coming months? From Blitz, you will continue to get thought provoking stories that create conversations about sport’s most pertinent issues. In between editions, I keep myself busy blogging, producing entertainment segments for KISS 104.1 FM in Atlanta, writing scripts with Roy [Wood, Jr.], and taking on various projects to keep my wits sharp.

You can connect with Patterson online via his blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, and to become a Blitz fanatic, check out the publication on Facebook and Twitter.

Until, 

JASMIN

The month of July always reminds me of barbeques, fireworks, and of course, my endless internal battle with swimsuits. But the season also makes me ponder opportunities for a more productive and profitable summer!

Though this is typically a time of year when many of your coworkers, clients, vendors, and competitors take it easy, I see it as an awesome chance to step your game up and forgo the temptation to slow down in favor of strategic work that produces tangible results. Business never sleeps, nor does additional networking and revenue streams.

Don't let the pool party scene fool you, Jasmin's actually on the job, as snapped here at an event for Brandpointe client, Mockingbird Station; find out how you can turn summer fun into opportunities to expand your business with Jasmin's hot tips for brand development.

Want to turn up the heat on your professional pursuits? Make strides in the months ahead by warming up to a few simple tips.

1) ORGANIZE: With practically unbearable temps outside, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy. I make the sweltering season work for me by putting new systems into place:

Contacts: Clean and update these lists to ensure that all info is current. Excel spreadsheets are a good place to start when it comes to managing your contacts, but take this time to explore some more advanced options.  As my business has grown so has my need for a more robust contact management system. I rely heavily on Microsoft 365 but there are many others out there to choose from. The goal is to be able to access your list quickly anytime and anywhere.

Closet:  This may sound like obvious advice but the arrival of summer should also prompt a little reorganization for your closet too. I’m not just talking about packing up your warmer clothes but rather, taking an inventory of your business wardrobe to see what still fits, what needs to be replaced, and most importantly, what pieces do you need to purchase in order to maintain a healthy balance between comfort, style, and professionalism. And you can expect more on this topic in upcoming Ask Jasmin features!

2) GOAL- SETTING: I live my life in 90-day increments. That means executing a two-part approach to meeting my objectives: I give myself 90 days when trying out anything new, and I apply the timeframe to the goals I set. Too often, I hear people create amazing objectives, while also placing unrealistic expectations on actually reaching them. It’s important to establish a targeted timeline that gives you enough time to achieve, or you run the risk of failing to complete your goal. In my experience, 90 days is an effective schedule for benchmarks and provides the right amount of structure and flexibility for success. 

3) NETWORK BUILDING: It's a well documented fact that I believe in the power of incorporating network building in your schedule. It’s simply that important! Whether you work in a corporate setting or are self employed, maintaining great relationships and discovering new ones makes the difference between you and your competitors. When you want to lose weight, for example, you establish a daily and weekly diet and exercise plan. Same goes for building your network. I commit 1.5 to 2 hours to this goal on a weekly basis to ensure maximum success, executing what my friends now call "Jasmin's Kickass Networking Plan;" take a sneak peek at my typical seven-day strategy, with my weekly preview covering July 15 to 21, 2013:

New Friend Goal: Goal - Three. In this context, "friend” refers to someone new that I’ve recently met while out and about and/or a new online connection with someone who shares mutual social circles via LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. I recommend sticking to those with whom you share mutual circles because no one wants to stumble into being labeled a stalker!

Existing Friend Follow Ups: Goal - Five. I achieve my goal by sending emails, Tweets, direct messages, etc., to five people I already know or work with. And because my interest and correspondence is sincere, I find it fun and easy to send along basic inquiries about how they’re doing, what they’re working on, and generally, what’s new. Once you add someone to your network, it’s important to maintain communication with them for a truly authentic connection.

Connect with New Businesses, Blogs, and Ideas: Goal - Five. I am always looking for new ideas, new places, new people to meet. This is as simple as checking out your favorite local magazine or newspaper and connecting with their social profiles.

Influence and Assist Existing Network: Goal - Two. Good karma leads to, well, good karma. If you help others they will help you, so I make it a priority to identify people  each week with the sole purpose of  helping or connecting them to resources in some meaningful way.

Meetings and Events: Goal - One. My work schedule makes it challenging to make it to all of the great events taking place, but I try to schedule at least one to three per month. Even with all of the social media activity, face-to-face communication and commitment is still really important for your personal and professional pursuits!

Successful people do successful things. Attracting new connections, opportunities, and sources of wealth requires thoughtful planning and consistent action. Even in the summer. Take the next couple of months to be creative when it comes to combining fun and productivity.

Until, JASMIN

Usually, the phrase "B.Y.O.B." needs no explanation, but my take on the popular acronym translates a little differently - "B.Y.O.B.: Build Your Own Brand." And when I decided to use the popular saying as the title for my workshop during last week's Summer Brand Camp, I knew I'd better be armed with serious branding insights - and probably some actual beer.

Providing awesome feedback during the interactive session, the "campers" deserve much of the credit for making the forum memorable, and as we chatted about challenges and the overwhelming amount of information, and misinformation, they're faced with, I realized something - personal branding has officially become a pop-culture craze.

Brand this! Brand that? Either way, one thing is certain - everyone seems obsessed with sharing their opinion on branding. From the increase in branding services offered to individuals and businesses to the amplified media coverage, debating what branding really is - and how to use it - is a definitive trend.  

And this is actually a good thing. Why? It suggests that the path to self-actualization both personally and professionally is much easier to travel than it once was. The movement has more tangible benefits as well, with the branding phenomenon generating unprecedented opportunities for would-be, web-based entrepreneurs. 

Now that the average person can create their own blog or business online in little more than an instant, the branding boom is helping them monetize efforts and establish a cost-effective model. Which is not only a good but a great thing, because it means making your dreams come true is possible with just a little creativity and a whole lot of hustle. Even from the comfort from our very own homes.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BRANDING. How do I define the word brand? Although there seems to be a multitude of definitions, I rely on just two:

Your Promise: The easiest way for me to understand branding is to think of it as a person’s promise or commitment to others. Specifically, what you plan to do and your ability to stick with that plan. Beyonce famously promises to give fans 110 percent at each and every live performance and spends every waking moment working to ensure that she lives up to that commitment. The success of her steadfast approach is as obvious as it is indisputable, and anyone who caught her Super Bowl show, which marked the kick-off for her partnership with Pepsi, is likely to agree.

Your Identity: Though a person or company’s identity has traditionally been the primary branding indicator, I believe the concept goes much further than a logo or website. Who we are shapes the business we create. Developing a strong brand identity starts with an organic sense of purpose. Many talented professionals with abundant resources have seen their businesses fail or worse, have derailed a solid business due to an inability to meaningfully connect with their client base. If there is a disconnect between the brand you externally convey and who you really are, failure is inevitable. But it's not unavoidable!

         Hanging out with forum guest Jill Cohen Heineck after my presentation at Summer Brand Camp!

BUILDING YOUR OWN BRAND. With my own career in branding and marketing, I set out to craft a different kind of branding philosophy that balanced a 360-degree perspective with a highly personalized approach. Committed to keeping Brandpointe truly unique despite the branding services explosion, our team protects clients' innate identity by making it the soul of the comprehensive strategies we execute. 

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Shaping a sustainable brand starts with taking a look back so that you can move forward. Because without a little "brand therapy," if you will, it's impossible to craft the right, bright approach. Brandpointe's initial job is to listen, identify, analyze, and dissect the elements that connect a person or company back to the true, organic brand identity that's in the mind of their target consumers. Our ultimate goal is to bring authenticity, clarity, innovation and fun to the branding process.

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I'm so grateful to Joni and Wally Doolin and the amazing People Report team for the opportunity to speak at Summer Brand Camp this year. It truly is one of the best conferences in the country for branding, marketing, leadership training and just overall coolness and care for the community. In the meantime, you can make plans to attend the 2014 event by submitting your Save-the-Date R.S.V.P. online at SummerBrandCamp.com. See you there!

Until,