by Carmen Van Kerckhove

What do people say about you when you’re not in the room? If you don’t know, it could hinder your career opportunities. Whether we like it or not, each of us has a personal brand. The question is: is your brand what you want it to be?

Here’s an interview I did with Mitch Joel, who speaks frequently on this topic. Mitch and I know each other because we run in the same geeky circles. I listen regularly to his podcast, Six Pixels of Separation (will launch iTunes). And he knows me because I’m a frequent commenter to another podcast called For Immediate Release. Here’s more about Mitch and be sure to check out his blog:

Marketing Magazine dubbed him, “Canada’s Rock Star of Digital Marketing” and in 2006 he was named one of the most influential authorities on Blog Marketing in the world. Mitch Joel is President of Twist Image – an award-winning Digital Marketing agency based in Montreal, Quebec. Joel speaks frequently to diverse groups like The Power Within and Canadian Marketing Association, and has shared the stage with former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, Anthony Robbins and Dr. Phil. Joel is frequently called upon to be a subject matter expert for national media outlets. He is presently writing his first book, Six Pixels of Separation – How Marketing Connects in a World Where We’re All Connected.

One of the topics you speak about frequently is the idea of personal branding. What is a personal brand and what can it do for you?

There are two ways that I like to explain it… And I do so by using what others have said. Chris Anderson, who is the Editor of Wired magazine and the author of The Long Tail, recently said that “your brand is