About Neille Hoffman: Neille Hoffman is a creative innovator and entrepreneur dedicated to the craft of design. With over 20 years of branding expertise, she has created integrated communication solutions for long term clients across a spectrum of industries including; healthcare, education, entertainment, luxury goods, and real estate. As a coach, consultant, speaker, and recovering perfectionist, she has the unique ability to recognize the gifts others don’t see in themselves and empower them to follow their dreams.
Why is branding more important than ever? “I believe branding is more important than ever because our world is so connected with our whole digital age. We can know people down the block, but we can also know people across the world. And we really need to have some differentiation.”
What is the difference between branding and personal branding? “There's a fine line, I think. I think that personal branding is really who your genuine self is. So I don't really think you can manufacture a personal brand. Some people think that they can change the way they dress or they can talk different or you know, they can kind of create who they want people to see them as…”
Where do you begin when you are creating a brand? “I always like to dive deep with questions and research. I think a lot of, at least for personal branding and for business branding as well, we have to take a look at our mindset and our limited beliefs…”
Can you share with me your most successful or favorite networking story/experience that you’ve had? How was the connection made? What was the outcome of the connection? “My favorite networking experience that I have had here in Milwaukee was meeting Sara Meaney, Sara Meaney and I both had our own businesses at the time. Hers was Comet Branding and mine was Aurum Design and we were both moving into a new building actually across the street from here in the Third Ward. And we just happened to be throwing our open house parties on the same night.”
How do you stay in front of or best nurture your network community? “I make a very pointed effort to reach out to friends and check in on them, see what is going on with their lives, get updates from people, schedule coffees, and really have a genuine interest in the people that I have met.”
What advice would you offer to the business professional who is looking to grow their network? “The number one thing I would say is take action. I think for far too long I stayed on the sidelines.”
Digital networking or traditional networking- which do you find more value in? Please explain. “Right now, I don't want to say I want to find more value in it, but I want to say I'm stepping into it. So again, outside of my comfort zone is the digital networking. So I have recently become part of an entrepreneurial networking group online and it's people from all over the world. And what I like about that is you're actually connecting with people who think like you do and are so supportive. It's crazy.”
If you could go back to your 20-year-old self, what would you tell yourself to do more of/less of/differently with regards to your professional career? “I would tell myself to trust my instincts more. I think I in the past have deferred to other people's opinions.”
We’ve all heard of the 6 degrees of separation… Now, who would be the one person you’d love to connect with and do you think you could do it within the 6th degree? How would you start that journey? “So, I think I have a little bit of a different answer for this one. I could think of, you know, a handful of people that I would like to say, but this is going to be a little out there. I would like to connect with my future self. And I would hope that there are at least six people I have yet to meet who are going to help me grow into that future self.
What book are you reading right now? “So, every year, and I think you've probably got this answer before, I read the Alchemist. So, I'd finished that actually not too long ago…”
Any final word of advice to offer our listeners with regards to growing and supporting your network? “I would just say to make genuine connections and always approach life with a smile.”
You can connect with Neille at:
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