Don Straits - Dragon Slayer

I enjoyed a long conversation with Ben Paramore a few days ago.  This is a talented executive who really understands today's new business and career paradigms.   He started building his brand about three years ago, and about a year ago he launched his blog.  He has had great success and has had many of his posts featured in major internet publications.  The problem is he didn't tell his boss.

Two weeks ago Ben lost his job because his boss found his blog.  He assumed Ben was looking for a job and summarily fired him.  Tragically his boss did not understand the new career paradigms.  His boss is "a Timex watch in a digital world".....which will be the title of my next blog post.

Besides the problem with his boss not understanding blogging, Ben probably could have prevented this by communicating his blogging to his boss when he first initiated it. 

My recommendation to all employed executives, who have the vision to build their brand and become connected to the digital world, is inform their boss and company what they are doing.  It can be turned into a really positive experience for all concerned.  You can invite your boss, and other execs in your company, to be guest columnists on your blog.  You will be a hero.

You can also provide a link to your company on your blog....thereby enhancing the SEO for your company and helping drive traffic and new business to the company.  You will probably end up getting a great raise. Everybody wins.

The message is loud and clear.  Don't give up building your brand or blogging.  If anything, accelerate the process, but if you are employed, be certain to build a consensus and community with your company.

But I will let Ben tell you the story himself.  Here is a link to his blog.

Ben is a talented guy.  His established brand will help him land a job quickly.  I have no doubt about that.  His former company is the loser and his new company will have an internet, digitally savvy executive as a leader.