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I am a bit neurotic about what shows up when I Google my name. Yes, I am a self-proclaimed dork, but I am probably not the first or last person to say you are who Google says you are. I’m happy to report that my social networks, blog, in-progress Web site, articles and press releases show up. No scandalous photos or random nothingness. Another plus – there aren’t many Niki Pococks in the world, so pretty much everything that comes up is about me. And so … what is in a name?
Authors, actors, singers – many change their names to something more appealing, or memorable, to the public. I don’t know if “Niki Pocock” is very appealing, but I bet that you will remember it. My sister-in-law (who has my same last name, mind you) likes to call me “Bambi” because she says my name sounds like a stripper, and I guess she thinks “Bambi” is another name in that category, not the cute Disney animal we all know and love. Unfortunately, the name stuck. Yes, I have answered to “Bambi.”
The point is that my name, both in pronunciation (yes, it is pronounced exactly as it looks) and spelling (Niki with one “k”) is going to stand out more than Mary Smith. I’m also pretty positive that if someone in the Tallahassee, Fla. area mentions a Niki Pocock, it’s going to be me, not some other Niki Pocock. So that means I have to make sure everything I do reflects how I want to be identified.
You will hear and read a million blogs on “personal branding,” so I am not going to get into all that. I just pose the question, “What is in a name?” Do I have an edge because my name stands out? If so, is my personal brand stronger, just for that fact? I would argue that if it is stronger, it is that much more fragile. One soft blow could knock it down because there would not be any others to take part of the force. Am I at a disadvantage because my name isn’t mainstream?
Would you ever change your name for your career?
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Comments
03.02.10
I am Rufus Evison. There is (as far as I have been able to find out) only one Rufus Evison in the world, so everything you say resonates strongly with me. That said I do feel it is an advantage. I am scrupulously honest and open so pretty much anything I say can turn up online without too much embarrassment.
The worst you are likely to find if you look me up are some off colour anagrams. As my friend runs the Anagram site that they are on there is a good reason I have posted them. If someone is put off me because of those then they are probably not someone I would like to know/work for.
The secret I think (and it really is no secret at all) is to make sure you shape your brand to match the person you are inside. I suspect that trying to shape yourself to match your required brand is a recipe for unhappiness.
Would I change my name for my career? No but... The but being that if I were named John Smith I might well feel that the name did not match me as a unique individual and so I might change it to match me. I also expect my career to match the real me so maybe I am splitting hairs saying I would be doing it for me and not for my career?
03.02.10
I am Rufus Evison. There is (as far as I have been able to find out) only one Rufus Evison in the world, so everything you say resonates strongly with me. That said I do feel it is an advantage. I am scrupulously honest and open so pretty much anything I say can turn up online without too much embarrassment.
The worst you are likely to find if you look me up are some off colour anagrams. As my friend runs the Anagram site that they are on there is a good reason I have posted them. If someone is put off me because of those then they are probably not someone I would like to know/work for.
The secret I think (and it really is no secret at all) is to make sure you shape your brand to match the person you are inside. I suspect that trying to shape yourself to match your required brand is a recipe for unhappiness.
Would I change my name for my career? No but... The but being that if I were named John Smith I might well feel that the name did not match me as a unique individual and so I might change it to match me. I also expect my career to match the real me so maybe I am splitting hairs saying I would be doing it for me and not for my career?
03.02.10
Hi, Rufus! Thanks for the comment. In the end, I have embraced having a unique name - glad you have too! You are very right in that it only ads to our personal brand. At least we know that people will remember us, for better or worse :)
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