I enjoyed this post by Mark Schaefer on personal brand building.

The crux of it all is something I have heard from nearly every successful person under the sun.

It’s about persistence.

He says:

Whether you’re a band or a blogger, it’s highly unlikely you’re going to experience a “big boom” that puts you on a path of fame and fortune. You just establish your voice, create that content, and keep grinding it out, year after year.

By the way, my most “viral” article (Content Shock) was published in early January 2014. Look at the graph to see the impact it had on my subscribers — nothing! There is no substitute for determined, steady progress.

Eventually, if you work hard and stick with it, you can gain enough critical mass to monetize an audience.

I didn’t have a paying sponsor for my Marketing Companion podcast until year three. I didn’t make noticeable money on my books until my fifth publication, The Content Code, in year six of my “second career.” I struggled for three years before I was getting speaking gigs that paid meaningful money.

There is no quick shortcut to building a personal brand.

If it puts it in perspective for you, as of this typing, I have published approximately 3,500 blog posts.

I have it in my mind to do nothing but put my head down and work until I reach 10,000.

My encouragement to you is that you would not give up on that thing you love. I mean, who knows what can happen?

But if you quit, well, your outcome in that space is guaranteed.

Keep going!