Warning: this post is rather navel-gazing in nature as I think about personal brands in the wild. The TL;DR version is that posts will slowly be migrated and linked to Neckbeard Influence.
It was not too long ago I announced the launch of Neckbeard Influence. It’s a term I use affectionately, especially as the influence of developers, of all genders, grow exponentially in the traditionally infrastructure world.
Soon after that announcement, I discovered that multiple properties led to a stifling lack of posts on all sites. I’ve since picked up where I left off on this site, but still felt the urge to symbolize a shift of focus.
What’s in a name?
I chose the phrase I Tech Therefore I Am when I had no idea what my brand was in the high tech industry.
At first, I was honestly focused on getting into some of the Blogger’s Lounges at industry events :)
My “personal brand” perception has grown in scope and identified a target audience — companies looking to market to technical minds as well as technical minds who want to improve their career (often through marketing tactics and coding skills). This cross-section is my opportunity. I no longer need to philosophize about it — I just need to jump right in and share what I know to be accurate.
Why Neckbeards?
The phrase “neckbeard” is more than just a funny-sounding pejorative to me. The term screams for reclamation.
Developers are building code, culture and economies at scale beyond anyone’s predictions.
While I’m no hardcore developer at heart nor incredible hacker, I do strongly support a positive self-image for those that write code. Positivity starts with a little writing, a little humor and a lot of conversation. So let’s continue it.
What Next?
All links to this site will remain active. I’ll be using 301-redirects so now links are left hanging on stale content. I’d love to see you reading and commenting over there.
