With the Olympics the great thing about living in one country and coming from another is you get to root for both- in other words you have double chance of celebration!
To date Canada has performed below expectations but team GB is certainly rocking it, with 6 days to go they are already at the same number of Gold medals as Bejing with, I am sure, more to come.
But when it comes to your personal brand, you cannot afford to have two sides. Your personal brand is you and needs to be consistent on all fronts.
The International Olympic Committee is almost manic about its control of the Olympic brand and logo. Mostly to help protect the sponsors and the huge investments they make in wanting to be recognised and associated with the event.
So what is the Olympics showing us that you can apply to your personal brand?
1. Close monitoring and where and when your brand is used. There have been numerous instances of the IOC stepping in and asking businesses to remove associations with their logo – including bagel shops and butchers!
It is less likely someone is going to use your image to promote their sausages but at least set up alerts and tracking of your name, especially for on-line mentions. That way you can thank those for doing it, respond to mentions that engage your tribe and refute things that are not on brand or detracting for you.
2. When its news, its now – not delayed. NBC the American Olympic broadcaster in the US is getting huge flack and even parody Twitter feeds related to their delaying of major sporting events at the games to prime time.
Technology and access to information is all immediate and people expect responses straight away. While you do not want to be beholding to every request and comment every time, you do want to set out a clear and consistent strategy to responding. If you do not answer e-mail on a weekend or return voice-mails for 48 hours, make it clear ahead of time so your community knows what to expect. If you don't then be ready for a NBC style backlash or worse – disengagement.
3. When you get Silver you have not lost Gold. There have been some wonderful examples of sporting behaviour and actions. Unfortunately there will always be a few detractors. Overall the Olympic spirit is still very strong. the intention of the games according to IOC founder Pierre de Coubertin the ideal of the Olympics was "The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
Sometime taking part is the important part and is still adding to your personal brand. You do not have to secure every contract or win every promotion or lead every team. Your unique skills and abilities can apply in many ways and have impact even though you may not end up on the podium.
Now get out there wih your brand and "just do it'.