Written on the 22 July 2011 by Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist
What a week for JK Rowlings, author of the Harry Potter series of books and movies.
At the last instalment of the last book, screens around the world, history was made. In the opening weekend of the final movie the box office takings were recorded as over a $1 Billion. Yes that’s a Billion.
Even people who had never read the book or watched previous movies were eager to part of the magic and science that surrounded the Harry Potter sequels. The midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 had movie theatres screenings starting every minute past midnight to accommodate fans demand. Fans returned to watch the final chapter again and again.
The inspiring aspect of the Harry Potter series is more about the author journey then having reached the position of one of the wealthiest women on the planet. Prior to the release of the final movie Rowling’s was ranked 1140 on Forbes List of Billionaires. At the age of 45 JK’s net worth was $1 Billion dollars. J.K. is recognised with the top five self-made female billionaires in the world.
The Harry Potter series has earned $6.4 billion at the global box office and the last film has just hit theatres. Between the films, books, merchandise and amusement park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Rowling was worth $1 billion.
What captures my attention is the back story of JK Rowling’s of the creator of her billion dollar wizardry empire. Rowling wrote the first Potter books while a single mother living on welfare. She wrote the last book in the upscale Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is worthwhile to consider the journey and the lessons that we can learn from this amazing story...
Sevens Lessons from the Master Magician herself - JKRowlings.
1. Follow your heart. JK tells that knew she had to write the book. She couldn’t stop writing and often inspiration was captured on serviettes and receipts. By honouring her purpose and the desire to create the Harry Potter series, JK finally captured the essence of her personal brand and who she was – a story teller and author
2. Knowing your subject matter. Even today JK has plot s and plans for each of her characters. She knows the history and future of each of her characters even though another series is not been alluded to.
3. Persistence. JK was knocked back time and time again by publishers who rejected her manuscript. Never defeated, JK persevered knowing that the book she had written was worthy of publishing.
4. Understanding your target audience. JK connected her readers to the Harry Potter characters. Her audience like Harry Potter grew up, and JK was able to capture the imagine of readers with the magic and wizardry while understanding the issues of growing up and attending school. JK communicated with her audience recognising the awkwardness of being new and alone at a school, the yuckiness of kissing as young boys and girls to the blossoming of young love as teenagers. Her audience grew up and collectively that feel this is an end of an era, the completion of their childhood, as readers enter the workforce or university.
5. Planning the next phase at every step. JK Rowling’s successfully future-proofed her books, each leading to the next.
6. Recognising the opportunities presented with brand extension into movies and merchandise and even an amusement park at Universal Studios in Orlando
Her strategic approach to building her personal brand and the Harry Potter’s brand has been one of the most successful. By adopting a focussed and systematic approach to building her expert empire JK has turned her book into a billion dollar business.
7. Rock bottom can be the solid foundation on which to build your empire. Knock backs , sets backs and understanding that life is difficulty allows you the clarity to see what is truly important to you.
Learn how you too can build an incredible personal brand and create your expert empire when you join us for a 3 day Jump the Q- Brand Yourself workshop.
Read more at http://jumptheq.com.au/jump-the-q-brand-yourself-workshop.html
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