Episode Details

In this episode, Barbara Hales and Nick Nanton discuss:  

• How DNA takes clients from being unknown to celebrity status within their industry
• How to obtain credentials and credulity to help people understand their clients are the trusted expert
• Steps to becoming a media authority and considered a more credible expert from others in the same field

 Key Takeaways:  

• “Celebrity” is being a thought leader, being a respected person in your industry that everyone else looks to
• Having celebrity status helps avoid the conversation trying to convince someone you are the right person to work with
• To the layperson looking for someone to help them, all professional look the same. Being set apart is critical to building credibility and be recognized as an expert in one’s field.  

“Most human beings are pretty humble. You’ve been through your life experiences, so they’re not as interesting you. But other people are fascinated to learn about who you are and where you came from. What they’re looking for is what do they have in common with you because trust is built with commonalities.” —   Nick Nanton  

Transcription

003 Nick Nanton
What is takes to Obtain Celebrity Status

Barbara Hales:             Hi, this is Barbara Hales interviewing Nick Nanton. Starting out as a nurse and attorney, Nick Nanton has become an Emmy award-winning director and celebrity agent. His branding agency DNA has an impressive track record and he’s able to turn his clients into celebrities. We are extremely fortunate to have him here today. So, tell me Nick, how did this all get started for you?

Nick Nanton:              This all started in the music business. I started playing guitar at six, I started songwriting at 16, put out my first record at 18, of which there’s still about 800 copies under my parents’ bed because I didn’t know anything about marketing at the time. And now that I do know about marketing, I know I want them to stay there. But I wanted to make a career in the music business and I didn’t have an uncle in the business, a friend in the business. I really had to start figuring out creative ways to get in the conversation as a kid in that business. And then over time, my mentor Jack, who you’ve met, we were doing music business and stuff together and he [inaudible 00:01:05] bands and musicians might even have more impact in the business world. And we created the agency to represent business people just like we represented musicians. So that’s the short story, but that’s essentially how I got into it.

Barbara Hales:             That’s great. So, it’s obvious that being a celebrity is going to get you further in your business and way ahead of your competition. How do you do that for people?

Nick Nanton:              I think it is certainly… A celebrity’s one way to put it, but I think being a thought leader, being a respected person in your industry that everyone else looks to just helps. It avoids that part of the co