I'm going to ask you to go out on a limb here and redefine personal branding.

Personal branding used to be the process whereby people and their careers were marked as brands.  It's now so much more.  I believe the personal brand will soon surpass the requirement of the CV if it hasn't already.  How? Through social networking and collaboration you are more likely going to get recognised for your achievements, experience and tracks that you leave online before any traditional marketing technique used to promote you.  What's the point of spending time in Universities when everything is available online.  How quickly I integrate my chosen profession will determine how quickly I get to apply it.  If we can make docters faster by allowing those with an apptitude for it to race ahead based on a collective online resource available for all, then we should get better medical attention.  So everyone gets to be what they want to be and you will find more people doing what they love and doing it without judgement.

If everyone gets to do what they want, then how will you be able to differentiate yourself?  Designers, start your apple's. :)

What are your thoughts?  Is the designer tomorrow's self help Guru?