Branding Product "You"

In career coaching we often talk to our clients about building a brand. Whether you’re currently employed in an income generating job or you are in non-income generating work, also known as a job search, you’ll benefit from having a Personal Brand. There are a lot a stuff out there about building a personal brand. My goal is to introduce you to this concept as a way of improving your position in your career.

In my May 2nd blog entry, I mentioned Jonathan Salem Baskins and his books, Branding Only Works On Cattle: The New Way to Get Known (and drive your competitors crazy) and Bright Lights & Dim Bulbs: The Year in Marketing Buzz, Brilliance & Buffoonery, So You Don't Have To Repeat It; which are two good resources. Another guru on the subject of personal branding is Peter Montoya author of The Brand Called You, is a must read (or listen to) for anyone wanting to understand the subject. Other big names in the field are: David Meerman Scott, Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, Steve Rubel, John Jantsch and Keith Ferrazzi. Check out at least some of what these guys teach.  

If you are looking for ways to improve your situation, change careers or land a new job you’ll want to help people know who you are. Employers and bosses want to know what you can do for them. How can you help the business grow or their department meet their goals?

Tell them what you do. Tell them what you love. Tell them what you’re great at.

How do you tell them? Get branded!  All the people I mentioned above state that first you need to figure out what it is and then start being known for doing it. Become an expert and help those around you or those connected to you learn more about your subject. There are several ways to accomplish this... social media like Twitter and LinkedIn is one way or writing a blog on your subject will work. Or you can just start commenting on other’s blogs or posting sharing insights and clarifications on confusing aspects or ideas.

Also there are the old fashion ways: volunteer to head up a project in your area of interest; write a white paper and submit it to a professional journal or periodical; give a presentation or sit on a panel discussing your subject. Create a tag line to add it to your signature of your email. I used to be “The QA Guy” and it didn’t matter that there were 100 other QA guys out there... that was how many people thought of me.

A friend recently reminded me of the old adage, “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.” You want to be seen and known as part of the solution. Your personal brand will help you be noticed and maybe your brand will get you the opportunity to talk face to face with the decision maker and end up with a new job.

New Year's Goals

It’s New Year’s time. Get those dusty old goals out and and polish them for the new year. While your friends are making New Year’s resolutions you can be setting goals and achieving success. How many people make New Year’s resolutions on January 1 and give them up by January 30th? Why? There are at least two reason for this. First, some people are not the structured goal setting type. Second, some folks only work with part of a plan to succeed.

In the first case, you may prefer to stay open to new information and be flexible when making decisions. Rigorous goal setting may be outside your mode or abilities. It doesn’t mean that you do not set goals, you have goals and attain those goals in a different way. In Myers-Briggs terminology you deal with the outside world as a “P” or perceptive person. The “P” folks out there prefer a, “...spontaneous way of life, and like to understand and adapt to the world rather than organize it.” That’s okay.

The second case presents others who set goals but forget to realize and keep in mind the benefits of achieving the goal. Or they don’t break down the big goal into smaller bites and set time lines. Or they don’t write down the goal and communicate it to people who might help.

There is more that goes into goals than just making a resolution. Goals need to be written down, shared, committed to a time line and tied to a benefit. Plus, each step or mini goal needs to be recognized, appreciated, and celebrated when it’s met. Often goals are made and written down, but then our daily activity doesn’t fit into meeting our goal.

Like my friend and chiropractor tells me, things work better when they are in alignment. That holds true for our physical body and our lives. This is the case for those of us who are more spontaneous in our goals and for those of us who find comfort in planning out the detailed steps in achieving our goals.

It’s New Years; may this year be happy, prosperous and successful for you.

You interview for your job every day...

   Read How to Win Friends and Influence People. Why? Well it’s the most read book in the world next to the Bible. Also, it is loaded with wisdom about how to present yourself in almost every situation. Dale Carnegie wrote it in 1936 and it’s quoted more today than when it was first written. Finally, if you understand how to connect with people and focus on these rules you’ll not shoot yourself in the foot when it comes to moving forward in your career.


   If you don’t have a job that pays you a living wage, every moment is an opportunity to impress a potential boss. I’m often amazed how job seekers show up for different networking events and am especially blown away when I see how they dress for training, workshops and presentations. From a presenter’s  perspective, you never know who is going to be in the audience. So I dress for success. I present myself in the most positive, professional attitude possible. But when I look out into the audience, I see people who have shown up in shorts and tee shirts. 


   Career consultants and job transition counselors tell our clients that the best predictor of future behavior is past performance... guess what, if you have a job you’re being evaluated. Every day is a chance to win or lose. If you’re in transition it’s important to remember that everyday people are looking at you and judging. You never know who you’ll meet during a day of networking or whatever.


   Be positive and professional in your attitude. If you’re on the job, everyone is going to relate to you better if you have a winning attitude. Nobody wants to work with Debbie Downer. Have a friendly word to say and keep a smile on your face. What’s a smile worth? To quote the April 2007 issue of AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH:

Smiling is a significant nonverbal signal in a sales encounter between sales clerk and consumer. A sales clerk’s smile should result in more positive impressions of the clerk and his/her sales pitch, and influence the consumer’s purchasing behavior.

   Getting a job offer and/or a promotion is a result of a sales process where you are the product. Smiling isn’t the only thing necessary but all things being equal regarding capability, the person that makes the most favorable impression will most likely be the winner. 


   Also remember everyone’s favorite radio station is WIIFM (What’s in it for me.) If your focus is on the people in your life and not yourself... this will be noticed and valued. If you’re the go to person in a certain area it’s because you are approachable and competent at what someone needs done. And why do people hire people? To solve problems. If you can solve problems and you’re a pain in the butt or you send off a “negative” vibe, people will avoid you and you’ll miss out on the promotion or the job opportunity. 


   Another idea: You interview for a promotion by doing the job before you have it. If you’re doing the job with a positive attitude and being successful at it, then it’s self evident. I cannot think of a better way to show folks that you are the one for the job. Before you interview for a new job be indispensable in your current role and the new role. It shows initiative, hard work, and a willingness to put others first. Don’t forget to ask for the promotion though.