Your brand is your reputation – the perception of you held by the external world. It is the combination of personal attributes, values, drivers, strengths, and passions you draw from that differentiates your unique promise of value from your peers, and helps those assessing you determine if they should hire you or do business with you.
You need to identify those qualities and characteristics within you and communicate a crystal clear, consistent message across multiple channels – online and offline – designed to resonate with your target audience.
I’d like to take you deeper into defining your brand than I did in my earlier Job-Hunt article, Creating Your Authentic Personal Brand Statement.
I developed the following 10 brand assessment and defining exercises based on my training as a Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist, and use them as I guide my clients through executive brand development. Be prepared to devote time to this. In the end, I think you'll find your efforts eye-opening and invigorating.
1. What are your vision and purpose?
Look externally at the bigger picture of your vision for the world, and then internally at how you might help the world realize your vision.
Think about one world problem you would like to see solved or one area of life that you want to see transformed or improved. This is your vision.
What role might you play in making your vision happen? This is your purpose.
2. What are your values?
Your values are your guiding principles – things like:
Balance, being the best, agility, calmness, challenge, decisiveness, perseverance, drive, honesty, integrity, pragmatism, sensitivity, structure, teamwork, sharing, vitality, zeal.
3. What are your passions?
What do you most enjoy doing – in your personal life and work life? Think about the activities, interests, or conversational topics that fascinate and energize you. Your passions make you get out of bed at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning or get you talking enthusiastically with others. How do your passions converge with what you are best at doing?
4. What are your top goals for the next year, 2 years, and 5 years?
Work on projecting what you intend to accomplish so you can put together a strategic action plan to get there.
5. What are your top brand attributes.
What 3 or 4 adjectives best describe the value you offer? What words do you use to define your personality? Once you pinpoint what you feel are the right kinds of words, it’s a good idea to consult a thesaurus to precisely nail the exact words. Here are some possibilities, but don’t limit yourself to these:
Collaborative, resilient, forward-focused, risk-taking, connected, international, visionary, diplomatic, intuitive, precise, enterprising, ethical, genuine, accessible.
6. What are your core strengths or motivated skills?
In what functions and responsibilities do you excel? For what things are you the designated “go-to” person? What gap would your company be faced with if you left suddenly? The possibilities are endless, but here are a few suggestions:
Analyzing, collaborating, leading, delegating, empowering others, forecasting, crunching numbers, anticipating risk, mentoring, visioning, selling, innovating, managing conflict, defining needs, writing, listening, communicating.
7. Get feedback from those who know you best – at work, at home, anywhere.
The true measure of your brand is the reputation others hold of you in their hearts and minds. Notice how they introduce you to others. Ask them what your top brand attributes and core strengths are. How does your self-assessment jibe with their feedback?
The 360° Reach Personal Brand Assessment (http://www.reachcc.com/360reach), a confidential, web-based tool that collects anonymous 360-degree feedback in real time from your choice of respondents, is a good option to accomplish this step and the basic account is free.
8. Do a SWOT analysis (Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats).
Strengths and weaknesses are internal, and speak to your potential value to an employer. Opportunities and threats are external, and help you foresee what you’re facing in next career steps.
SWOT is an invaluable personal branding exercise that also helps prepare you for interviewing and future career growth and stability.
9. Who is your target audience?
Determine where you want to fit in (kind of job position and industry). Learn what decision makers in that field are looking for when they’re assessing candidates. Create your personal brand messaging around what keywords and content will attract them. Find out where those decision makers hang out, position yourself in front of them, and capture their attention.
10. Who is your competition in the marketplace and what differentiates you from them?
What do the people competing for the same jobs as you typically have to offer? What is it about you that makes you the best hiring choice? What added value do you bring to the table that no one else does?
Bottom Line:
The work involved in uncovering and defining your personal brand may seem daunting, but your efforts will benefit you immeasurably. In job search, defining and communicating your personal brand can help pre-qualify you as a good fit and strategically position you to land your next great gig faster.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
VISIONING: TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DAY
VISIONING:
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DAY
Visioning is a method used by many to take control of their day. Do you take charge of your day, or is your day taking charge of you?
When you wake up in the mornings, do you know exactly what you want to accomplish, where you are going and how to get there?
If not, you are like many people who have become 'Wanderers'. They get up in the morning and they wander through the day.
They have no real goals. And they are wide open to every stress, worry and frustration that comes along.
Do you find yourself each day, running to catch up, with no time left for yourself? Would you like to enjoy your days more? There's a simple easy way to do this.
3 STEPS TO VISIONING YOUR DAY
First thing in the morning, before you get out of bed:
1.
ESTABLISH THE FEELING YOU WILL CARRY THROUGH YOUR DAY
* Sit up, close your eyes and relax into a 5 minute meditation.
* Let go of all your worries and intentions for that day.
* Breathe.
* Focus on feeling grateful for what you have, who you have in your life, where you are right now.
Be in the moment . . . peaceful . . . happy. . . grateful . . .
You have now established the feeling you will carry through your day.
2.
ORGANIZE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY
* List your 7 Highest Priorities
- these are the things you will get done today.
* Have a small notebook to record them.
* Realize that if you do not set up your agenda for your day, someone else will set it up for you.
At the end of each day:
3.
TAKE TIME TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED
* Feel good about your day.
* If you didn't get to all of your priorities, don't sweat it,
* Put these at the top of tomorrow's list.
DO YOU SEE A TREND?
After a few weeks, notice what the most important things tend to be on your Priority List each day.
* Do these priorities align with your highest values - what you truly believe in your heart?
* Or are you unsure about what you really want?
* You can change that right now. How?
YOUR IRRITATION LIST
At the end of each day, you'll have a list of complaints on how the day went.
* Jot down everything that irritated you.
* You have now noticed what you are not satisfied with in your life.
* You have taken action.
* You have created an Irritation List.
Becoming conscious of what is irritating you allows you to take steps to change it. You can turn this list into a vision of what you'd like to have in your life. Write out the positive version of that list of negatives.
A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE
You now have a Vision For Your Life That Works For You.
Each day revise, change and expand it until it feels just right.
This is the image of your life, that you carry in your heart, into each day.
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE NOW
Mornings:
* Focus on the Feeling you want to hold for that day
* List Your 7 Highest Priorities
Evenings:
* Write Your Daily Gratitude List
* Write Your Irritation List
* Revise and Adjust Your Vision
See yourself living the life of your Dreams!
Other Articles On Work Life Balance
* An Easy Time-Management System
* Cultivating the Habit of Praise
* Visioning: Taking Charge of Your Day
* 4 Strategies to Deflect 'Worry' in Your Life
* Becoming a Magnet for Prosperity
* What is 'True Happiness'?
* Book Review: "Happy for No Reason"
* Does Your Work Environment Compliment Your Personality?
* Looking for a Secure Job - You Just May Find it in the Trades
* Key Questions to Ask When Looking for a Best Career Fit
* Encore Careers for Retirees
* Simple as 1,2,3 - A Quick & Easy Method of Career Decision Making
Please visit www.best-career-match.com for more information.
Awesome website with free testing and manuals
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DAY
Visioning is a method used by many to take control of their day. Do you take charge of your day, or is your day taking charge of you?
When you wake up in the mornings, do you know exactly what you want to accomplish, where you are going and how to get there?
If not, you are like many people who have become 'Wanderers'. They get up in the morning and they wander through the day.
They have no real goals. And they are wide open to every stress, worry and frustration that comes along.
Do you find yourself each day, running to catch up, with no time left for yourself? Would you like to enjoy your days more? There's a simple easy way to do this.
3 STEPS TO VISIONING YOUR DAY
First thing in the morning, before you get out of bed:
1.
ESTABLISH THE FEELING YOU WILL CARRY THROUGH YOUR DAY
* Sit up, close your eyes and relax into a 5 minute meditation.
* Let go of all your worries and intentions for that day.
* Breathe.
* Focus on feeling grateful for what you have, who you have in your life, where you are right now.
Be in the moment . . . peaceful . . . happy. . . grateful . . .
You have now established the feeling you will carry through your day.
2.
ORGANIZE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY
* List your 7 Highest Priorities
- these are the things you will get done today.
* Have a small notebook to record them.
* Realize that if you do not set up your agenda for your day, someone else will set it up for you.
At the end of each day:
3.
TAKE TIME TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED
* Feel good about your day.
* If you didn't get to all of your priorities, don't sweat it,
* Put these at the top of tomorrow's list.
DO YOU SEE A TREND?
After a few weeks, notice what the most important things tend to be on your Priority List each day.
* Do these priorities align with your highest values - what you truly believe in your heart?
* Or are you unsure about what you really want?
* You can change that right now. How?
YOUR IRRITATION LIST
At the end of each day, you'll have a list of complaints on how the day went.
* Jot down everything that irritated you.
* You have now noticed what you are not satisfied with in your life.
* You have taken action.
* You have created an Irritation List.
Becoming conscious of what is irritating you allows you to take steps to change it. You can turn this list into a vision of what you'd like to have in your life. Write out the positive version of that list of negatives.
A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE
You now have a Vision For Your Life That Works For You.
Each day revise, change and expand it until it feels just right.
This is the image of your life, that you carry in your heart, into each day.
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE NOW
Mornings:
* Focus on the Feeling you want to hold for that day
* List Your 7 Highest Priorities
Evenings:
* Write Your Daily Gratitude List
* Write Your Irritation List
* Revise and Adjust Your Vision
See yourself living the life of your Dreams!
Other Articles On Work Life Balance
* An Easy Time-Management System
* Cultivating the Habit of Praise
* Visioning: Taking Charge of Your Day
* 4 Strategies to Deflect 'Worry' in Your Life
* Becoming a Magnet for Prosperity
* What is 'True Happiness'?
* Book Review: "Happy for No Reason"
* Does Your Work Environment Compliment Your Personality?
* Looking for a Secure Job - You Just May Find it in the Trades
* Key Questions to Ask When Looking for a Best Career Fit
* Encore Careers for Retirees
* Simple as 1,2,3 - A Quick & Easy Method of Career Decision Making
Please visit www.best-career-match.com for more information.
Awesome website with free testing and manuals
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Prep Your 30-, 60-, 90-day Business Plan for the Job Interview
Interviewing
Prep Your 30-, 60-, 90-day Business Plan for the Job Interview
Want to land a sales job and start on the right foot? Be ready to explain how you’ll move the numbers in the first months.
August 2, 2010
By Andrew Klappholz
ShareThis
FILED UNDER: Interview Questions, Presentation.
Interviewing
If you work in sales at the manager level or above, you should be prepared to hear the question from a hiring manager on a job interview; he wants to know what your 30-, 60- and 90-day plans are to build a new sales territory, halt a customer exodus or improve revenue. Be ready to deliver your plan and back it with data, said Kathleen Steffey, CEO and founder of Naviga Services, a Tampa, Fla., recruiting and staffing agency that specializes in marketing and sales roles.
“We highly recommend it for candidates, especially in the final stages of the interview,” she said. “It shows them, ‘I’ve thought about this.’ ” In any field where revenue is at stake, if the hiring team sees someone who’s prepared and appears ready to enhance revenue right away, they’ll be more likely to offer that person the job.
Dan, a medical-supplies salesman from the Midwest and a SalesLadder member who asked that his full name not be used, used the tactic to his advantage on a recent job interview for a diagnostic-services company. He said the business plan he put together for his interview showed the hiring manager that he had done his homework and was familiar with the company, its products and the market.
“I did the back research and found out what types of jobs I’ll be going on,” Dan said. “They were mainly concerned about ‘what you can do for me’ in terms of revenue.”
Career Advice from TheLadders
* 10 Good Ways to 'Tell Me About Yourself'
* How Full-Time Parents Can Reclaim a Full-Time Job
* Bringing Networking into Focus
* Why I hired you
Dan provided the potential employer with a detailed account of a sales territory, citing specific numbers of how many doctors and medical groups are in an area; he said his planning not only impressed the hiring manager, but it also prepared him to do the job.
In sales, it takes time to develop contacts and strengthen relationships, so business plans should reflect that maturation as it develops over periods of 30, 60 and 90 days. Dan said his plan was realistic and obtainable – major factors in its effectiveness – “targeting smaller accounts initially and larger ones in the 60- and 90-day period.”
Generic is garbage
The plan doesn’t need to be a 100-page briefing on every factor facing the company’s sales strategy and every data point down to the penny. It can be a simple PowerPoint presentation attached to an e-mail. Nevertheless, you must include a summary that proves you’re capable of making money for the company.
Such presentations are a platform to show the hiring manager how seriously you’re taking the opportunity, Steffey said.
While you can find business-plan templates online, there’s no auto-fill application that allows you to demonstrate your prowess with the click of a button.
Naviga Services’ Steffey stresses that these reports need to be as unique and informative as possible − considering trends and market conditions. The more it speaks to the hiring manager’s needs, the more effective it is, she said.
“It can’t be general. It has to be crafted for the particular employer,” she said. “If it’s general, it’s garbage.”
“That’s a turnoff when they see something generic,” Dan agreed. “If it matches up with their values, that’s what you have to base the business plan around.
Prep Your 30-, 60-, 90-day Business Plan for the Job Interview
Want to land a sales job and start on the right foot? Be ready to explain how you’ll move the numbers in the first months.
August 2, 2010
By Andrew Klappholz
ShareThis
FILED UNDER: Interview Questions, Presentation.
Interviewing
If you work in sales at the manager level or above, you should be prepared to hear the question from a hiring manager on a job interview; he wants to know what your 30-, 60- and 90-day plans are to build a new sales territory, halt a customer exodus or improve revenue. Be ready to deliver your plan and back it with data, said Kathleen Steffey, CEO and founder of Naviga Services, a Tampa, Fla., recruiting and staffing agency that specializes in marketing and sales roles.
“We highly recommend it for candidates, especially in the final stages of the interview,” she said. “It shows them, ‘I’ve thought about this.’ ” In any field where revenue is at stake, if the hiring team sees someone who’s prepared and appears ready to enhance revenue right away, they’ll be more likely to offer that person the job.
Dan, a medical-supplies salesman from the Midwest and a SalesLadder member who asked that his full name not be used, used the tactic to his advantage on a recent job interview for a diagnostic-services company. He said the business plan he put together for his interview showed the hiring manager that he had done his homework and was familiar with the company, its products and the market.
“I did the back research and found out what types of jobs I’ll be going on,” Dan said. “They were mainly concerned about ‘what you can do for me’ in terms of revenue.”
Career Advice from TheLadders
* 10 Good Ways to 'Tell Me About Yourself'
* How Full-Time Parents Can Reclaim a Full-Time Job
* Bringing Networking into Focus
* Why I hired you
Dan provided the potential employer with a detailed account of a sales territory, citing specific numbers of how many doctors and medical groups are in an area; he said his planning not only impressed the hiring manager, but it also prepared him to do the job.
In sales, it takes time to develop contacts and strengthen relationships, so business plans should reflect that maturation as it develops over periods of 30, 60 and 90 days. Dan said his plan was realistic and obtainable – major factors in its effectiveness – “targeting smaller accounts initially and larger ones in the 60- and 90-day period.”
Generic is garbage
The plan doesn’t need to be a 100-page briefing on every factor facing the company’s sales strategy and every data point down to the penny. It can be a simple PowerPoint presentation attached to an e-mail. Nevertheless, you must include a summary that proves you’re capable of making money for the company.
Such presentations are a platform to show the hiring manager how seriously you’re taking the opportunity, Steffey said.
While you can find business-plan templates online, there’s no auto-fill application that allows you to demonstrate your prowess with the click of a button.
Naviga Services’ Steffey stresses that these reports need to be as unique and informative as possible − considering trends and market conditions. The more it speaks to the hiring manager’s needs, the more effective it is, she said.
“It can’t be general. It has to be crafted for the particular employer,” she said. “If it’s general, it’s garbage.”
“That’s a turnoff when they see something generic,” Dan agreed. “If it matches up with their values, that’s what you have to base the business plan around.
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