Personal Branding – Your Reality

• Experiences – This is where many people start and stop. Recounting the jobs you have had is only the beginning. To me, it feels like snap shots in time that tell only part of your story. Learn how to weave a (true) story that links one discreet job to another with insight into why and how you made decisions about your choices. • Competencies – With a description of your skills, knowledge and capabilities we are starting to tell a story, but it’s like watching a black and white movie. You have to be able to distill what you are really good and how you go about doing things. Offer context, that is, preferences for and exposure to certain kinds of situations and circumstances that provide dimension and interest to your movie. • Achievements – Now the movie is colorized with the successes and “lessons” you have had. Be Learn more...

Personal Branding

Personal branding … “is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands. The personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging. Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. The term is thought to have been first used and discussed in a 1997 article by Tom Peters.” Source: Wikipedia I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the description for personal branding stated above, but it is the irrefutable truth is that having a “brand” in the business world is critical whether you want to call it a brand or not. I take issue with the notion that it is all about packaging. I’d like to think that business professionals won’t be duped by Learn more...

Addressing Sterotypes

Great blog on networking for Asians that has relevance for all of us. http://jeknetwork.typepad.com/networking/2010/02/yang-liu-and-wsj.html#tpe-action-posted-6a00e554e88723883301310f2f830c970c

Speaking Engagement

I’ll be addressing a group of Kraft Foods employees this Wednesday, February 24th during the noon hour on the subject of “Personal Branding.” This is hosted by the Kraft Foods African-American Council as part of Black History Month. Should be a great time and I’ll post some parts of the presentation for you to comment on.

Social Media Optimization…

What’s the buzz about “social media”. Your online presence and how you manage and grow it as simply a function of knowing what Facebook does, how Twitter works and where LinkedIn fits in. Equally important is having a consistent message. What’s the “Buzz” about Google? I worked with a local Digital Ad Agency to create my social media optimization plan (Media-Fuse.com) and I’m glad I did!!

Lose the Weight

I don’t know about you, but even a month after the holidays, I still have a few pounds I really need to lose. Losing the weight requires returning to good habits that are tried and true. It also means consistently exercising muscles previously underutilized. One of the things I notice in the people I coach is the tendency to be weighed down by preconceived notions that limit their job hunting and career opportunities. They refuse to exercise options based on their fear of discomfort or an unknown outcome. Let me give you an example. I was speaking with a woman recently who was weighing which industry to go into at this juncture in her career – the one she is in, or one of the two she had been in before. She reasoned that in spite of liking one of the earlier industries, the job outlook wasn’t as favorable as Learn more...