Women Power Wednesday - Self-Branding Actions - 19.3

Sally,

Below is the list of the ten self-branding actions we are studying from Kaputa's book. We had worked our way into number six before the break. You will remember we were talking about the power of words and we discussed how your name, Sally Singletary, has a nice ring to it.

I have been trying to decide what to call my personal, brand-building Website, as I begin the process of reinventing myself for this next phase of life. I have settled on the URL: ChurnOn.com, with a subtile, All things G. Page Singletary. This site is going to allow me to feature materials relevant to who I am; and what I have done in both my professional life and personal life. It will also serve as a launch pad for some of my writing projects and for my Blog which will be titled 'The Churn'. From the Blog, I will be able to connect to my LinkedIn account where I can show examples of my work, make observations on trends, or point out insights on others' good works. Do you like this idea? What do you think of the URL: ChurnOn.com?

1. Celebrate yourself and your uniqueness: Do a self-brand audit. 2. Keep tabs on the big picture: Do a SWOT analysis. 3. Don't avoid the competition: Go to school on your competition. 4. Find the sweet spot: Focus on the right strategy for achieving your goals.

5. Harness the power of self-presentation: Learn the principles of visual identity.

6. Tap into the power of words: Learn the principles of verbal identity.

7. Think in terms of markets: Engage in and respond to the market.

8. Expand your network and your visibility: Become know for something by somebody somewhere.

9. Execute a self-brand action plan: Develop specific tactics and implement each as scheduled.

10. Stay relevant: Measure how you are doing.

Women power,

Dad

Stay Whole Tuesday - Back to Branding - 19.2

Sally,

As the semester officially kicks into gear, let's move back to our study of Katherine Kaputa's book, You are a Brand! To get us back on track, I will use the rest of this week to review some of the key points we looked at before the break. Today, please reread my executive summary of Chapter One from my post on December 2, 2010.

The summary of the summary goes like this. This book is about helping you develop an effective self-branding strategy that works in achieving professional and life goals but also is true to you - that brings more of you into the equation. Have you ever met someone and just asked them, "So what are YOU all about?" "What makes you, you?" "What makes you tick?" "Come on, give me something unique?" These are important questions.

Stay whole,

Dad

Fit as a Fiddle Friday - Rest = Rust - 18.5

Helen Hayes, American Actress and winner of Academy, Emmy, Tony and Grammy awards, says:

"If you rest, you rust."

Stay fit,

Dad

Colloquial Thursday - Look for work, not a job - 18.4

Sally,

I read an interesting post on a blog by a guy named John Fees. John is a professional acquaintance and a successful entrepreneur in the fields of affinity, collegiate and partnership marketing. The topic of the post is 'look for work, not a job'.  It reminds me of the Personal Branding discussion we were having before the break.

John encourages anyone in today's job market to take the following steps (taken directly from his post):

1. Name your work - buy a URL and use it for your email. Don't expect to get work with a Yahoo or Gmail account.
2. Create a website that describes your skills, interests and capacity to contribute to an organization. Use the Blog and connect it to LinkedIn - and start promoting what you can do for others - examples of your work, observations on trends, insights on other good work.
3. Order business cards that will give you an identity - perhaps more important than a resume.
4. Update and maintain a LinkedIn profile in order to build your network of contacts.

Another way to say all of this, is 'control your own destiny' rather than let the job market dictate what your options will be.

Hope you are well,

Dad

Women Power Wednesday - Marie Curie - 18.3

Sally,

I love yesterday's quote from Marie Curie and (repeating myself) I want all of my girls to memorize it. Be sure to read about Marie Curie, the first two time winner of the Nobel Prize!

"We must believe that we are gifted for something, and this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."

I once heard these four questions, that are related to this quote:

1. What does the world need?
2. Do I have the skill to meet the need?
3. Would I value doing that?
4. Can I make a living doing that?

Some food for thought,

Dad

Stay Whole Tuesday - Our gifts - 18.2

Sally,

This is powerful. I want all of my girls to memorize this quote.

"We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."

Marie Curie (1867-1934)
French physicist and chemist
two-time Nobel Prize winner

I will have more to say about this tomorrow and we will celebrate Marie Curie on Women Power Wednesday.

Stay whole (and warm),

Dad

Make it a great Monday - Welcome back - 18.1

Good morning Sally,

Sounds like it is cold and wet in Georgia? Here is a quote to get us going again, on the subject of patience.

"Patience is necessary. One can not reap immediately where one has sown."

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
Danish philosopher and writer

After I work through some computer transition issues, I will pick back up on the topic of Personal Branding.

Until then . . .

Make it a great Monday,

Dad