By Christine Barney, APR CEO rbb Public relations Christine.barney@rbbpr.com
Step One, “What do I want to be famous for?” That’s the million-dollar question you need to ask yourself. You can’t advance your career track and build your own “brand” without first knowing what it is you’re trying to sell. So how do you find out what makes you sellable?
Identify qualities that make you distinctive from your competitors and colleagues. Why do you stand out, what is your greatest strength, and what is your most noteworthy personal trait? Stay clear of the bandwagon and ask yourself, “What is it that makes me the best person for the job or the promotion?” Forget about your job description and your trip up the corporate ladder and become relentlessly focused on what you do that you are most proud of and what you have done that you can shamelessly brag about. Then do more of it. Now, you’re on your way to driving your career.
Step Two, “How do you market yourself?” Now that you know what you want to be famous for, you can market yourself.
To market yourself, you have to be visible. People trust what they know and reject the unfamiliar. Unless you make yourself known you’re just another face in the crowd. Make yourself stand out from the crowd. Showcase how you are different but more importantly how you are unique. You’ve already figured this out from step one. Get involved in outside projects, internal networking, media work, and/or speaking engagements. Putting oneself out there leads to exposure, awareness, experience and credibility. Recognize that all work is bite-sized projects with deliverables, measurables and braggables.
Keep in mind that “Everything Matters.” How you conduct yourself affects your brand image every day.
Step Three, “The Long Term View” You know who you are and how to make others notice. Now, think about the future.
Think of your career as a portfolio. All the things you learn, skills you develop, contacts you make and experience you gain are the projects that fill it. Don’t get trapped in the comfort of a routine life, or become focused on becoming a manager. Look for projects that are more interesting, challenging and provocative.Unfamiliar assignments can be intimidating, but they will give you an opportunity to grow your skill set. No matter what task or position you take, make sure you are a great teammate and supportive colleague, exceptional at something with value, and a leader and a visionary. Think like a businessperson – become obsessed with pragmatic outcomes.
Forget about climbing up the ladder, and think about expanding out and see how your career thrives.
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