Do you know someone who could be described as an “ultimate networker?” The person in the room who is looking over your head while he talks to you because he’s always trying to find somebody more valuable? That person is missing a golden opportunity. They are only on the hunt to meet decision-makers. If your […]
Personal Brand
Is Your Elevator Speech Authentic?
Believe it or not, a common mistake made with elevator speeches is forgetting to say what our product or service is -clearly. We also forget to say how we’re relevant to the buyers or key stakeholders who should be concerned with our brand. We don’t tell the person who’s listening why they should care! An […]
Nurturing Your Intentional Network
A network of viable contacts is critical in today’s competitive business climate. Your network serves not only as lead sources for new business, but also as a sounding board, support system, cheerleader, news source and industry expert. Your network is the “circle of influence” that will guide you through your career, if carefully planned and […]
Authenticity in Marketing
“Branding without authenticity is just marketing.” I’ve made this statement in presentations and consistently receive positive responses and head-nodding. But how many people really believe that to control and manage your reputation, and design a legacy for how you will be known, you need to be authentic? What is “authenticity” anyway? I see authenticity as […]
A Note on the Importance of Personal Branding
A Lesson on Brand Legacy…From the Trunk
In my living room sits a large steamer trunk. I believe it was made in the early 1920s. My father borrowed it from his grandfather when he left Holland to come to the United States in the 1950s. Today, more than a half century later, the beautiful, stoic trunk sits in my living room, where […]