What's your Brand?

Special Guest Post.

Few weeks ago I went to a seminar by Mike Leon of www.brandheroes.ca where he talked about how important branding is. Below is a great illustration of this. Enjoy!

Each and everyone one of us is a brand!

You've heard that one before, right? Whether you're interviewing for a job, or meeting someone for the first time, the image you portray is the impression you create.

To my family, I can be the one-line-cracking comedian. To my friends, I can be the married guy who's got his head on straight and knows exactly what he wants. To my former colleagues, I can be the most accommodating co-worker they'd ever met. Now, I may or may not be any of these statements, depending on how past actions have created certain assumptions of myself.

Nike creates an impression with, "Just Do It"
McDonald's creates an impression with it's grammatically incorrect, "I'm Lovin' It"

Just as companies are brands with slogans, we, as individuals, are also brands with slogans. It's just a matter of figuring out what each of ours is! My slogan, you ask? It's the name of my blog! I'd like to think that I break through the clutter and differentiate myself from whichever social setting I'm in, while still pleasing those around me.

So, then, what's yours? I can't tell you what it is.....you're your own brand!

How do you Connect?

Special Guest Blog. Thanks for the promotion!

Know your Interviewer!!!

How would you like to be a Psychic?!? By reading into your interviewer's mind, you can make an impression that no other candidate has!

Early last year, I was in the process of switching jobs. So, I was entrusted with the responsibility of interviewing my replacement. While paring the number of potential interviewees down, I used an unorthodox method to eliminate a candidate......by visiting their Facebook page! She had made the mistake of making her page 'public' and I noticed that she was planning on "touring the world" within the next year. Why hire someone who'll be taking a long leave of absence?

That got me thinking.....couldn't I flip the script and grab the upper hand on an interviewer?

I've used Google, LinkedIn and Facebook to get to know the individual interviewing me. You don't need a whole lot of information. Even one little tidbit can create that lasting memory!

I had an interview last week (a product of my Tim Horton's tactic!) and used Facebook to research my interviewer. Her profile was mostly private, except for one line which indicated she was a fan of international soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo! BINGO! There's my ticket. During the interview, she mentioned how sore her feet were. Noticing the opportunity, I replied, "Can you imagine how sore the best soccer player in world, Cristiano Ronaldo's feet feel after each match?"

Yes, I know it was cheesy (even by my own standards), but it struck a chord with her. "How did you know he was my favourite player?" She now has the following impressions:
- i've done my homework
- i've got some sort of research skills
- i'm a quick thinker, to have thrown that into the interview
- most importantly, i've connected with her and created that memory!!!

That last point is especially critical and elaborated further in this blog: http://www.jimpagiamtzis.blogspot.com/

Ideally, you want to make the connection work-related. If you're able to locate the interviewer's LinkedIn page, you can try to create a connection with a previous employer of theirs or the school they attended.

Did you think this post was informative? I thought so! No, I'm not Psychic....I've just done my research!!

How Do You Market and Promote "You" ?

15-AUG-08 Whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee you need to market your skills and abilities.
You can’t market yourself 24 hours-a-day, 7 days week, there are tools that can effectively do it for you. Success is directly related to how you are perceived, which is related to your exposure in the market-place. Better credibility will bring more visibility therefore there must a specific intent of how you use online (internet) & offline (contacts) to promote your talent and experience. Internet For the past few years social networking websites have exploded as the new medium to promote you either personally or professionally. LinkedIn & Facebook can both be used in effective ways to promote your skills and abilities and business. A few months ago I received an email from a contact I had met at a networking event stating the features of Facebook and the benefits of being connected with him through stories and testimonials. He made an effective presentation. During the next three months I found school mates, received referrals and information on various events. Increasing your visibility is recommended by many entrepreneurs and coaches. Research, locate and meet potential people that could assist in your employment search or expanding social circle with various authors, speakers and community leaders. Blogging Create your own blog; it’s simple and free. Once you register, you get your own URL, which is like your own website. This can be used to write self-promotional articles about you. Or write a brief article on a hobby or activity you enjoy. This is a powerful and effective way to expose your talents and experiences in various fields. Business Networking There are numerous symposiums and seminars held throughout the Greater Toronto Region on a weekly basis. The importance of attending and participating is critical in accessing unadvertised jobs referred to as the “hidden market.” Businesses know the significance of “Word of Mouth” as the best marketing method, so why not apply it to YOU. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for either a job or more business and tell them what your skills & strengths are. Having your own business cards and a 30 second elevator pitch are critical to being prepared in talking to potential employers or business clients. While attending an event last year I picked up one business card which resulted in contributing to three online articles. This led to more visibility and to a talk that I was asked to do at an IT Job Fair in Toronto. Follow-up with new contacts As you collect business cards, the next step is to create a computer database of contacts you have made. You can use outlook or contact management systems (ACT) to update and maintain information. Follow-up by sending a letter, email or phone your contacts on a monthly basis. Keep them updated on your search by sending a mini-bio of your achievements and experience. If you do receive a referral, make sure you send a thank you card, email or phone in appreciation. Action will lead to progress, leading to rewarding results. “Get Connected, Make it Happen!”

Description: Everyone is a role model when is comes to being an entrepreneur. Having a mentor is an important key to your success.
When you read the daily newspapers and magazines you learn about different people - from Donald Trump to Martha Stewart, at some point you must ask yourself, "Can I be as successful as them?" There are many movies that show us great examples of mentorship from Hoosiers, to Remember the Titans to We are Marshall. There also great books that are resources on what to look for in a mentor from The Mentor's Mentor (by Corey Olynik), Fierce Conversations (by Susan Scott) or Power Mentoring (by Ellen Ensher & Susan Murphy) "What you read and listen to will shape your future" A mentor should be someone who is or soon will be an important influence in your life. They have walked the leadership journey before you and have experienced not only the challenges you are going through today, but will encounter next. This is of great interest for your success because you want to know what you will come across over the next bridge and that it will not surprise you when it occurs. Albert Einstein has a great quote. "The significant problems you face in life today can't be solved at the same level of thinking when you first created the problem." When faced with a challenging situation with a co-worker, I step away and repeat the above quote 5 times slowly. In the end I feel more relaxed and centered. In our daily lives things happen which we can't control. We learn a lesson from it and move forward. That's the sign you are growing and becoming a stronger person inside. Reaching the next level is what your mentor will guide and advise. Because of this they should be someone who you feel comfortable with and can talk to in a forthcoming manner about an extremely personal topic, your performance as a leader. Recently I listened to Ruben Gonzalez, three-time Olympian, and he gave a visual example of how when he began to learn the luge they didn't start him from the top. Had they done so he would hurt himself and ended his career on his first try. He started at the bottom and gradually as he became better they moved him up to different heights and stages of the luge track. This is how he began to gauge and handle all the different curves going at speeds of 85 km hour. Cory Olynik says it so eloquently in his book "...[a mentor] helps him to see who he is, see the possibilities, his gifts, his greatness. A mentor focuses on strength and not weakness. A mentor identifies potential and creates momentum. A mentor puts aside his own agenda to help his protege express his own unique talents. A mentor accepts the protege for who his now, and sees the potential of who he can be." Mentors will change over time as your career develops and your experience as a leader grows and will find and have additional mentors to adapt to changing needs business life and success.

Do you have a Mentor?

Do you a Mentor? Everyone is a role model when is comes to being an entrepreneur. Having a mentor is an important key to your success.
When you read the daily newspapers and magazines you learn about different people - from Donald Trump to Martha Stewart, at some point you must ask yourself, "Can I be as successful as them?" There are many movies that show us great examples of mentorship from Hoosiers, to Remember the Titans to We are Marshall. There also great books that are resources on what to look for in a mentor from The Mentor's Mentor (by Corey Olynik), Fierce Conversations (by Susan Scott) or Power Mentoring (by Ellen Ensher & Susan Murphy) "What you read and listen to will shape your future" A mentor should be someone who is or soon will be an important influence in your life. They have walked the leadership journey before you and have experienced not only the challenges you are going through today, but will encounter next. This is of great interest for your success because you want to know what you will come across over the next bridge and that it will not surprise you when it occurs. Albert Einstein has a great quote. "The significant problems you face in life today can't be solved at the same level of thinking when you first created the problem." When faced with a challenging situation with a co-worker, I step away and repeat the above quote 5 times slowly. In the end I feel more relaxed and centered. In our daily lives things happen which we can't control. We learn a lesson from it and move forward. That's the sign you are growing and becoming a stronger person inside. Reaching the next level is what your mentor will guide and advise. Because of this they should be someone who you feel comfortable with and can talk to in a forthcoming manner about an extremely personal topic, your performance as a leader. Recently I listened to Ruben Gonzalez, three-time Olympian, and he gave a visual example of how when he began to learn the luge they didn't start him from the top. Had they done so he would hurt himself and ended his career on his first try. He started at the bottom and gradually as he became better they moved him up to different heights and stages of the luge track. This is how he began to gauge and handle all the different curves going at speeds of 85 km hour. Cory Olynik says it so eloquently in his book "...[a mentor] helps him to see who he is, see the possibilities, his gifts, his greatness. A mentor focuses on strength and not weakness. A mentor identifies potential and creates momentum. A mentor puts aside his own agenda to help his protege express his own unique talents. A mentor accepts the protege for who his now, and sees the potential of who he can be." Mentors will change over time as your career develops and your experience as a leader grows and will find and have additional mentors to adapt to changing needs business life and success.

196 Words of Wisdom That Have Turned Business Around

Get Connected Make It Happen Special article

Remember that the people you address are selfish, as we all are. They care nothing about your interest or your profit. They seek service for themselves. Ignoring this fact is a common mistake and a costly mistake in advertising. Ads say in effect, buy my brand. Give me the trade you give to others. Let me have the money. That is not a popular appeal.

The worst ads ask no one to buy. That is useless. Often they do not quote a price. They do not say that dealers handle the product.

The best are based entirely on service. They offer wanted information. They cite advantages to users. Perhaps they offer a sample, or to buy the first package (with a certain dollar value coupon), or to send something on approval, so the customer may prove the claims without any cost or risk.

Some of these ads seem altruistic. But they are based on a knowledge of human nature. The writers know how people are led to buy.

Here again is salesmanship. The good salesman does not merely cry a name. He doesn't say 'Buy my articles.' He pictures the customer's side of his service until the natural result is to buy.

I didn't write those 196 words, I wish I had. They were written by Claude Hopkins in 1923. Although he has been dead for many years, Claude Hopkins is still considered, by those in the know, to be one of the world’s leading authorities on direct response. Interestingly few modern copy writers and advertisers have read his work.

He used the above philosophy to put Bissell Carpet Cleaners on the map and using the same philosophy he helped take Schlitz Beer from number 5 to number 1, in only a few months. Nothing has changed since he wrote Scientific Advertising. His ideas work as well now as they did back then. The book is now out of print, but well worth reading if you can find a copy of it. You can download an electronic version at:

Claude Hopkins -Scientific Advertising

http://www.geocities.com/MadisonAvenue/Boardroom/4124/

For the Striving and Growing Entrepreneurs

7 Strategies of How to deal with uncertain times in the current economy

To use a quote from the book Good to Great by Jim Collins "Good is the enemy of Great". If you striving to become Great you have to really excel in these good times with opportunities abound.

In the these slow economic times its important have some key strategies working for yourself to able rise above in the months to come, like a well-prepared ship strong business will weather these economic times.

Know thy self

You have resources within you self to respond to almost any challenge. You know what you need to do, but are you doing it? Your presence must be felt day in day out, whether you are there or not. Lead by example, especially in the times of crisis to communicate in no uncertain terms that you are committed to your business, you client and your customers.

Your TEAM

If you have people on your team who are underperforming, ask why. If you did not communicate clearly, take ownership for it and correct it. If a team member is not performing perhaps a coaching session may be applicable to clarity issues. Work to step by step program to progress to getting some immediate results. Cultivate and attract new team members who bring growth, bigger networks and experience to your team.

Be Different

Whether you are recruiting, or selling product or service, it is important to continually strengthen what you offer and focus its benefits. Do you have a specific target market if so offer your product to customers who will use it or know someone who can use it. Focus on products that strengthen what you offer and take time to learn about others that can give you flexibility.

Connect & Communicate

Your specified market needs to know what you are doing, why, and how it benefits them. If they don't you may have a great product that very few people know about. Remember to not only use traditional vehicles for communication such as advertising, but also new and innovative low cost tools such as email campaigns, word-of-mouth, referrals, testimonials, social networking (Facebook, Plaxo, Twitter) and other methods that are at least as effective if not more and cost less.

Connect with your existing customers

You already have a customer base, as ask yourself what you done lately to tell them that you are grateful that they choose to use your product. Invite customers and ask them to invite friends to events in your area, perhaps at speaking engagement your are giving or event with a great cause.

Strengthen you Business relationships

Go through your database and find those social contacts who could be event coordinators or entrepreneurs who have existing networking groups that you can provide your product and service. Entrepreneurial business owners always want to partner up or do joint ventures. Create a win-win situation that can be implemented easily and effectively.

Build on Community Relations

The best to Get ConnectedMake It Happen! is to create meaningful, long-term connections with your customers is to connect with them through the community. Understand their community and what is important to it and reach out to it. There are many neighborhood events held throughout the spring and summer. Get out and talk to your neighbors and community leaders and re-connect with old schoolmates.

The year ahead may have some waves of uncertainty, regardless of your current state of business you can control what you do TODAY! If you are willing to spend some time and Get Connected with your resources that you have around you and go out there and make it Happen!