Since change is the only constant these days, your career management strategy needs to be an ongoing activity, and personal branding is one vehicle to drive your success for the future.
To paraphrase Warren Buffet, “When the tide goes out, you don’t want to be left standing there without your bathing suit.” Such a visual — is it not? Do you remember what you would have done differently to be better prepared to ride the last recession wave?
This week, a high-level executive and past client approached us to request another six-month coaching relationship. When we asked about her current challenges, she responded, “I really do not have any. I just wanted to be over-prepared and start evaluating my next move.” I have great respect for her. She didn’t wait until there was a personal brand “emergency” before she hired us!
We have been working with other amazing individuals, all of whom are people in a “good” transition, making the commitment to raise their personal brand. One is transitioning out of a career into an entirely new direction. Another is preparing his next career move within the same industry, and the third wants to manage up within the same company, building a strong brand presence internally. All three are building a strong foundation to catapult their careers — and personal brands — to the next level.
All three of these individuals are pro-active, and they are not just talking — they are DOING!
What are you doing? Or are you still talking about what you will do, if, when? Do you think your personal brand will be able to sustain the double-dip recession that some economists are now predicting? Are you prepared to respond quickly to this financial contingency, or do you have a short-term memory? What do you need to do to be over-prepared for your next personal brand move?
Being over-prepared and pro-active, and remembering key learnings from this past 18 months, will help us continue to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and what we need to do to either re-brand ourselves or raise our personal brand stakes. Being fully reserved will better prepare us for upcoming challenges so that we do not repeat the same mistakes and face the same challenges. PERSONAL BRAND SUSTAINABILITY should be your primary focus right now!
Take 10 minutes or stop for a moment. What is the one small thing you can do right now that will move your personal brand forward? For me, I am going to design a new business card that reflects who I am, not only what I do.
BOTTOM LINE: Your Personal Brand needs to be one of your top career management HABITS!
Because we may not have the time, love, money or extended resources to sustain another personal brand setback!
Do you feel your brand is being confronted by the current challenges and doesn’t seem to be resonating in the marketplace? Then it is time to build your personal brand development plan — NOW.
Contact me. We can help you jumpstart your PB development plan.
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