The One Simple Tool You Need To Ensure Success

The Checklist.  It's one of the simplest tools, yet how many of us are using it to it's full potential?

I've become obsessed with checklists after reading   The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande.  Gawande, a prominent surgeon, makes a case for the use of checklists in medicine by citing examples of the effective use of checklists in everything from pre-op procedures to piloting aircraft to building sky scrapers. 

Nothing is too complex to benefit from a checklist.  In fact, Gawande points out that the more complex a task, the more it benefits from a checklist.  Checklists ensure that the simple yet important steps are taken while freeing up thought processes for more difficult problems and unknown variables.  Often it is the small, seemingly obvious steps that become the Achilles heal when forgotten or missed. Steps like properly washing hands before a medical procedure or making sure you are performing the correct operation. We often overestimate how much we can remember.  Checklists make certain we don't forget. 

I've been utilizing checklists more diligently and seeing checklists everywhere. Another book, How to Organize (Just About) Everything by Peter Walsh has been tremendously helpful in developing checklists in my life.  Basically it's a big book of checklists for everything from organizing your home to planning an IPO.  I've used checklists in planning events, networking, job hunting and keeping my family on task. Not only am I more productive, I'm not as stressed. 

Now I can check off "Write blog post" for today. 

Why You Need a Personal Brand Strategy

Marketing Guru, Seth Goden defines Brand as, "The set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another."  In other words, a brand is what people who are in a position to buy think about what you are selling.  We all sell ourselves everyday in multiple ways:

You sell yourself to your boss to keep or promote you.
You sell yourself to potential employers to hire you.
You sell yourself to clients to buy from you or use your services.
You sell yourself to friends to spend time with you.
You sell yourself to lovers to be with you.
You sell yourself to your kids to listen to you or like you.
You sell yourself to your students to take your class and actually learn from you.

YOU already have a Brand.  Are you actively managing it? 

Only recently have I focused on my own personal brand.  A new marriage, a couple of failed attempts to get into management, a career change and a move facilitated my interest in the topic.  As they say, "you teach what you need to learn."  Some things about myself, I can't change.  Being a short, buxom woman with the face of a teenager and the voice of a Disney character certainly doesn't help toward catapulting me into career success (at least not in the careers that interest me).  But, that only makes it more important to manage what I can about my personal brand.  As long as I'm on this journey, I'd like to help others.  It's time to sell what you've got.

Reasons for focusing on Personal Branding are different for everyone.  They might include:

Searching for a Job
Changing Careers
Seeking Advancement
Starting a Business
Building a Business
Expanding a Network
Getting a Social Life
Experiencing a Life Transition
Graduating From School
Dating
Positioning Yourself as an Expert
Staying Relevant

What do you hope to accomplish by defining and managing YOUR Brand?

11 Ways to Engage Online That You May be Missing

©iStock.com/Marekuliaz

 

Think clever posts, pins, check-ins and Instagram photos make you a social media star?  Think again.  If you aren't actively engaging with others online, your missing out opportunities and probably look like a self-absorbed jerk.  People care more about what they are doing than what you ate or where you are.  So how can you really stand out (in a good way)? ENGAGE with others.  The web is a conversation here are some ways to join the party: 

1. Respond to comments people make to your blog and social media updates. 
2. Respond quickly to emails and InMails.
3. Respond to wall posts, recommendations, tweets and endorsements that people send you.
4. Comment and “Like” other peoples’ posts and content.
5. Send InMail, Email, Tweets and Wall Posts to connections regularly.
6. Endorse and give recommendations to others on LinkedIn.
7. Ask questions and facilitate conversations on your social media sites and blog.
8. Join relevant online communities, networks and contribute to the conversations.
9. Post reviews of media and products on Amazon: www.amazon.com
10. Write topics for a community like www.helium.com or www.ning.com
11. Write guest posts for other people’s blogs and ask people to write for yours.