What are your marketing choices?

I love asking this question to businesses and individuals.

My passion to sustain the Connecticut Re-Employment Group often leads me to think of how the job seeker can better "shop" themselves to find the right job that fits their personality.

Seekers first encounter what I will call structural choices. They are resume writers, career coaches, labor experts etc...who can help them with the tools needed to delve into the wild world of job hunting.

The next set of choices revolve around how to market yourself. What is your story? Who should you tell? Who can help you? Where should you go to tell your story? Should you stay at home and use social media? Is your strategy proactive or passive? Is your strategy yielding results?

CREG is a choice you can consider when you conduct your personal marketing. The CREG "philosophy" suggests being proactive, exploring the uniqueness of your personality through an enjoyable and introspective process, and assessing all of the choices available to promote the entity of YOU.

Make the choice to join us on July 19th. If interested, join us on LinkedIn.

Pay vs. Purpose. What is your priority?

The following question was posed to my LinkedIn community...

"Do we have the discipline to turn down the job that only pays well in favor of the one that leaves us feeling good at the end of the day?" - Simon Sinek

The replies so far are heavily in favor of the latter statement that focuses on feeling good. Not surprising. The next question I beg to ask is...are we matching our beliefs with our actual behavior?

How about these questions? 

When you go to work are you crystal clear on why your company exists? "To make money" is a result, not a reason. 

Do you work among people who are committed to the same company goals and mission that you are? Do you "feel it", or is there tangible evidence? 

What exactly is it that makes you feel good at the end of the day? 

The recession that commenced in 2008 has changed our world forever. Businesses must operate differently. The workforce and job seeking community need to adjust as well. The shift I see consistently is the desire to be attached to a business with clear purpose, beliefs and values. How fast is this happening? Your answers to the above questions will give the best indicator.  

3 cheers for a special group of entrepreneurs

The Connecticut Community Investment Corp. (CTCIC) was kind enough to invite me to speak to an audience of entrepreneurs about the subject of social media Monday evening.

It was a pleasure and a privilege.

Here's what I learned. Being an entrepreneur is a day-to-day struggle. There's the shaky economy, fierce competition, ability to sustain positive cash flow and the never ending challenge of finding more customers. Such is life when you are in their shoes.

There's another side that is worth noting. The group was energetic, curious, engaging and committed to maintain the title of entrepreneur. Some had come from the other side of the tracks (corporate world) and you could tell there wasn't a desire to go back. Most of them shared a story about a specific challenge, while being determined to somehow, someway make it happen.

The part of the meeting I enjoyed most was when I challenged them to tell me why they do what they do.  Not surprisingly there were very different reasons for their motivations. All were fascinating and highlighted their uniqueness and authenticity. Their biggest challenge is not losing sight of why they started their endeavor in the first place.

The entrepreneurial spirit needs to be elevated in this country, even if you have no interest in owning a business. Entrepreneurial people behave differently, tell different stories and approach each new day with a cause and purpose in their lives. Can you say the same thing?

I celebrate the small business owner and wish them the best as they lead us out of our tough economic times!

Marketing advice that will sustain and inspire

If you care about marketing you should do yourself two favors.

1. Absorb everything Seth Godin says. 
2. Absorb everything Simon Sinek says. 

One man's opinion. 

I'm attracted to great leaders. As Sinek describes in "Start With Why" great leaders communicate differently than the rest of us. Read it and you will likely embrace what he calls the Golden Circle, which stresses the importance of telling us why you do what you do.

Godin tells us to tell stories, not recite slogans. Stories will spread...the "facts" won't. He emphasizes humility, generosity and clarity as ingredients in great stories. 

Sinek and Godin arrive at similar conclusions from different perspectives. Their ideas are inspiring, refreshing and seemingly within reach because they are rooted in disciplined, clear thinking. 

Marketing can be a struggle. It helps to have a baseline of beliefs that can be a safe place to begin the process of reassessing your strategy. 

Take advantage of the teachings of these great leaders. I have learned more from them than any text book or manager I have worked for in the past. 

Why should I "connect" with you?

On LinkedIn?
For a cup of coffee?
For a drink at happy hour?

Why do we connect with others? Is it obvious, or is the agenda hidden?

I have changed my personal LinkedIn policy relating to connections. Thankfully I receive invitations to connect with others on a consistent basis. Often they are people I don't know. Here's the new policy.

If you ask to connect with me we agree to a simultaneous phone appointment. Why? So I can speak intelligently about my new friend...if someone asks. I have not known how to handle this situation and often hit "accept" and go on to the next thing. I realize that not knowing my new connection is a lost opportunity. How hard is it to review your new connection's profile and put together a list of questions? It's not hard. Phone appointments may lead to other things depending on mutual interest.

One last favor. If you wish to connect, please tell me why in your invitation. I don't discriminate and would like to initiate a relationship with a basis of openness and trust.

Some of my favorite questions

1. Why did you choose your career?
2. Why is your favorite hobby...your favorite hobby? 
3. Why do people respect you? 
4. Why do you live where you live? 
5. Why did you choose your last vacation destination? 
6. Why did you get up this morning?