No Shrinking Violet

Omaha author, Jeff Beals has hit home with a recent book about the power and need to be able to market yourself. Read the chapter excerpt: No Room For Shrinking Violets: Why You Must Market Yourself from his book, Self Marketing Power: Branding Yourself As A Business Of One, viewable as a word document in Module 5.

Jeff discusses that there is no such place for a shrinking violet today! He states that, relationships matter.and in short that we have no choice but to market ourselves. He explains how this concept is relevant for several reasons:

• For the benefit of your own career.
• To increase your name recognition.
• To boost your personal reputation.
• To promote your employers (or your own!) business.
• To get new clients.
• To further your ideological, civic or social beliefs or a pet cause. (Beals)

He finishes by saying, You simply need to make yourself known; you need to promote your personal brand. This can be done by calling people, asking someone to meet you for coffee and showing up at business networking events..you never know where the opportunity will come to land a new client. Thats why you must market yourself constantly to everyone you meet. (Beals).

So.no better time like the present! It might seem like short notice; but in the world of networking its really not.so pick up the phone, meet someone for coffee/breakfast/brunch/lunch, tap on your bosss or mentors door to discuss your future, even attend a networking event. Just do SOMETHING in the very near future to kick start your Self Marketing Agenda.

Then, post to share:

1. Whom you met with? Tell us the ins and outs
2. What was your objective?
3. What did you actually accomplish?
4. Whats the next plan on your Self Marketing Agenda?