get free sample - latest issue of personal branding magazine

Some of you may know that I’m the Brand U-niversity columnist for Personal Branding Magazine. The newest issue is just around the corner (February 1st - Friday!) but cause you’ve got “connections” you can download a free sample of it today! Even the free sample issue is ‘jam-packed’ with goodies! Here’s some of what it includes:

• Cover Story: Your Brand Can’t Hide From Google
• Article: The Web Of Influence Between SEO and Personal Branding
• Article: What a Grumpy, No B.S., Direct Marketing Icon Can teach You About Influence…
• Portions of Interviews With:
  Om Malik, Founder, GigaOm.com
  Matt Mullenweg, Founder, WordPress
  Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder/CEO, Ning
  Mark Frauenfelder, Co-Founder, Boing Boing
  Gina Trapani, Founder, Lifehacker
  David Weekly, CEO, PBwiki.com

This is a don’t miss issue. At LEAST grab your free sample now at www.personalbrandingsample.com/, but subscribing to get the full one is a great idea too. Remember, the full version doesn’t get published until February 1st, but the sample is available right now.

People Are The Brand-

Maria Elena Duron - click my name to Google Me!
www.buzz2bucks.com - grow your personal brand today
“dedicated to helping executives & entrepreneurs connect strategically through a confident personal brand”

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

Owning The Brand “Self Absorbed”

The last post I introduced the brand attribute of being “self absorbed” and the outward signs along with solutions.

3 Things That Are Done To Earn You The Brand Of “Self Absorbed”

#2: Answering your phone or checking for text messages during a meeting (with a group or one on one)

Technology is awesome! As someone whose embraced it, I rely on it for all of my business activities, to stay in contact with my virtual team, and to be able to multi-task effectively. And, while virtual connects are wonderful and important it’s important to keep in mind:

• Why you’re at a meeting
• Why you’re having a one-on-one meeting

If you’re there to make a connection with someone, or if you have set aside valuable time (or they have) to spend a moment with you, then NOW is not the time to get on the phone and take or make phone calls - EVEN in the interest of getting things done.

For example, if during a meeting there’s a need to know something from someone, then if you have to call and find out then first:

1. Ask the permission of the group (the group facilitator doesn’t want to have to compete with your voice or your incessant clicking away at the keys to keep the group focused- and it’s rude of you to force that situation upon the entire group).
2. Leave the room to do so (with the permission of the group facilitator or person you’re meeting with).
3. Wait until the meeting is over. (if all of this can be done quickly, it can be done quickly as soon as the time concludes so that you’re not wasting the time of the person you’re with or wasting your precious moments together–this is great business etiquette).
4. If you have to have your phone on, have it on vibrate and keep it close to you. A phone vibrating all over the conference room table is just as distracting as a phone ringing.
5. If you must answer your phone for a call, inform your meeting participant(s) prior to the commencement of the meeting and excuse yourself to another location when the call comes through (being right outside the door in the hallway doesn’t do any good unless there’s a good solid door closed behind you and you lower your voice).

If you know why you’re there and you behave in a way that professional and EXPECTED than you’ll be RESPECTED instead of bearing the brand of self absorbed.

RECENT EXAMPLE: OMG! I do have to take a moment to address the 2 idiots of West Texas. I couldn’t believe it, me and a few thousand other Permian Basin leaders attended the GetMotivated! Seminar at the Horseshoe Arena on Monday of this week. The presentations were good and the overall feeling in the room was “motivational” yet there were two guys who decided that they had to speak on their cell phone for most of Zig Ziglar’s presentation and then Bill Bartmann’s. Get this - instead of stepping outside to the hallway they went to the wall area (directly between those sitting on the floor of the arena and those in the bleachers) squatted down and the continued to speak, quite loudly. One thanked someone over and over again. While the other, dogged the school district, talked about his wife and racial slurs at school. UNDERSTAND - neither of these ‘idiots’ left to the hallway where no one would hear them. They stayed right in the middle so that they disturbed everyone - five rows to the front of their obnoxious behavior and five rows to the back (you could tell because of the dirty scowls and looks everyone kept flashing to them!) One idiot, who was totally clueless to the rows and rows of people he was disturbing got a beach ball thrown at him (hurray! because all the other ways everyone was trying to get him to leave the room just flew over this ‘idiot’s’ empty head.) Then, he went onto say “you didn’t have to throw a beach ball at me”. Woah - whose responsible for managing who?? I wonder - WHY in the world did we have to do anything at all? So, here we are, I can safely say - I’ve encountered the 2 biggest self absorbed idiots in West Texas.  I know, I know - Maria Elena, tell us how you REALLY feel! LOL!

People Are The Brand-

Maria Elena Duron - click my name to Google Me!
www.buzz2bucks.com - grow your personal brand today
“dedicated to helping executives & entrepreneurs connect strategically through a confident personal brand”

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

3 Things Done To Own The Brand “Self Absorbed”

One of the services I provide and encourage my clients to start the branding process with is a 360degree Brand Audit. It gives them a chance to not practice Brand Blunder #4 (not knowing your current brand value) and the opportunity to strategically enhance and decrease any brand attribute.

So, how do you get the attribute of being Self Absorbed?

By NOT LISTENING when being communicated to…You’ve been there. I know you have. I can almost ’see’ your eyes rolling upwards and you recall the experience of wanting to talk to someone or share information with them and BEFORE YOU FINISH they jump in with “oh, yeah, that happened to me - when I was in college I (blah, blah, blah!)” Or, you get to finish and without even asking probing questions to make sure that they received the right information and perceived the info correctly they launch into “here’s what I suggest you do; or I recommend; or ‘If I were you’ speak seeps out of their mouth’. WOW - what a way to instantly own the brand attribute of SELF ABSORBED!

I’ve heard and read all the research and articles about how men speak different from women. And, while there is truth to that - let’s now use it as a “crutch” to condone bad listening manners.

If you’re an individual, executive or solo-professional, have you ever been caught in the act of:

• Jumping to the end of the story and giving your 2 cents worth
• Saying the words, “I would do-”; or “I would invite you -”; or “If I were you-” without being actually asked for your advice (remember, did you really hear them ask of did you ASSUME that, that’s what they wanted from you)
• Getting something for someone and thinking “I think this would be perfect for them - I would love it.” (The golden rule is dead. Live by the platinum rule which is ‘do unto others as they would want done unto them.” Geesh - it’s not all about you.)
• Asking the tried and true networking question, “how can I help you?” and then proceeding to look away, text message someone, check your phone, or truly NOT LISTEN as they give you their answer.
• Jump to conclusions when receiving an email or voice message that may not “seem” complete or might be cryptic (or do you check back in to see - am I ‘reading this right’?)
• When someone’s speaking to you, having the recurring thought “how is this important to me?”
• Invading others’ personal time, events or activities because your operating on your agenda (c’mon you’re not the center of the world. Your world - ‘yes’. Someone else’s world - ‘no’. When communicating with someone, you need to find a mutually beneficial world to speak from.)
• Outwardly behaving in a way that makes other people uncomfortable ( be it command and control behavior; talking to loud; cussing too much; or dominating every conversation in the room).

I’m sure there are more and I look forward to “listening to the blog readers” and hearing what your thoughts are!

If you’re a company, business or non-profit, have you ever been caught in the act of:

• Telling your customer what they want and when they want it (making corporate decisions by “deciphering what your buyers want” without anyone ever asking them - tell tale sign: sitting around a meeting table asking each other ‘what do you think they want.”)
• Not responding to your client’s question or return.
• Sending out a newsletter with no ability for client’s to engage with questions or feedback of what they like or disliked. (This is traditional one way communication–I’m sending you loads of info with no opportunity for comment or feedback.)
• Creating a blog and not letting anyone comment or post (oooohhh -it’s that valuable one way communication. Communication is a two way street - period).
• Creating award winning ads that don’t actually say anything or do anything (yes, they might of had a great laugh but they don’t even know the name of your company or what you were selling–watch the Superbowl ads and you make up you own mind on this!)
• Treating their vendors and suppliers like they’re “low life’s” or not important in the customer totem pole. Vendors and suppliers are people to and they do business with your business, or they influence someone who does, or are kin to, married to, related to someone.

Because this blog is 2-way communication, I’m anxious to hear your comments or revelations on these “acts of self absorption”.

Solution to THING ONE (for individuals - because face it, even companies are branded by their people):

1. Slow down and really listen. If you have to, take notes. Let them know they it would be helpful if you could take notes so you can be clear on what’s being said. (caution: do not be so absorbed in your notes that you don’t look up or miss everything else said after the one statement that you captured on paper. In fact, just jot one word down to remind you.)
2. Go back and tell them, “this is what I heard when you said this, did you mean that? Or did I receive this right?”
3. Refrain from sharing your life story. If you’re asked for it, then do give it but make it relevant and brief.
4. See everyone you connect with, with the following letters ‘branded’ onto their forehead: WIIFM - what’s in it for me?
5. Start journaling - you have to have ‘you time’, too. Put your thoughts, stories, feelings and gratitude in a journal so that it can house the positive and lay rest to the poison. Without this static interference, you’ll be a better receiver for others.
6. Keep in mind the focus and purpose of your connection: Are you having a conversation or conducting research? There’s a huge difference!

Here are the other two things done that deliver you the brand of SELF ABSORBED.

Answering the phone when meeting with someone or in a meeting

Being immature and unprofessional in your response

Look for upcoming posts, dissecting the both of these with more details and solutions!

People Are The Brand-

Maria Elena Duron - click my name to Google Me!
www.buzz2bucks.com - grow your personal brand today
“dedicated to helping executives & entrepreneurs connect strategically through a confident personal brand”

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

youtube video recaps coming soon!

newly posted audio: brand environment - part 3, smart teams

Listen in on the 2-minute tip! It’s a recap of business tips discussed on television during the weekly coaching tip.

Click here to listen!

How do you establish a smart virtual team?

Ask yourself - do you let the job get in the way of the career?

• Find out what it is you yourself need to do and what someone else can do for you.
• Get past habits and beliefs that you need to be in the command and control position.
• Make a list of things that you don’t want to do.
• Now, look at that list and start crafting a list of “to do’s” for someone you’ll work with virtually.
• Remember, virtual people are extensions of your brand. Seek people who reflect you for the duties that need to have personal contact. For example, my virtual assistant (VA) that makes phone contacts with my clients is very personable and has great phone skills. She needs to. I’ve worked with VA’s who have not had that and have acted like they need to give my clients the “third degree” before they can connect with me. Realize what are the high contact tasks and what are not.
• Look for people who are best in their fields and let them focus on what they’re best at. Break through the mindset that it has to be one person, well versed at all. I have 5 VA’s - each experts in their fields. Then, I don’t waste time with someone whose not working in their strength area and I don’t have to pay for them to conquer the “learning curve”.

“Do what you’re best at and write checks for the rest” - Oprah Winfrey

• Have communication tools and a system in place prior to bringing people on board. Ask how they find is the best way to stay in touch with them through projects and duties. I find the following to be essential: email abilities, text messaging, fax software or system.

People Are The Brand -

Maria Elena Duron - THE Champion of Connections Coach

Buzz To Bucks Connections| personal branding agency

“buzz: compelling others to speak positively on your behalf”

 

askmariaelena: networking questions

Question: I have attended many networking events in my area. When asked what I do, I truthfully respond that I have a virtual assistant and resume writing business. Then 95% of the time, I get this response:

The person can’t get away from me fast enough, as if I have leprosy or they’re afraid I’m going to try to sell them something they’ve already decided they do not want under any circumstances.

How can I modify my networking approach to avoid these responses, or deal with them more gracefully? - Gwen

Answer:

Gwen, you’re focusing on the ‘job’ or the ‘task’ and truly people do not want to know “how you do it” they want to know what you’ll do for them.
Answer these questions first, for yourself. It will help you center and be passionate about what you provide your client.
1. What is the end result your client wants when they work with you?
2. How do they know when you’ve gotten it for them? What does it look like, feel like, sound like?
3. If they reach the goal of “success in working with you”, what does that mean to them? What does it look like?

What you want to do is answer the question that every prospect has in their mind, “am I going to get more than my money’s worth working for you”.

Now, in a networking setting, take these answers and make them bullet points. For example, I share that “I make people compelled to speak positively about you” and I leave it at that. The goal in a networking event is to get to know them and keep them talking. You only want to say enough to get those who “could be” prospects to approach your or ask you to TELL THEM MORE.

I love the website, www.15secondpitch.com to craft the perfect “elevator speech”, for people just starting to craft their networking communication.

Once you have that, utilize it as a launch pad to craft your 30 second and then your 60 second. There’s some guidelines you can use for those as well but that’s not what you’re asking for here so let me know if you would like more info on that.

People Are The Brand -

Maria Elena Duron - THE Champion of Connections Coach

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

“buzz: compelling others to speak positively on your behalf”

top 4 brand blunders: brand blunder #4

Brand blunder #4 -Being unaware of your current brand.

Unless you were born yesterday, then you already have a brand. Just because at this time, or for 2008 you decided that you want to manage it, or control it, it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t existed.

Do you know what your current brand is? Acting like it doesn’t exist or that it’s been just a BLANK PIECE OF PAPER is a huge brand blunder.

To find out what your current brand is - here’s what to do:

Find out what your brand is right now is to ask those who know you. Perception is reality so it’s important to know how others introduce you and how you’re perceived. It does not mean that they’re always correct because there will be those who judge you for the sake of judging. What you’re seeking is consistent responses. If your friends, family member, professors, boss, managers, clients, peers, are all saying the same things are your strengths and weaknesses - then there might be some validity to it that you need to check it out.

Also, google yourself online and view what your on-line brand is. On-line is fast becoming the place where additional information that is extension or even documentation of your brand can be found. You are seeking posts, pictures and information on you or even someone who has your same moniker. Unfortunately, when people are meeting you for the first time they are googling you for samples of your character and competence, and if they find someone else with the same name. If they really don’t know you, they might think that they’re you. So, you might inherit their brand –are you sure you want that?

How do you craft a powerful brand? That’s a discussion for another post. Too often, those who are beginning to craft their personal brand, fast forward to expressing that brand. Yet, the bulk of the true work in personal branding, is in extracting and auditing your current brand, authentic strengths, internal communication and consistency and clarity in your external communication. Let’s start there for 2008!

People Are The Brand -

Maria Elena Duron - THE Champion of Connections Coach

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

“buzz: compelling others to speak positively on your behalf”

 

 

 

new audio posted: your brand environment, working smarter

Listen in on the 2-minute recap of our Thursday morning show discussion about your brand image - virtual office!

Click here to listen in!

How do you work smarter instead of harder, virtually?

• Even if you don’t own your own business - still take the time to look at what YOU need to do and what you can HIRE others to do. Oprah said it best when she stated “do what you do best and write checks for all the rest.”
• Find out what each task is that you need to do.
• What outcome are you seeking? Do YOU personally need to be the one to make that outcome happen? Or, have you placed “rules where there are none”?
• What equipment and services out there can do the task for less than having you personally do it? (I have a phone service that calls people to remind them about meetings. It cost $2.40 for them to make 60 calls. Can I make 60 calls and it cost that low - I don’t think so! The TIME INVESTMENT alone would eat me alive!)
• What virtual assistants can do those tasks? (I have one that does graphics - while I can do it, it would take me 3 times as long to do it - that’s not my strength; I have one that takes care of eNewsletter info - why spend my time researching?; I have one that takes care of booking trips, securing meeting spaces, sending email updates - while I can write those I don’t need to personally be the one to send those.)
• What do you not need to do? Maybe there’s some practices that you are dong that worked in the past but no longer serves you.

People Are The Brand -

Maria Elena Duron - THE Champion of Connections

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

“buzz: compelling others to speak positively on your behalf”

top 4 brand blunders - brand blunder #3

We’ve been uncovering the TOP 4 BRAND BLUNDERS this past couple of weeks. Realize that these are not an “either/or” situation. That all 4 of these need to be in place to begin putting together a powerful personal brand. And, isn’t your reputation WORTH managing?

Brand Blunder #3 - Being Unclear In Your Communication

Your success is determined by your internal & external communication.

We’ve posted about the INTERNAL, so let’s now focus on the EXTERNAL.

Realize that only 7% of your communication is your words. The other 93% is your tone, energy and image. What is included in your EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION?

• What you say - your elevator speech (the best tool for this is 15secondpitch);how you introduce yourself; how you introduce others; how you answer the question “what do you do?”; your networking acumen; your follow-up communication; and even when you say it (Stephen Covey said in his famous book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective people, “to retain those in the room; speak positively of those outside the room”)
• It’s your office environment. Messy or cluttered desk speaks volumes? Rude people answering the phone - says LOTS.
• Clothing & Image. Maybe you don’t buy into the whole “dress for success” curriculum yet at the very least you need to dress for INCLUSION. Do you? Do you dress to include yourself in the best of the best for your industry - your position?
• Personal trademarks. Your email signature line; your voice mail outgoing message; how you leave voice messages (here’s a clue: call yourself and leave yourself a message. Do so in the same manner you leave other people messages. For example, many of my clients leave messages when they’re driving. It’s that whole multitasking thought. When they “hear’ their own message, they’re FLOORED at how unfocused they sound.)
• Business tools. Still taking around that tattered spiral notebook? It’s speaking volumes about your professionalism and whether you’re up to date.
• Your written word.
• Your spoken word. Can you speak clearly and concisely? What are you doing about it? Remember, you OWN SUCCESS is determined by how well you communicate - internally & externally.
  
• Professional and community activities. WHO are you connected to? They are outward extensions of your own professionalism and credibility. THINK before you link!
  

People Are The Brand -

Maria Elena Duron - THE Champion of Connections

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

“buzz: compelling others to speak positively on your behalf”

 

top 4 brand blunders - brand blunder #2

“The key to your success is communication - internal and external”

Alright, back to the Top 4 Brand Blunders!
Brand Blunder #2 - Not having supportive internal communication.

My favorite statement from the front of the room is “People Hear Your Music, Not Your Words”.

Translated, that means that your internal communication SHOWS UP externally whether you plan it to or not.

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t - you’re right” - Henry Ford

You’re internal conversations are a part of AUTHENTIC YOU which is communicated in your brand. Sometimes, people mis-read that communication yet they do hear it loud and clear.

For example, I worked with a client who had extremely low self confidence and many insecurities. While at a networking meeting, others “read” her as being snobby and unfriendly. The TRUTH was she was dealing with an internal struggle of her own confidence and esteem. Yet, remember, PERCEPTION is REALITY.

What can you do to solve BRAND BLUNDER #2?

• Identify what makes you feel good about you. It could be great, upbeat music; it could be an inspirational show; it could be reading; it could be listening to self development audios - the KEY is to identify what works for you. I’m an audio listener and reader. So, for me, it makes sense to listen to an inspirational audio every morning when I’m getting made up and reading 10 pages every night. That’s NOT for everyone yet it’s important for you to KNOW what IT IS for you.
• Spend sometime everyday in GRATITUDE. What you’re grateful for will help you focus on the energy that will “uplift” your internal communication. Remember, what you’re grateful for need not be grandiose. It could be that you’re able to breathe, that you can view another beautiful, West Texas sunset, or that you have your mind and your memories.
• Identify what you need to work on. Where are you mis-firing? What’s not working for you? If you know if, you can then address it.
• Manage your inner critic. We all have one - spend sometime understanding how to manage yours. Realize that YOU are the center of all the relationships and communication you have. If you don’t work on YOU, then you’ll build everything on the “shifting sands” of a poor foundation. And, aren’t your relationships worth it? I know that you are yet that does not good if you don’t know that you’re worth it.
• Doesn’t matter what goals and such you put forward - if you’re missing it in your internal communication - you’re missing it.

“When you take care of you, you take care of business. If you’re not taking care of you, you’re not taking care of business.”

This might not be the “Proctor & Gamble” answer you are seeking in branding yet don’t you know those MEGABRANDS believe that they are the BEST? Don’t you know that they believe they have something of VALUE TO OFFER? Don’t you know that they know they offer the marketplace a GREAT ALTERNATIVE?

Most importantly, do you know that you do that?

People Are The Brand-

Maria Elena Duron - THE Champion of Connections Coach

Buzz To Bucks Connections | personal branding agency

“buzz: compelling others to speak positively on your behalf”