The Look of Your Personal Brand

A personal brand is multi-dimensional, encompassing many intertwining layers representative of articulated and demonstrable  authenticity.  To break this down, your brand is who you say you are and how you demonstrate it by way of skills, experience, background, education, networking partners, industry affiliations, expert status, innovative acumen and relevant personal presentation. 

Personal presentation that is out of sync with a professed personal brand may lead those that you seek to influence to call into question the credibility of the other dimensions of your brand. Case in point, I worked with a client that sold couture wedding dresses. The salon was beautiful the dresses were  amazing and the base price for her gowns began at $10,000. Upon introduction, there was an immediate disconnect between her personal presentation  as it related to the products she sold. She was completely ill-kept with disheveled hair,  broken nails, the heel of one of her shoes was damaged, her dress was wrinkled ...she was a mess! Perhaps she had a bad day, nevertheless, her first impression was less than desirable. She went on to share that she often did not resonate with her vendors or clients, get the picture? Her personal presentation was not only out of sync with the high-end designer products  she sold, but also led her clients to question the authenticity of those products and her credibility as an expert. 

Endless examples abound of individuals that sabotage their personal brand and competitive advantage by failing to execute an image that is appropriate for their target audience and those that they seek to influence. 

• What about the provocatively dressed sales representative that wants to transition into management ?
• What about the brilliant research analyst whose attire consistently borders inappropriate and management is uncomfortable with any exposure to high profile clients? 
• What about the overweight personal trainer?
• What about the ill-kept hair stylist or make-up artist?
• What about those that feel that their background and education are enough to propel their careers to the next level, despite a poorly executed presentation?
• What about the administrative assistant that wants to transition into an executive assistant role, yet lacks the personal polish and presentation for the executive suite?
• What about the HR professional that lacks the polish and presentation required in a conservative corporate culture?

Personal presentation and image are critical to your personal brand. I repeat, personal presentation and image are critical to your personal brand! Personal presentation that is out of sync with your personal brand  and that does not resonate with the audience you seek to influence, puts your credibility and brand authenticity at risk. Ask yourself the question, "Does my personal image and presentation lend credibility to my personal brand or that of the brand I seek? TLT Consulting Services specializes in connecting the dots and creating buzz around your personal brand. Let us show you the power of your personal brand!!

Until next week...

What is Career Reinvention?

TLT Consulting issued a press release this week for distribution to human resource and business professionals  across the Southern California market. The title of the press release was, "TLT Consulting Services Launches Personal Branding and Career Reinvention Strategies for Job Seekers in Southern California's Ailing Job Market".

Southern California's recent economic climate of record unemployment, collapsed industries, organizational downsizing, a shrinking pool of professional jobs, diminished disposable income and sharp declines in the sale of products and services has created an environment in which only those that master and execute a personal brand command competitive advantage and survive, let alone thrive. Moreover, with banking, mortgage, real estate, financial services and construction sectors substantially driving job loss in this market, many job seekers are faced with having to reinvent themselves for opportunities across other industries. What exactly does this mean? 

Real life examples of this can be found in the neighbor that spent a decade selling real estate, financial services or mortgage loans, that now has to seek sustainable employment opportunities in industries in which,  he or she may not have any relevant recent experience or education. Sadly, many of these individuals land in multi-level marketing sales positions or in commission only corporate sales jobs that yield a fraction of their previous income. What about recently downsized  banking, airline,  automaker or auto sales employees that have invested years in a singular industry and are now hard pressed to secure comparable positions with industry competitors? What about recently downsized newspaper employees that spent years in a declining industry  now considered an antiquated advertising medium? What about adult learners that complete degrees with no direct connection to their work experience? What about employees that are 40 years of age and older that are faced with entering the job market for the first time in years? Finally, what about the individual that simply wants to make a career change and is unsure of how to execute the change or reinvention effectively?

Career reinvention strategies juxtapose an individuals experience, skills, background, accomplishments, education and industry orientation, to name a few, against opportunities that can be leveraged in other industries, fields or positions. Career reinvention can include short and long term plans to bridge gaps between existing skills, background and education required for a desired opportunity, such as certifications or degrees. Moreover, career reinvention can transport an individual to  new and exciting  opportunities which can include entrepreneurialism.

TLT Consulting Services provides job seekers, downsized employees, transition employees, mature workers and adult learners with executable branding and reinvention strategies.  Let TLT Consulting show you the power of your personal brand!

Until next week,

TLT, MBA, MA

What is Personal Branding?

A personal brand is an individual's equity stake in how one is perceived by a specific target audience. In simple terms, it is how you are perceived by those that you seek to influence. A personal brand embodies the notion of the "it" factor and can position individuals and entrepreneurs as well rounded experts in a respective industry or field. In fact, a strong personal brand speaks to experience, background, education, industry affiliations, polish and presence, just to name a few. Contrary to popular belief, personal brands can be executed and leveraged successfully across ANY profession, business or entrepreneurial venture.

The development of a personal brand enables one to identify, authenticate,  consistently articulate and build brand equity across professional, personal and social platforms. The power of your personal brand will differentiate you from your competition, clearly link and connect you with your target audience and deliver multi-dimensional appeal. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What does my personal brand say about me?
• Is the lack of a personal brand hindering my job search?
• Am I maximizing my personal brand in interviews?
• Do I have an executive bio that touts my professional brand?
• How does my personal brand impact my business?
• Does my business have a branding strategy?
• Do my clients connect my personal brand with my product or service?
• Do my business networking partners perceive me as a industry expert?
• Has a lack of a personal brand inhibited me from taking my business to the next level?
• Does my personal brand impede my career advancement opportunities?
• Has my personal brand inhibited me from transitioning from one career to the next?
• Was I downsized as a result of my personal brand?
• How can I reinvent my brand and transition into a new industry?
• Is there a disconnect between my perceived value as a result of my poorly executed polished personal brand?...Am I rough around the edges?
• Is my social networking suffering as a result of my personal brand image?

The economic climate of the day is such that a solid brand and competitive advantage is central to the financial survival of most entrepreneurs and businesses. Additionally, the job market is tight and maintaining brand equity with employers can make the difference between sustaining one's position and being downsized. In turn, job seekers are challenged to survive the process of candidate pool selection amid thousands of competitors. Let TLT Consulting Services show you the power of your personal brand! 

Until next week.....

TLT MBA, MA

www.tltconsultingservices.com