BE the impression you want to see!

You know that “gut feeling” you get when you are meeting someone for the first time? THAT feeling is often the decision maker on where your relationship will go, be it a personal or professional one. Learn to trust the  judgement calls you make using your own instincts and make informed decisions from there.  The key, is to make sure you also register well in the check off’s on “gut feelings and good lasting impressions” for others too.

 

Until next time Go Getters!

 

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Endorse Others With Caution

Much like signing off on a check, endorsement of another speaks as much about you and your brand as it does about the benefactor of your endorsement. 

The old sayings, “birds of a feather stick together” and “Perception is everything” is  especially true when it comes to your brand.
You are judged by the company you keep, and referring or suggestions about the use of a product or service conveys that you share mindset, standards and more.  Choose  wisely before doing so to insure:
Your endorsee is professional, consistent, and is an enhancement to your brand with the relationship

Engage Opportunities not Opportunists

In your quest to reach your goals as an entrepreneur,or the everyday fly girl* or guy you will without a doubt meet people who you will engage with that will help to advance you directly or indirectly to the next level. Stay prepared, you never know when an opportunity might present itself, stay aware, an opportunist is waiting for an opportunity.  Know the differences:

SIMILARITIES:

The short list of how they can be confusing when you come upon them

• They both sound similar in theory, but they have different agendas and end results.
• They both look appealing, sound like a good idea, and show promises
• Both require your all in effort but aren’t geared towards any real benefit for you.

 

DIFFERENCES:

Opportunity Driven People (O.D.P.):

ODPS see the holes in your vision but also see the value and unrealized it’s greatness, they come to the meeting of the minds with their  own “hole fillers” and help to create a win-win situation for all parties concerned.  A person committed to an opportunity with you wants to see you do well because it impacts them too. They look to build relationships with you, and grow with you often times, even past the completion date of your joint venture

 

Driven Opportunist People (D.O.P. – Let’s just add an e & s and refer to them as DOPES):

True to the online definition, a D.O.P.E is a person (or group) who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans. I often see people who in the infancy of their endeavors who struggle to “get put on” by those who have arrived <~ (My thoughts on those who have arrived in a later post) to be turned down, ignored, or put on the back burner.  When the shine on your star starts to glow a little brighter … low and behold .. you’ve got a host a people who now want to partner with you.  Even in an opportunistic situation, sometimes things can work out in your favor, more times than not they don’t.  Opportunist require a fast turnaround, are often doing you a favor, and tend to look out for the bottom line, their own.

We all get burned in our excitement to advance to the next level in our industry, but do yourself a favor and look at the facts before you leap with your heart in hand.  If you’re going to go all out with your efforts, make sure it’s beneficial to you by way of monetary, exposure, or experience exchange.

BE

• Great at what you do, it builds confidence and set’s you apart as an expert
• Confident … you put your own self on by Just showing up!
• Consistent & Visible, more people are paying attention than you realize
• Be known for having and maintaining high standards for your brand lowering them only get’s you level with the ground
• Believe in your Brand and its worth, if you don’t .. who will?

 

*All my old school people will get the fly girl reference. 

 

Until next time ..

Continue to Rock Your Greatness!

 

 

 

Loose Lips Sinks Your Brand

Brand Buster #207
One of the most damaging labels your brand can have is to be a gossip. Businesses, colleagues and potential clients need to be able to trust in your confidentiality.  Share necessary information on a pre-approved needs to know basis. 

Brands that AM: Stand & Deliver, LLC

In this business, dog eat dog, fast paced moving world of exposure and all things “right NOW” one of the things that we seem to forget is the need to really connect with others.  Making connections is what Carlos Davis owner and founder of Stand & Deliver, LLC is known for doing … well.

A man with his entrepreneurial hands in several successful projects, Carlos has made a name for himself and his partners by hosting a well attended and fast growing event entitled “Connecting the Dots.”

By his own words, Connecting the Dots was created from the many requests he received to take the connections that he made as the host of a popular radio show offline to more people.  His first event was well received, and the community wanted more.   Carlos will be the first to admit, the event has grown faster than he initially thought creating partnerships with venues like Label located here in Charlotte North Carolina.

Carlos is often asked why he doesn’t charge attendees for this event, and he is quick to share that his vision is to make sure everyone who needs to attend is afforded to opportunity to do so.  He believes we all need to be willing to serve others.  It’s not about developing a cash cow; it’s purely service to the community.

Because networking is so vital for people who are looking to connect and build relationships for both business and personal exposure, Connecting the Dots has become an incubator of sorts by pulling a diverse group of people with varying degrees of experience and opportunities into one location to truly engage.  It’s been one of the better consistent, professional events we’ve come across, and truly an organic way to introduce oneself, develop, and grow real relationships.

To make sure he continues to bring more value to the venues than what is expected for a free event, Carlos collaborates with businesses that are helpful for those looking for employment too.  The event partners with local businesses, Photographers for professional headshots, Start-ups for exposure, and national brands such as Yodle, State Farm, and Verizon, for direct conversations with potential employers.

To know Carlos is to know that he never leaves a conversation without asking how he can help you, so we had to make sure we beat him to the punch by asking how we (Me, You, and YOU too) could help with future events.   Here’s where you get to get involved:

• Find what you’re passionate about and serve the community in which you live
• Attend a Connecting the Dots event
• Invite other professionals
• Participate in vending opportunities that are available
• If you’re in the local area there’s still time to sign up for the next one held Thursday September 18, 2014
• If you’re not in the local area, get involved in an initiative that supports the community or start one yourself.  Carlos said it best, “My mentality is a service mentality, if we can do it here, you can do it.”

 

Carlos V. Davis is a professional speaker, professional networking coach, collaborator, and Chief Empowerment Officer of Stand & Deliver LLC. We take a unique approach to professional development by focusing on 4 pillars: speaking, fitness training, coaching, and event collaborations. Whether it’s an individual professional or a corporate entity, we are passionate and focused on serving professionals in taking their careers to higher heights.  Connect with Carlos:  Twitter,  Instagram, Facebook or contact him at 704-916-9643 or carlos@istandanddeliver.com

Until next time, 

Brand Responsibly 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brands that AM: Romona Foster

Brands that AM are my personal picks of individuals and entrepreneurs who stand out in their industry or communities.  These brands get it right by consistently and authentically delivering great content, products, and services that we are all better off knowing more about.

Romona Foster is the owner and social media trainer of Admin Tech Consulting, where she provides social media training (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter), consultations, social media management, and teaches the best practices of email marketing to small businesses, nonprofits and individuals.

Often tagged as “the fixer” by her clients, the first three words Romona used to describe herself were ambitious, confident, and funny.  Having had many opportunities to engage with Romoma, I would add to that description list, authentic, extremely knowledgeable, and top notch customer service skills.   I am honored to feature Romona Foster as the first Brands that AM, read to know just a little more of why she rocks!

In your own words, what is personal branding?

It’s the ability to show people who you are.  What you do, what you can do for them whether it’s online or in person.  It’s all about how you live your life.

Who are you (as it relates to an entrepreneur, how your personal YOU connects in your work)?

I AM Romona Foster, social media trainer and consultant.  I love, love, love helping people both professionally and personally in any way that I am able.  I am a techie and very analytical. I need to know how things that interest me work.  If I don’t know how it works, I must, must look it up. [laughing]  I am very interested in eating healthy (though I do slip from time to time as I love desserts) and also research natural medicine and natural health in general.  What most people don’t know about me is that I studied culinary arts.  I am a trained chef and pastry chef, so I also love to cook and create new recipes.  Running is a passion of mine, and I have trained to run a marathon.

I know from our previous discussion, you initially provided administrative and technical services, why the switch to social media?

Social media just kind of hit me in my face, I was initially very much against it for personal reasons and then my pastor asked me to set a FaceBook page in 2009.  As a result of setting up that first page and managing it, the requests started coming in to do more of them.  I decided to place an online ad teaching LinkedIn.  The very first class, 5 people showed up, the feedback was a request for more information even though it was a two hour class.  I was onto something and decided to build my own social media profiles to promote myself and my services.

How do you stay innovative?

I’ve been blessed to be a creative being.  I have brainstorming sessions with myself, and out of it comes some things that even amaze me.  I get a lot of ideas at the most inconvenient times such as when I am in the shower or when I am sleeping.  I have to be sure I write them down as soon as possible.

Finish this sentence, If I knew then what I know now ….

We are living in a society that is changing, turning into a entrepreneurial society.  I come from a family with a long line of the entrepreneurial mindset.  If I knew then how to follow my passion and purpose, I would have stretched out sooner, instead of doing what was expected.

What’s next for you, your business?

I can’t really say what is next. I have a lot of things in the works – some of which includes partnerships with other small business owners. What I can say is stay tuned.  I won’t disappoint you. [smile]

What is one tip of advice you would give to those who are using social media today for business or to look for career opportunities?

I would tell them, it is extremely important for them to create an online presence, and to brand themselves both personally and professionally – particularly if they have a common name. Why? While trying to convince some of the importance of social media, I’ll do a Google search on their name only to find less than flattering content or images of someone else that bares the same name. When potential clients or recruiters look them up – if they have never met them – they may get the wrong idea about them.

Romona is a Constant Contact Authorized Local Expert, certified Social Media Marketing Presenter, Email Marketing Trainer, and a recipient of the Constant Contact 2012 ALL STAR Award.  Contact her now for more information on training schedules and to get started on your social media strategy for your personal brand.  click here. Tell her VanB sent ya!

Until then ..   Live Out LOUD