A crucial component of your professional image is your first impression. Your word choice, your tone, your appearance and your body language communicate a particular message to the person that you are meeting. Your entire relationship is built on this first interaction.Even if we don’t do a good job of preparing for this first meeting, most of us know that first impressions matter. We remember the offhanded comment said by...

It’s not your imagination - the job market is more demanding, more competitive and more challenging. So what makes you different and more valuable than everyone else who does what you do? Where is your additional edge, above and beyond the traditional things on your resume? It’s your authentic personal brand.You ARE your “brand,” whether you consciously manage it or not. Now more than ever, by not managing it, you are denyi...

It’s a jungle out there…and there are no signs of change any time soon. On the employment front, there were 1.5 job seekers for every available position before the “Great Recession” of 2007. Today, there are six candidates for every jobTo survive in our current economy, you have to differentiate yourself. In your last business meeting, networking opportunity or job interview, what impression did you make? Did others see...

So what's all the hubbub about this Personal Branding? It all started in 1997 when Tom Peters wrote an article for Fast Company called "The Brand Called You." Here's the main message: "Big companies understand the importance of brands. Today, in the 'Age of the Individual,' you have to be your own brand and stand out from the crowd. The following five branding tips are worth knowing, so read, practice and watch your succe...

Parents, teachers, and now bosses, fear it. The dreaded omg, the hated lol, and the wrong ur. I read articles recently about teachers’ thoughts on how this new vocabulary is sneaking itself into students’ assignments. From amused to angry, these teachers all recognize that they have to deal with this trend. It got me thinking, in the professional world, what should our response be? Should we recognize that the “times are a’...

“What we can do – what America does better than anyone – is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn’t just change our lives. It’s how we make a living.”~ President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address 2011Those are some big shoes to fill. I...

“What we can do – what America does better than anyone – is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn’t just change our lives. It’s how we make a living.”~ President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address 2011Those are some big shoes to fill. I...

Have you ever been stuck before? Whether in your business, an unhealthy relationship, or a dead-end career, being stuck is an absolutely terrible—and helpless—feeling. However, the good news is that nobody needs to keep on being stuck. Here are five hints to get you back on the road to progress and productivity:Reflect—How and why did you get stuck? Take a few minutes to figure out what put you here and what’s holding you....

With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s important to show your strong personal brand in how you behave during this fall’s upcoming social events. Knowledge is power!Let’s face it. Today’s executive must function with complete confidence from the board room to the dining room, from the sales call to the business lunch, from the cocktail party to the fine dining experience. Social savvy can make or break a deal and qui...

In the 1960s, psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced his hierarchy of needs—the things a human being needs most in a sequence that builds one on top of the other. By using this hierarchy, it helps us understand the actions and motivations of others as well as ourselves. There are five levels of human needs and each must be fulfilled before the next level can be realized. Here are the five levels (in inverse order) of Masl...