Accelerate Your Search™ Now

A basic building block for effectively communicating your personal brand is color.

Color is key in creating visual connections to your personal brand.  It helps you stand out and reinforces your brand attributes.  According to a University of Loyola study, “Color increases brand recognition by up to 80 percent.”

Think about strong corporate brands.  They absolutely leverage color to help the marketplace recognize their brand.  For example, UPS, thought of as the world’s logistics company, uses what colors in their branding?   That’s right – brown and gold.  Brown and gold are everywhere — employee uniforms, delivery trucks and marketing campaigns.  

Color instantly creates a visual and emotional connection to the brand.

What color is best for you?  Select your brand color(s) carefully as they determine overall impact, help spread a clear, authentic message and make you more memorable.  This process of selecting your brand color is not about picking your favorite color.  It is about selecting color(s) that reinforce your brand attributes.

How are you using color as a component of your personal brand?  What personal characteristics and brand attributes are you reinforcing with your use of color?

Does the color you are using set you apart and authentically communicate your value and brand?  Have you developed a solid strategy for using color to support your personal brand identity system? 

Review all the components of your brand identity system and use your color selection consistently.  Color can be used in your résumé, email signature block, business card, personal stationery and all other career marketing materials.  Your brand color should permeate all you do, helping to set you apart and enhance how you are known and recognized. 

Share how you use color to be recognized or stand out.

Are you searching for a new holiday tradition?  Here is one worth serious consideration:

Join the movement #GivingTuesday . . . start a tradition . . . make a connection and share.

The holiday season has arrived.  Thanksgiving is already in our rear-view mirror and the retail frenzy has begun!  Searching for your next position during this busy season can certainly elevate your stress levels.  Even as you enjoyed a moment of quiet thankfulness last Thursday, you could feel your stress level increasing.  You began thinking about what came next — shopping, decking the halls, holiday networking events.  Or, you began to sense the New Year is almost here and you still don’t have the offer you want!

However, you can lower your stress level based on the decisions you make.

Choose to drop your stress level by helping others.  Yes, that’s right; lower your stress by sharing.

Today is the second #GivingTuesday.  What is it all about?  It is simple.

#GivingTuesday is about giving.  It’s about people making a choice to share what they have to help others.

You can learn more about this movement and follow updates @GivingTues on Twitter.  Also, here is a great post where you can read more about the movement.

You can make #GivingTuesday whatever you wish.  I am adding this tradition to my calendar and I invite you to join me.

Here are my Tuesday plans:

• 24 simple acts of kindness, shared within my community, to help others.  Simple choices that are easy to execute.
• Sharing a smile with everyone I see. Sharing a smile takes focus and all it will cost me is a few extra muscle movements during the day.
• At the end of the day, I will be sharing a brief presentation with Habitat for Humanity.  Why Habitat for Humanity?  Simple.  I believe having safe, affordable housing helps make a difference in the lives of others.

Will you join me on #GivingTuesday?  

No preparation is needed.  Just set the intention, focus and share.  You can simply share a smile, a tweet or a bit of your time.

I’d love to hear what you think about #GivingTuesday and, if you elect to join the movement, what you shared.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

In the U.S., many are making plans for Thanksgiving Day.  May your week and celebration be special for you and your family.

My wish for you this week is time for quiet reflection, gratitude for your blessings and simple moments of appreciation for all you have been given.  I am thankful for each of you.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

The holiday season is upon us.  It is a great time of year to connect with your network.

One powerful search tool that is often overlooked is the “gratitude letter.”  This is the perfect time of year to send it to your current network of friends, family and past colleagues.

Most people know between 200 – 250 people.  Many, if not all, of your contacts have helped you in the past and, if they were aware of your current situation, would be willing to help again.  Gratitude Letters create powerful, positive energy and, almost instantly, add 200 people to your search team.

So, what exactly is a “gratitude letter?”  It is an opportunity to reach out, say why you appreciate the person and to share your current activities.  It is NOT a letter begging for a job.  Its purpose is to connect, update and appreciate.

Here is how to get started:

• Make a list of your contacts or print one out from Outlook or your CRM system.
• Next to each name write down one thing you appreciate about that person.
• Then verify you have a current mailing address for each contact.

Now you are ready to draft a simple one page letter.  Include your gratitude, a specific business accomplishment from the last year and what you are doing now.  You might say something like, “I am currently looking for my next opportunity as the Director of Marketing in the metro area specifically with ABC, Inc. or ZXX, Inc.  If you know anyone I should speak with at either organization, please let me know.”

If the contact is someone you would like to meet face-to-face, include a P.S. with a suggestion to meet for coffee or lunch.  For example, “If you want to grab lunch, my treat, either November 30 or December 3 at the Brown Deli, I’d love to catch up and find out what is new with you.”  You can also share in a P.S. that you have a bit of extra time and if there is a business project you could help with to let you know.  Make sure to add your mobile number below the P.S.

Print the letters on your personalized letterhead.  Stuff the envelopes, add a stamp and drop them in the mail.    Remember, the purpose is to show your appreciation and to update your network.

Don’t forget to include family and friends on your list.  The people closest to you may know all about your job search and be your biggest supporters.  As career transitions can be stressful, they are often the people who most need to know you appreciate their support.

Be bold.  If you are coming from a place of honest appreciation your network will be delighted that you took time to contact them in a personal manner.  Few people take time to be appreciative and less take to write a letter.  Connecting regularly with your network is very powerful.

Post a comment and share your favorite tip for sharing appreciation.

Nine Actions – 9 Week Challenge – Week 9

It is week 9 of the Accelerate Your Job Search Results & Create a Life You Love challenge.  The challenge is to take action and transform your search and life in nine weeks.

The final assignment!

Action #9:  Keep Growing

People need to grow in order to be relevant, current and fulfilled.  Make it your lifelong goal to continue to learn complex skills, teach yourself new things, meet new people and visit new places.

You don’t need to be a master at every endeavor.  Mastery of a skill requires about 10,000 hours, while learning a new skill only requires about 20 hours of learning and practicing.

By committing to one hour a day, you can become proficient in a month!  If you love it, go on to the mastery level or choose to become proficient at another new skill.  In a year, you could learn and be proficient at 12 or more new skills.

An amazing life is created through new experiences and daily effort.  Keep growing.

Take action. Post a note, share your thoughts and how you implemented the action of the week and your results.

What of the nine actions you took on this fall helped you the most?

What was your favorite?   Share your best results.

Congratulations for completing the challenge!

What is a challenge without a prize?  After you post your best results, go enter the challenge raffle.

Nine Actions – 9 Week Challenge – Week 8

It is week 8 of the Accelerate Your Job Search Results & Create a Life You Love challenge.  The challenge is to take action and transform your search and life in nine weeks.

Only two weeks remaining in the challenge!  Remember you can revisit Actions 1-7 by scrolling through the previous posts on the Accelerate Your Search blog.  For now, we are on to action #8.

Action #8:  Stop Kicking Dead Horses

Following up and being persistent is critical in business and life, but you also need to know when to stop and change paths.  Life is a cycle — birth, growth, death.  All things (including jobs and interests) begin, continue and end.  Whether it is your interest or the interest of another that has ended, release it.

In a job search, and in life, there are things without answers.  Phone calls or emails may go unanswered.  You may never know why you were released from a job or why an offer was not extended.  I know you want to know.  Ask yourself this, “What value do I gain by knowing?”  Will knowing change the outcome?  There is a point in time where you are best served by abandoning the desire to know.

It is a fact that things changes, times change, people change and evolve.  Passions die and that is OK.  Instead of getting caught up in the past, ask yourself what you want to pursue NOW.  As one thing dies, another is born.  Move on and walk a new path.

Take action. Post a note, share your thoughts and how you implemented the action of the week and your results.

Nine Actions – 9 Week Challenge – Week 7

It is week 7 of the Accelerate Your Job Search Results & Create a Life You Love challenge.  The challenge is to take action and transform your search and life in nine weeks.

Did you add some “spice” to your life last week?

Congrats!  You’ve made it through 6 weeks of the 9 week challenge.  How has your life changed?  Let’s get started on week 7.

Action #7:  Share How You Solve Problems

Everyone has problems.  Some people are miserable because of their problems.  Everyone cares about their problems, not your problems.

This week, focus on how you solve other people’s problems.  Share what you do to relieve the problems and people with those problems will be VERY interested in you and what you do.

Often I hear people say, “Sounds great, but I don’t want to serve others or be a do-good person.  I want a great life, good income and less stress.”  Well, guess what?  Serving others serves you.   It is the best way to achieve a great income and an amazing life with less stress.   Most businesses make money because they deliver a service or product that solves a problem and make someone’s life better.

The truth is, creating an amazing life, one where you earn the salary you deserve, have less stress, and enjoy what you do, usually revolves around solving the challenges or problems of others — be it a boss, a customer or a vendor.

Solving the problems of others creates joy, interest and fun.  Isn’t that something you are looking for in your next position?  Share what problems you solve and people will call you.

Take action. Post a note, share your thoughts and how you implemented the action of the week and your results

Nine Actions – 9 Week Challenge – Week 6

It is week 6 of the Accelerate Your Job Search Results & Create a Life You Love challenge.  The challenge is to take action and transform your search and life in nine weeks.

Did you try something you “hate?”  If not, revisit last week’s action.  If you did, you are ready to move on to the next assignment.

Action #6:  Jazz it Up

“Variety is the spice of life.”

What does this saying mean to you?  I believe it is about being creative and can easily be achieved by:

• changing your patterns of behavior, or
• driving to the store using a different route, or even
• buying a pen with green or purple ink if you always use black.

Breaking a pattern or changing a habit allows you to see things in a different light.  Eat a new type of food or take a walk in a new park.  You will add new and memorable experiences to your world.

A client of mine drove to the grocery store via a different route, saw a sign, explored the company and landed a job she loves earning 25% more.  WOW!  This happened when she added simple variety.   She changed up her drive to the store by going to the stop light in lieu of the stop sign.  Add a little or a lot of spice to your life.  Create variety.

Take action. Post a note, share your thoughts and how you implemented the action of the week and your results.

Nine Actions – 9 Week Challenge – Week 5

It is week 5 of the Accelerate Your Job Search Results & Create a Life You Love challenge.  The challenge is to take action and transform your search and life in nine weeks.

Last week’s action was all about trusting your instincts.  Did you have an occasion to use your gut to help make a decision?  Let’s move on to this week’s action.

Action #5:  Do What You Hate

Remember when someone tried to convince you to “try the green beans, you might like them?”  Interesting and fun experiences can and do come from trying the things you think you dislike.

As an adult, since you don’t have a parent telling you to eat new stuff or try new things, you must do this for yourself.  Again, this is about stepping out of your comfort zone.  If you never try something simply because you believe you will not like it, you may miss some very interesting and exciting things.  The blessing in doing something you “hate” is that it helps promote flexibility.  Even if you try something and didn’t end up enjoying it you expanded your experience.  Go ahead — just try it.

Take action. Post a note, share your thoughts and how you implemented the action of the week and your results.

Nine Actions – 9 Week Challenge – Week 4

It is week 4 of the Accelerate Your Job Search Results & Create a Life You Love challenge.  The challenge is to take action and transform your search and life in nine weeks.

Last week’s action included facing your fears.  Did you write down your fear(s) and your plan?  Are you ready for the next action?

Action #4:  Follow Your Instinct

You have amazing internal wisdom, aptitude, talent and gifts.  Your creator blessed you with these.  Unlock them — be more impulsive and less robotic.  Examine what you do well and what you enjoy doing.

If something comes up, try it!  Be flexible and disciplined at the same time.  Be aware of the things that come up naturally and how they make you feel.  See beyond your schedule, your job boards and your past experience.

When new things arise, take a few minutes and:

• assess the value of the opportunity
• recognize the time and energy the opportunity requires
• ask yourself if the activity will help or hinder your journey

Listen to your heart and gut, your instinct is not in your head.  Follow your instinct.

Take action. Post a note, share your thoughts and how you implemented the action of the week and your results.