Performance & Success Advice Blog Post # 4 - Marketing YOU

At the University of Central Florida, I studied Marketing.  One of the most important lessons I learned in business was in a Professional Selling class.

This lesson was a simple one...the science of marketing yourself.

As good as you are in your field, you need to be able to clearly and effectively communicate your valuable skills and qualities to others.  You literally need to be selling yourself!  Haha not on the street corner, but in your ability to share your success and experience with others in a way they can understand.

In order to adequately be able to sell anything, you need the appropriate marketing tools! Marketing yourself is no different.  Here are some marketing tools to effectively sell yourself:

1.  A Resume - This one is a must!  

Templates can be found for free easily on Google.  For CareerBuilder's Resume Center's Top 10 Resume Advice" visitThe Collegiate Performance Magazine Website

2.  A Career Portfolio

I have one of these that contains my mission statement, my resume, undergraduate work samples, samples of my business work, samples of my presentation, recommendations, references, an about me section (including favorite quotes, favorite business books, interests, etc.), accomplishments and honors, and more.  *This looks really impressive when you take the time to put it together

3.  At least one nice suit

For advice on the Professional Image, see my first blog post @ Performance & Success Advice Blog Post # 1 - Professional Image

For Professional Image advice from the senior VP of Tom James, a fine custom clothing company, please visit - Ash Deshmukh on the Professional Image

4.  A Personal Brand

For professional advice on marketing yourself and building a brand image, check out the PERFORMANCE article by speaker and author Scott Ginsberg, a.k.a. The Nametag Guy - Scott Ginberg's "Ten Brand-Building Lessons Learned from Wearing a Nametag 24/7

5.  A way for others to see your personal brand and what you stand for!

Examples are a Twitter account and a LinkedIn account.  Definitely a professional e-mail!

Find me on LinkedIn - Jeff Greenstein co-owner/affinity group publisher Collegiate Performance Magazine

Follow me on Twitter - Jeff Greenstein

Follow my blog on Twitter - SuccessAdvice

Follow my magazine on Twitter - 4CollegeSuccess

I have a personal & professional e-mail: JeffGreenstein@ymail.com & JeffG@thePerformanceMagazine.com

Did I miss anything?  Questions?  Comments?  Blog with me!

Performance & Success Advice - Blog Post # 2 the Handshake

In post # 1 on Professional Image, I forgot to mention the handshake.  Thanks Demolishes for reminding me of its importance!

The handshake is one of the aspects of making a first impression.  Believe it or not, a handshake can either give someone a good impression, a neutral impression, or even a BAD impression!

There is a science to the handshake and how firm or loose it should be, how many pumps you should use, etc.  This science can be found in the Definitive Book of Body Language.  I lent my copy out so I will update this post soon with the proper amount of pumps, the description of a good handshake, and the world's worst handshakes so check back soon!

Here is a YouTube video on the proper way to shake hands - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k6FaKXSdlY&feature=fvw

A word of caution:  When you go in for a handshake, you have entered into the other person's intimate zone (within 1.5 feet).  This is where good hygiene comes in because the other person will notice if you smell bad, good or if you smell too strongly of cologne/perfume.  It seems like common sense but always exercise good hygiene!  Find a good smelling body wash/soap and the appropriate threshold for the amount of cologne/perfume to use.

Performance & Success Advice Blog Post # 1 - Professional Image

One of my favorite quotes about one's Professional Image is "Appearance is Reality."  This is true on so many levels.  It is a fact that first impressions are such a huge part of building relationships and your appearance and image is what gives this first impression.  I live my life with the idea that at any given moment, on any given day, you never know who you may run into.  This keeps me motivated to ALWAYS have a sharp, pristine Professional Appearance.  There are many factors that go into a one's Professional Image.  

Let's delve into a few (in no particular order) - 

1)  Your clothes, 

2)  Your shoes,  

3)  Your hygiene (smell is important too, don't overdo it with cologne/perfume though!), 

4)  The overall appearance of your clothes, shoes, and your person in general, 

5) The way you carry yourself, etc.  

These are only a few of the factors that create your Professional Image.  Did I miss anything?  Any questions?  Please comment!