Doing a good job and looking businesslike and successful is much easier than telling a story about yourself. Creating and messaging a corporate brand usually takes teams and many ways to communicate the brand. But there are a few good tips for personal branding and presenting small ideas.
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Each of us has our own story, business or personal. Telling it shortly and interestingly is not easy. When faced with a business opportunity, preparing to promote a project, preparing for a networking event or just thinking about how to introduce ourselves to someone not from our family and friends, we usually do not know what to do.
My One Sentence
It is important to come up with one strong sentence that speaks about you. This is the so-called elevator pitch. It should answer the questions of who you are and what you do excitingly and accurately.
It is therefore good to make a list of what you are. For example, a car mechanic specializing in Alfa Romeo, an expert in all engine problems, a biker who assembles his motorcycles, a blogger about cars, a singer in a choir, a father, a husband, and a fisherman.
And then, depending on the situation and the audience, focus on those sentences that are relevant to the audience listening to you.
My Story
What are the key moments in your life that led you to do exactly what you are doing now or what you want to do?
If you are, say, a computer programmer, when did you decide to become one? Is that the moment you wanted to know why a game you're playing freezes or crashes? Is it the moment when you left your iron plugged in all day and wanted to remotely turn it off via your phone? Is it because you like foreign languages and realize that programming is a conversation in a language that a computer understands? Have you worked as a marketer for ten years and after seeing a book on how to write code in the hands of a friend, you started doing it yourself?
Usually, when we introduce ourselves, we bring a story about what is in our resume, certificates, certificates and former workplaces. But it's good to complement it with your personality, experiences that no one else has, and your motives. Telling such stories will make you more interesting than all the other candidates.
My Why
Whoever you talk to about yourself will sooner or later wonder why you want to do what you want to do. And although your answer that first comes to mind is direct and simple, it is good to take it to a higher level.
If, for example, you want to lead EU-funded projects, it is not enough to have a project or two behind you and to know what is what, but it would be good to briefly explain to each of the potential clients what it is that he, his company, association or the institution got by hiring you. For example, it is good to immediately have several ideas about projects that can be completed in the first year or two.
Why Me?
Each of us should make a list of what makes us special, what we are best at and why others love us. That list should be supplemented by those who know you well and who could add some superlatives that lead exactly in the direction you are aiming for.
When the list is ready, choose the parts that seem most important according to the opportunities that are offered to you. Say those sentences out loud until you start to believe them.
You should be aware of some facts. No one will praise you if you don't praise yourself. If you think you don't deserve it, no one else will.
Modesty is a virtue, but not when you're selling yourself. All those who should be interested must know why you are the best person to work with.