The Keys To Successful Self-Marketing

You’ve probably noticed how few people always seem to get the raises, promotions and pats on the back from the boss, while so many others toil for years, unrecognized and unrewarded, at the same jobs.

You can attribute career stagnation to bad luck, but that’s not enough. Napoleon believed that luck didn’t fail people; rather people failed to exploit their luck. Nor can it always be blamed on bad companies and unfair bosses; that’s sometimes the case but too often an excuse. While hard work is prerequisite for success, it’s not the only ingredient. Just what is the secret of success that those fortunate few have discovered?

It comes down to marketing: You must sell yourself to others. Just as sales of toothpaste or cars depend on advertising, so does job promotion depend on the perception of ourselves we create in the minds of our superiors and coworkers.

The first key to successful self-marketing is that you must be able to convince others of your value, but in order to do that you have to first value yourself. If you want to change the way others see you, then you must first change the way you see yourself. What you think you are is what you show. Other people see in you what you see in yourself. They accept your estimation of yourself.

Here are three things you can do to improve your self-image:

• Talk positively to yourself. For example, before you begin a difficult task, tell yourself that you will do a terrific job.

• Do the things that you lack confidence in, but start with small steps, to get yourself comfortable with them. For example, if you believe you can’t speak to a group of people, try starting out with small groups first, such as with coworkers and colleagues. Eventually, you’ll build your confidence in yourself, which will give others more confidence in you.

• Seek positive environments, where people will give you encouragement and support. For example, avoid places where vicious gossip is common. Seek instead to surround yourself with positive people. Always remember, if you project positively, you will get positvity back.

A second key to successful self-marketing and career success is your sphere of contacts, who you know. This is why it’s important for you to join local social and networking associations such as, Lions Clubs International or Rotary International. Become involved in the organizations and take any speaking engagements you get, but always talk on a subject you know.

You should regularly attend luncheons, conferences and seminars that associations hold. More importantly, you should expand your contacts by socializing with peers and superiors from different organizations. People who do well have connections in different areas. Joining quality circles and task forces is one way to make contacts, as is participating in company sponsored charities, such as the United Way.

The important point to remember is that you need to become visible to people in many areas, including your company’s customers and suppliers. Go lunch with these people and get them on the phone once in a while and raise questions regarding the industry and things that you’ve read. Your desire to know is something that people above you will take note of.

A third key to successful self-marketing is the ability to demonstrate to your superiors exactly what you have been able to do for the company. In the Information Age the bottom line is what counts. Companies are interested only in what you have done to increase their profits.

Here are two things you need to do that will help you better emphasize your accomplishments:

• Emphasize the organization instead of yourself. Focus on what you have done for the company rather than what the company has done for you.

• Be sure about your accomplishments. Have a list of the problems you dealt with and with the results you achieved. Have you merely accomplished your tasks, or have you exceeded expectations? Remember that the more difficult the problem you faced, the better you will look having solved it.

If you are feeling unrewarded, the worst thing to do is to storm into the boss’s office and have it out. Often the problem is simply one of miscommunication and misperception. Many young professionals actually think their bosses can read their minds. You have to let your boss know what you want. If you feel you are being overlooked, before it becomes critical, before you are ready to quit, go into your boss’s office and have a clearing up conversation.

Successful self-marketing requires a significant commitment of time and energy. Two final keys to help you get noticed by your superiors include continuing your education throughout your professional lifetime and remaining flexible to the changing demands of your company.

Taking continuing-education courses is important in staying on top of your profession, improving your weak areas, and in acquiring skills that might be valuable to your next job. Security lies in the skills you take to your next job. Industries are constantly changing; skills taught in an MBA course today may be virtually obsolete five years from now.

In the chaotic and uncertain job market of the 21st century, flexibility is vital. To be successful you must be prepared to work long hours, often sacrificing leisure and family time, and be willing to relocate as the company demands.

Still, it is up to you to decide just how much you are willing to invest into your career, and if the cost is worth the gain.

Copyright©2007 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and success coaching programs. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in career coach training. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many businesses around the world, on the subjects of leadership, achievement, goals, strategic business planning, and marketing. Joe is the author of three books, Starting Your Own Business, Finding Your Purpose In Life, and The Guerrilla Marketing Workbook.

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