Resiliency First

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

The plethora of “get-rich-quick” ads are driving me nuts!

I am truly aghast – and I don’t use that word much – at individuals or companies who potentially prey on the unfortunate circumstances of others. Take, for example, the ads you see on TV or the Internet claiming that you can make $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 a month by starting a home business through XYZ’s “proven” strategies to stream money into your bank account.

You’ve probably have seen the ads where there is a nice looking couple just getting out of the Ferrari in their swimming suits ready to jump into their two-acre pool. They say, “I have used XYZ’s easy plan and now I never have to worry about money again.” Not…

Well, a vast majority of these get-rich-quick “schemes” are truly schemes to just get your money. All you need to do, they say, is send $49.95 to get the greatest money-making tool since John D. Rockefeller opened his first Standard Oil filling station. And they’d also like to sell you fertile land in Death Valley. (O.K., I’m getting a bit crazy now.)

My point is with millions of good folks out of work, it is a tragedy that some are forced through uncontrollable circumstances to try these one in a trillion scams. In a challenging moment, I have even thought about clicking on one of those web sites. Then, I wake up from this nightmare and get back into reality…

I know that these ads sound great. But nearly all of them will line their promoters’ pockets and not yours. Please remember the adage, “What sounds to good to be true usually is.”

As you probably know, finding your next great job takes a lot of work, creativity and a little luck. Networking, promoting your personal brand with companies and showing the great work you’ve done in the past will bring you more success then any possible “scams” that you may see on TV or open up through your e-mail.

One of the saddest injustices during our world’s current economic crisis is there are no “real” regulations against such advertising. There are, of course, false advertising regulations but these ad promoters probably cite the two individuals out of 2 million that actually have made money using their money system. For the other 1.9 million+, well…they probably just did not use the system to the letter.

All of us want to make enough money to live the lifestyle we choose. I have nothing against businesses who sell viable products that work more times than not. Just a word of caution: Please be careful the next time you see one of these possible “scam” ads. I’d turn the channel to an “I Love Lucy” rerun or click my resiliency blog. If not, you may eventually be the one washing the Ferrari instead of owning it.

I am going on vacation later this week to Key West to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Please expect to see a new post at the end of next week – maybe on resiliency and a successful marriage. I also will be sharing with a few groups on the coast. Until then, just imagine your brilliance and use your inner resilience to work hard for you!

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates Have Nothing Over You.

In American society, branding yourself an expert in anything can lead to ridicule and suspicion. “Who is he/she anyway…I know more than this expert or that…” You are probably right. How do experts get branded as experts? Well, it starts by truly defining your personal brand and walking the walk.

Whether it is because of your position, your accomplishments or your sheer passion for a particular issue or subject, all of us are experts in some things. Warren Buffett is an expert in finance and investment because he has been so successful. Bill Gates is an expert computer software. I consider of friend of mine an expert in marketing because he has a true passion for marketing any type of widget. Some folks consider me an expert in resilience because of my successful life experience overcoming challenges, including a physical disability – Cerebral Palsy. (Personally, I just think I am a guy with a message.)

The point is that all of us exhibit characteristics in our chosen field or passion in life. Letting people see this passion or expertise is also part of establishing a personal brand.

You might remember seeing Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies saying to his assistant, “I’m the expert, stupid…” That’s taking personal branding to a level you probably don’t want to go. But people like to know they can count on you with expertise, candor and reliability. Being a parent, for example, I have become a “reluctant” expert in patience with my teenage daughter. Folks have commented how calm I am with teenager issues that drive them nuts. While I by no mean perfect, this perception is a direct result of how I’ve tried to craft my personal brand. People now ask me for parenting advice…although there are some days I’d like to ask them.

I’ve heard an expert can be defined as someone who has done something – anything – three times or more successfully. Needles to say, all of us are experts in many things.

As part of your personal brand, here are two main “expert” characteristics that you might already have:

Are you an expert in a particular subject? Some folks like me are reluctant to claim the title of “expert.” If you are truly knowledgeable on your topic, and can convey this to others verbally or in writing, you are well on your way to becoming an expert. While you may not get quoted or appear on one of the daily TV talk shows, your personal brand will definitely be enhanced in the eyes of others.

Are you passionate about your topic(s)? As I mentioned earlier, I have a passion for being the best parent I can be. I also have a true passion for being the best colleague at work. Both require patience, listening, humility, humor, confidence and being prepared. While I don’t always achieve these, the actions people see from me show my personal commitment. This is the brand I want them to remember about me. How about you?

In the next week, please take a few minutes to answer the questions above for yourself. While the goal is not to prove you are an expert, it will more clearly define for you (and others) your key competencies that can ultimately propel your career. Most importantly, however, it will help establish your personal confidence and resilience to live your definition of the “good life.”

I wish you luck and look forward to talking with you next week!

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

Looking Inside Yourself to Tap Your True Emotions and Personal Brand

All of us in our careers have been branded by others for our work skills, our relationships or how we generally relate to other folks. But does that “brand” truly represent what you believe are your strengths?

For me in my career, I had always been branded as this inspirational guy with a physical disability (Cerebral Palsy) who had overcome personal obstacles to become a very successful communicator. While this brand was great, down deep I did not always want to be tagged as this “inspirational guy.” For years, I fought these emotions and rarely talked about my disability. But now, as I near 50, I realize that my physical being is a resilient positive point, and offers me a chance to say a few words about common-sense ways to  overcoming obstacles and staying resilient through any of our unique life challenges. That is one reason I started this blog!

I actually looked deep inside myself to realize my perceived personal brand was a positive for me instead of a negative. Is your perceived personal brand the one that truly fits your emotional resilience about you?

Here are a few tips to help you decide…

- Tap into your vision of yourself, know what gives you satisfaction, and bring those into your current job or life situation.

The inner game. Recognize what makes you happy. Setting aside what you “should” like, think about what you “do” like. Everyone is different in what kind of tasks they like to do, how much structure they prefer, and how much they want to interact with others. Think about the type of company you’d like to work in — its size, culture and mission.

To truly understand and adapt your personal brand, you need to understand how you feel. When I was young, I did not want to discuss my disability and rarely asked for any help – even if needed. As I indicated above, I wanted to be seen as a normal person in a “normal” world. Can you blame me? Unfortunately, any difference a person has is not always understood by others.

Folks always thought I needed doors opened for me or I was in severe pain when I walked. As a person in my 20s and 30s, and wanted to be seen like anybody else. So, my personal brand revolved around proving and acting as normal as I could be. I purposely became skilled at sports, lettered in high school athletics and became nearly a “scratch” golfer. While I was no Arnold Palmer or Tiger Woods, my personal brand was all about this normalcy.

- Assess your current situation in life and how you personal brand fits into it. Review the amount of structure you have, the tasks you do, the people you work with and the organization you work for. How well does it fit with your ideal? Think about what you’d want to change in a new position. Look at your career progression, focusing on aspects that brought you enjoyment along the way. Consider ways in which your job has changed or how your personal brand has grown. Be clear about the parts that fit, too; it’s important to focus on the resilient positives.

- Look at the big picture. Are you satisfied with your life? Don’t leave anything out — consider family, friends, health, spirituality and hobbies. If you aren’t happy in the rest of your life, it’ll be harder to boost your energy at work.

The outer game. Build on the outer positives and your inner-resiliency. Consciously savor the aspects of work and life situations you like. Look for ways to bring back parts of your past jobs that were engaging. For example, you may miss doing hands-on analysis now that you’re in a management role. Without overdoing it, get a little closer to the work your team does.

As far as your career, watch your preferences. If you prefer individual work but spend a lot of time in teams, negotiate ways to have more independent work time. You may have more options than you first perceive, but you’ll need to ask for what you want.

Stretch. Once you’ve mastered your job, it can feel stagnant. Find ways to grow. Take on special projects, or get to know people in other parts of the organization. Steps like these could lead to a new role. Think about your ideal job, and integrate aspects of that into the job you have now.

- Focus on relationships. Research has shown that people who have close friends at work have higher job satisfaction. If you like to be alone, make an effort to find common ground with some co-workers. Build genuine friendships; you’ll have more to look forward to when you walk in the door each day.

Get ready. Prepare for a new career by educating yourself through classes, books or conversations/networking with others in your new field. You’ll be more ready to move if you want a change later.

- The takeaways. Try to stay resilient, look for new things to do, and build deeper relationships. You’ll feel better about the time you spend at work, home and with friends. Let your personal brand shine through at work and in your personal relationships!

I would love to hear your continued great comments either by posting them on my blog or contacting me through e-mail. Look forward to our further discussions next week!