Give FirstI have been doing a lot of thinking about my personal and professional brand lately.  The struggle is trying to find what really makes me excited.

It seems that we get the most energy and productivity when we give value first.  That is, what we can do for others before we even think about what’s in it for us.  Think about it.  Isn’t it great to feel as though you have helped someone accomplish their goals?

Having that single focus in mind can help us set some pretty specific and measurable goals.  Also, setting your own performance goals will give you some direction.

I recently attended the Prodigy Group mingler at Salute.  What a great time!   Networking is a term that often gets misconstrued and people have missed opportunities to make connections because they don’t understand the importance of connections.  When you meet someone for the first time, ask yourself:

  • How can you help them grow their business?
  • Who you can connect them with?
  • What resources can you provide them?

One game I came up with a while back which makes networking fun is to see how long you can actively engage in a conversation before they ask you “What do you do?”  Read my post on Effective Listening for some ideas, but if you can get someone to like talking with you for ten minutes before they ask about you, you did a GREAT job!

An email marketing campaign is also an excellent way to provide relevant and interesting information to your customers and networks without asking for anything first.

There are other activities lately that have energized me because I get a chance to give back. Spending more time helping students, presenting on funding at EI offices, and helping my friends with career advice.

Can you think of ways to give value first?  The more you give to others, the better your connections.  This in turn leads to well-rounded, long-term success.

Do you have a story to share where you or someone you know gave value first?  If so, post a comment so others can see!

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about personal branding, so please let me know if there are any questions you want addressed or information you would like me to include.

“Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.”
– Albert Schweitzer

“To do more for the world than the world does for you – that is success.”
– Henry Ford

image by asenat29

Joe Girard
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