You and Me, Inc.

by Judith Harper

We're living in what Tom Peters calls

…a new brand world…where we are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc….where everyone has a chance to stand out. Everyone has a chance to learn,  improve, and build up their skills. Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark.

Note that this is not a complete turnaround. It's a "new brand world, " not a "brand new world." After all, we have always been ultimately responsible for creating and shaping our own career lives. We've always had opportunities to learn and grow and fully develop talents and skills. But this "new brand world" is one where advanced digital hardware and software have spawned a growing number of  technology-based tools that make it easier for a lone diver to make a giant splash. We live in a world where you can create a personal "brand worthy of remark."

As CEO of You Inc, you need to manage a few essential corporate functions.

• Strategic planning
  Enumerate and evaluate your assets. Focus on things like:
  • What do you do well?
  • What do you enjoy doing?
  • What accomplishments make you proud?
  • What do you see possible for your future?

  Based on your answers to these questions, develop a mission statement that paints, in broad strokes, your vision for the next five years of your career.
  ->Mind-mapping tools to help you organize your thoughts: PersonalBrain, Freemind (others?)

• Technical training
  Based on the career portrait you've painted, outline the learning experiences you will need to fill in any gaps in your skills and experience. What training do you need and how will you get it? Learning is lifelong; you never know everything.
  ->Local schools offering online classes: University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton (others?)
• Human resources
  Don't forget the people who are a vital part of any career advancement and the people skills that are essential for career success.
  • Whom do you know?
  • How well do you interact with your colleagues, clients, bosses?

  Feed this evaluation back into your training plans. Technical training covers more than bits and bytes; learn the how-tos of successful social interactions.
  ->Social marketing networks for business:  LinkedIn, Content Wrangler Community (others?)

• Marketing
  Learn to sell yourself. Analyze your unique selling proposition.
  • What is your advantage over your competition?
  • Who is your target customer?
  • What makes you more valuable to your customer than other people who provide the same product or service?

  After this analysis, turn your resume, your web site, your blog, and all your career communications into vehicles for conveying your USP. No, everything you write is not a sales document. But…everything with your name on it should be part of your marketing, because it showcases your capabilities.
  -> Online marketing resources: Copyblogger (others?)

Do you have suggestions for adavncing the fortunes of You and Me Inc? If so, share them. We're all looking for ways to make the most of our career and professional lives.