Are You a Pro or Just Acting Like One?
The corner stone of strong personal branding is being good at something . . .not just good, but actually exceptional at something. To be exceptional, each of us must develop habits that continue to prove we are on top of our game, we have new wisdoms to share and we are out smarting our competition.
Take the following Industry Knowledge Health Check and see if your daily routines are supporting being expectational in your niche.
o I am known for my knowledge.
o Others come to me with their questions regarding the industry, administration or sales in the industry.
o I know what it takes to be a top performer and have made a conscious decision to participate as a high or low scale level. (ie: I operate with deliberate actions)
o I have identified at least two key niches where I have or could develop a very precise level of expertise and knowledge.
o I make it a point to develop relationships with industry leaders either locally or globally to learn from them.
o I conduct informal 360 evaluations, seeking feedback from every part of my organization – always looking for ways to fine tune my expertise.
o I subscribe, read and comment on Industry related blogs or social media pages.
o I am actively seeking out deeper knowledge or new knowledge in my industry.
o I have compiled a 10 point check list for the average consumer in my industry called “How to Choose an <insert title or position here>.”
o I have compiled a 10 point check list of consumer red flags when making a choice in my industry.
Rate Yourself
8-10– Congratulations, you are an Expert and are positioned to leverage that fact to your advantage. You can build in almost any direction knowing you have already created a foundation to support Advanced Marketing, Strategic Growth and operationally sound marketing systems.
7-8 – Health is good but a little more effort and it could be solid. You can still move into Advanced Marketing routines, however, a rating of 8 or above will assure advanced tactics are the most successful.
Danger Zone! 5-6 – Things could fail quickly. Remember your competition is eagerly trying to out score you. Many people in this range tend to “throw things against the wall to see what will stick”. This is a danger range and it’s easy to get lost, waste time, waste money. Don’t be fooled because there is some items in place, they have to be strong enough to build upon.
Below 5 – You are in danger of being “unmemorable” if not already there. This is typically the range of the beginning business or the “old school” business owner. This is the range to help you understand the starting point and how to narrow your focus for the most effective.
