Is Your Story Worth Telling?
Standing out is crucial to business success, but it is key to succeeding as an individual, as well and a big part of creating your personal brand. If you’re looking to set yourself apart, then you have to create a compelling narrative.
When people ask: “Who are you and what do you do? ” Do you have an authentic story to tell? Do you reveal the hardships or challenges you have successfully overcome? A story that others can learn from? Does your story surprise people? Does your story tell others what you can do for them? Those are stories worth telling!
Telling a story is one of the best ways to showcase your personal brand, company mission, project or accomplishment. Stories have been a powerful way to convey complex ideas that are memorable throughout human history. Work on your communication skills so that you are known for your adroit business stories and interesting presentations that people remember long after your presentation ends.
Think of the stories that you found memorable – and see if you can match your story with similar elements that are true to your experiences. You will then need to discover a brand position that you can own, that’s not associated with anyone else.
Define your target market well so that you will have a narrow audience to broadcast your story to, who will be especially receptive to it. If you work for an organization then your boss is your key target market, followed by other senior executives. Your secondary target market would likely include colleagues, clients, your network and your staff. All of these markets play an important role in your success because their perception of your abilities and accomplishments can make or break you.
Then essentialize your story into an elevator speech, a thirty-second personal advertisement you can use when networking and when pitching yourself for new jobs or assignments. Be sure that you tell your story clearly, and succinctly so that your target audience can understand what’s different, relevant and special about you. You can use analogies people are familiar with to help communicate your uniqueness, like, “I’m a cross between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates,” or “I’m like the turbo-version of Steve Jobs.”
In today’s world where people are overwhelmed by choice, the brands that stand out for something relevant to them and that create positive perceptions are the ones that succeed.
Workplace Thought of the Day 