Head, Heart, Purpose in One Direction
One of the best parts of this SxSW conference was going into it fully aware of what I do well — my value proposition. The “what do you do?” question wasn’t hanging over my head when I met someone new. I could just talk in the same I talk to friends.
Every “hello” allowed me a chance to find about the person before me. I got to hear about their life and ask about their goals. An event like SxSW offers so many people who are doing exciting things. When it came time to speak of what I do — rather than flail for something sensible to say — I could relate what I do to what I had just heard.
How fun is that?!!
I noticed that the folks at the parties who know what they do well are the ones who have the engaging conversation. I also noticed that folks who want to work with me need to know what I do so that they can.
If you don’t know what you do well, start now to figure it out.
- Look over your past successes.
- See what they have in common.
- Make a list of 3-5 traits or skills that define your best work.
- Write a sentence that explains how those 3-5 traits come together.
- Learn it by heart
Want an example? Mine is in the sidebar under the button that says, “Work with Liz!”
In order to work with you, I have to know, What do you do well?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!! SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!
We talk about this topic at length when someone joins our company – it’s so true that it has to roll off your tongue, and come from your heart – otherwise folks just don’t get the real you!!
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com
Dear Liz,
Thank you for this post.
It brought to mind for me a similar “issue” that keeps coming up for me, and so I recognize that “what resists, persists”, so it is truly time for clarity. I would love to hear your thoughts.
The question is: to carry a business card, or to not?!?
I don’t know about you, but over the years I have spent a fortune on business cards, and through working with my mentor, I am just now coming to the realization that these cards are not only unnecessary, but may be damaging from a posturing perspective.
It is almost as though the business card has become a crutch that we use in the initial awkward “hello, nice to meet you” conversation.
We use them almost as a distraction, both for ourselves and for the person we are meeting – who is forced to study both sides of a tiny card, not really taking in the information, but feeling relieved in a way to break eye contact.
And for my business, posturing is extremely important. Often the most successful people to not carry business cards, because business “finds” them. They are “known”, they are “gurus”, they are beyond the business card.
David Neagle, my mentor, does NOT carry business cards. Donald Trump absolutely does NOT carry business cards. Alexandria Brown does Not carry business cards.
And I have to take responsibility for my own posturing. I know that I operate on the level of success that I choose to operate on. And I chose the 7-figure success level. Meaning, the business card must go.
I’m answering my own question here … and I really appreciate you allowing me to free flow type and think here. I’m feeling very connected to Source in this moment.
Does what I’m saying make sense to you also?
Is the business card a dying “marketing tool” beyond a certain level of success?
With warm regards,
Erin.
Erin Thoms Melnick
Modern & Millions Maven
http://www.crosscountrytour.com
Excellent post, Liz. I’ve been spending some time lately with my readers on the idea of branding. Really, branding for an Internet writer (or any small business) is largely about knowing what you’re good at and then telling people about it.
Good form!
Hi Karin!
People who know themselves are incredibly attractive. [grin] I so agree with what you’re saying. 🙂
Hi Erin!
I can only tell you my personal solution to the question. I talk to people. 🙂
We have conversation. I keep my business cards in my pocket. They only come out if someone wants to know my contact information. By then we already have the start of a relationship. It feels more natural to me that way. 🙂
Hi Bob!
You’re so right about knowing what you’re good at. I find that folks who really understand what they do well can easily sit down and talk about how their goals and my goals might go in the same direction. That becomes an appealing way to think about doing business together. 🙂
Not many people know what they do well. Myself being one. Not that I don’t have talent I do just figuring out where. I would hate to be wrong.
Hi Maggie!
Don’t I know!
I’ve made a business in helping folks get their life and business onto concrete once and for all. It was a hard process for me, but I paid attention to how I got there. So now I’m helping other folks.
You are so right. Until we know who we are, we’ll always be fitting ourselves to someone else’s path. 🙂