Way out of Comfort Zone!

This morning I arrived at the Hilton in RTP to deliver my Getting Noticed, Known and Connected seminar for the Triangle United Way’s support/education series for job seekers.    The wonderful woman who coordinated the program, Gayle Manley, greeted me and then said “NBC 17  will be covering this event, a reporter will be here soon to interview you on camera and shoot some of your seminar”.  

My first thought was “Oh, no – I can’t be on TV”!  I was terrified but it was too late.  My next thought was “OK, I’m doing this – boy am I glad I didn’t know before I got here”!

When Josh Green from NBC-17 showed up and greeted me, I immediately shared with him that this was way out of my comfort zone!   He said “focus on me, not the camera” so I did – and you know, it was OK.  Josh asked great questions and made the whole process painless – and once I was comfortable with him, I really didn’t even notice the camera in the room!

Not sure how long this link will be live, but if you want to check out my spot on NBC-17, here it is.

I would love to hear one of your Way out of your comfort zone” moments!

Expectations

Last weekend I visited Washington DC for the first time.  Yes, it took me this long to visit a place that has been only 4-5 hours driving distance from my home in NY and now NC.

We had a great time and what it brought up for me was the idea of expectations and how they effect our perception.  You see, I had very little expectation of what it would be like to visit DC.  Contrary to the “planner” in me, I had a short list of what sites I wanted to see but beyond that I did not do much research or have an itinerary. 

Sure I imagined what The Mall and Arlington would look like and had a map of the area, and of course photos of DC are everywhere, but I did not spend too much time thinking about it.

What was so wonderful about having little expectations?  For me it was being suprised by the beauty of the architecture, gardens we found without looking, delicious food we encountered whenever we were hungry (even the soft pretzels I missed from NYC) and the overall feeling of being in such an historic place! 

Here are some of my favorite photos…

 

Our Own Personal Brand

I came across a great article called Authentic Personal Branding .  This topic is something I talk about in one form or another in many of my workshops especially Getting Noticed, Known and Connected in the Getting Prepared section.

Branding is not just for business, it is the image we present to the world through our relationships, our work, our everyday lives.   It is the unique qualities we portray and how we live out what we value most.   Branding has to be authentic, not only in what we deliver but in how we deliver it. 

When I work with clients that are either building a business or seeking employment, there is a lot of fear and trepidation in “selling” ourselves.  If we think of it as branding instead – showcasing ourselves in a way that helps others see the true essense of who we are as individuals, and we are able to deliver it by consistent action and being true to our word, it could feel more effortless!

A great way to showcase who you are in a way that feels natural is getting involved in an organization you believe in.  That involvement could include volunteering for a project/event, leading a committee, accepting a board position in the organization or any other opportunity to give of yourself.  In this environment, you are “living” your brand by allowing your passion, drive, strengths and value to shine through example.