Finding Dignity, Finding Hope. Identifying Your Identity.

Finding Dignity, Finding Hope. Identifying Your Identity. I have blogged a lot about personal branding, and depression in the job search. I have said that when I lost my job I lost my identity.  I used to be Jason Alba the General Manager, but when I became unemployed I was Jason Alba the I have no idea who I am. It might sound  weird  to someone who hasnt gone through it. If you told me I would think that way I would have thought you were crazy. Alas, thats really what happened. Perhaps our identity should not be so tied up in our job title, or position within a company.  But it is.  And you dont realize it until it is taken away. How does our brand impact this issue? People ask what to put in the current title on LinkedIn if they are unemployed. I suggest they could put something like Interested in ______, passionate about _______, Experienced _________ where each of the blanks are job titles (or something similar). I heard a speaker say a carpenter who loses his wood and hammer is still a carpenter.  Isnt that so true? When we lose our title we feel like we cant say we are that thing but we are. Even though our temporary status changes, we are still that thing! I was inspired to share this with you today after reading Donna Sweidans post: Finding Dignity, Finding Hope. Giving Job Seekers Permission to Reclaim their Professional Identity In that post she talks about what Michael, someone from her workshop, wrote. It is very, very powerful.  Please go check it out. And remember, just because you lose sight of what your identity is does not mean you have lost your identity. Finding Dignity, Finding Hope. Identifying Your Identity. I have blogged a lot about personal branding, and depression in the job search. I have said that when I lost my job I lost my identity.  I used to be Jason Alba the General Manager, but when I became unemployed I was Jason Alba the I have no idea who I am. It might sound  weird  to someone who hasnt gone through it. If you told me I would think that way I would have thought you were crazy. Alas, thats really what happened. Perhaps our identity should not be so tied up in our job title, or position within a company.  But it is.  And you dont realize it until it is taken away. How does our brand impact this issue? People ask what to put in the current title on LinkedIn if they are unemployed. I suggest they could put something like Interested in ______, passionate about _______, Experienced _________ where each of the blanks are job titles (or something similar). I heard a speaker say a carpenter who loses his wood and hammer is still a carpenter.  Isnt that so true? When we lose our title we feel like we cant say we are that thing but we are. Even though our temporary status changes, we are still that thing! I was inspired to share this with you today after reading Donna Sweidans post: Finding Dignity, Finding Hope. Giving Job Seekers Permission to Reclaim their Professional Identity In that post she talks about what Michael, someone from her workshop, wrote. It is very, very powerful.  Please go check it out. And remember, just because you lose sight of what your identity is does not mean you have lost your identity.

6 Tech Trends That Are Transforming Careers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

6 Tech Trends That Are Transforming Careers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It was only a few short years ago when consumers viewed technology as a way to supplement their everyday lives, including their careers. Fast forward to the present day, and many of these same individuals cant even imagine a life without their smartphone, high-speed internet and Wi-Fi connectivity. While it was once considered a bonus that was reserved for those who could afford and understand it, our current lifestyles revolve around technology more than ever before. But the widespread integration of technology isnt limited to our personal lives. Many professionals are beginning to realize the benefit of todays smart devices, software applications and online communications. Social Media Modern social media has transformed the way we go about our lives and how we conduct business on a day-to-day basis. Gone are the days of fax machines and extended conference calls. Todays professional atmosphere is all about instant, direct contact and fast results â€" and the impact on our society has been profound. At the time of this writing, nearly 80 percent of adults in the U.S. are using Facebook to keep in touch with their friends, family members and co-workers, while the number of business profiles on the site recently exceeded 50 million. Facebook isnt alone in its success. LinkedIn, a popular site for job-hunting and connecting with industry peers, has gained a stellar reputation for professionals and entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Twitter, YouTube and even Instagram are also being used in similar fashions. Remote Connectivity Many workers dont even have to make an appearance at their workplace. Given the reliability and high speeds of modern networking equipment, as well as an increasing reliance on computer-driven operations and digital assets, numerous roles have been created that can be completed from a remote location. In some cases, traditional, on-site jobs are even being transitioned to remote or home-based employees. According to recent reports, approximately 35 million U.S. workers are currently fulfilling their professional responsibilities from the comfort of their own home. With mobile and remote technology continuing to evolve and improve, and with a greater need for company wide digitization, the number of work-from-home opportunities will likely increase. Wearable and Mobile Devices As electrical components and related hardware become smaller and smaller, the popularity of wearable technology is on the rise. Not only are these devices incredibly useful, but their unobtrusive size and sleek design also makes them a great accessory for professional attire. The technology behind these gadgets is impressive. Todays circuit boards are miniscule in comparison to their predecessors. Flexible printed circuit boards, or PCBs, only take up one tenth the space of comparable wired assemblies. Wristwatches and bracelets make up the brunt of todays wearable IT products. The Apple Watch provided many consumers with their first taste of such technology, but new and upcoming products include eyeglasses, headsets, shoes and more. Online Academia The world of academia is also transitioning to the internet and embracing a wide variety of online educational platforms. Blackboard, which has been around since 1997, is one of the most popular virtual learning environments to date. It receives regular updates, modifications and upgrades to increase stability, enhance security and provide greater accessibility on behalf of students, teachers and administrators alike. Rapidly evolving IT has even led to accredited colleges and institutions that are strictly meant for online learning. The certifications, diplomas and degrees obtained from these schools have all the weight of their traditional counterparts, and some credits can even be transferred between your online courses and brick-and-mortar universities. Professionals now have greater control over their education and, as a result, their future. Whereas your past choices might have been limited due to geographical convenience, scheduling or tuition costs, these factors are more easily covered when attending college online during your free time. It also makes it easier to attend classes and maintain a full-time job, which can lead to even greater career success down the road. Industrial Automation and Robotics More prevalent in the industries of manufacturing, assembly and distribution, industrial automation and robotics are streamlining day-to-day operations and enhancing productivity all across the nation. Although warehouse and factory workers have been working with automated systems for quite some time, modern hardware has advanced well beyond the forecasts and expectations. Industrial robots of today are able to load raw materials, sort finished goods, package items and even perform quality assurance. Some are capable of self-diagnosing potential problems or errors and machine-based learning algorithms make these machines even smarter and more efficient as time goes on. Embracing Current and Future Technology Theres no question IT has revolutionized the way we view our careers, how we go about achieving progression and even how we measure success. Motivated individuals will do whatever it takes to become familiar with the latest technology and learn how to apply it to enhance their lives, including their professional status. But the most proactive of professionals are able to monitor the state of IT, spot upcoming trends and capitalize on new innovations as soon as they hit the mainstream.

Relive Your Glory Through Your Child and Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Relive Your Glory Through Your Child and Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Okay, so you didnt get to be a professional ballplayer, dancer, actor, musician, beauty queen, or whatever. But you had kids to continue the dream. After all, if you couldnt make it, they could, and youre going to ride their success to the top with them. As your child climbs the ladder of success, after hours and hours of practice; games, performances, pageants, and concerts; lessons, schools, and private coaching, you need to know how you can promote your childs brilliance online so they catch the attention of a coach, scout, or agent at the next level. Here are three tactics you can use to profit off filling your childs early years with an activity they grew to resent by the time they were 12. 1. Post Videos on YouTube Take high definition videos of your childs games and performances. Keep in mind that while an iPhone has a great high def camera, it can only work optimally in well-lit situations. Plus, it doesnt have the anti-shake feature that many other professional video cameras have. So get a decent video camera that has some additional lighting capabilities. Consider it an investment in your childs and your future. On the other hand, with an iPhone or Android phone, you can upload your childs greatest triumphs â€" like you taunting Joely, whose daughter Miranda got third runner up â€" directly to YouTube without having to download it to your laptop first. So use that for those unexpected moments. And for your end-of-season montages that you post to your Facebook page, be sure to edit out the parts where your kid is crying and pulls away whenever you try to console her. Also, the parts where you yell at her for getting second because she didnt stick the landing are best left on the cutting room floor. We all know how hard you work to get your little prodigy ready for showtime, but no one wants to be reminded of it. 2. Connect With Agents/Coaches/Pageant Organizers on LinkedIn and Twitter This is one avenue that father-coaches and mother-agents dont pursue often enough. Search on LinkedIn for those people who could play an important role in your childs future. Use Twellow.com to find them on Twitter too. Of course, youre going to have to make some choices later on, but while your kids are young, start connecting with everyone at that post-high school level you can find. As you evaluate those coaches and teachers, weed out the ones who dont meet your high expectations for doing whats best for your child. Soon, youll have narrowed it down to the two or three people who can greatly benefit from your child joining their program. And dont overlook the importance of graduate assistants, especially if you have dreams of Junior playing football. Todays grad assistant is tomorrows defensive coordinator (especially if youre already pushing Junior into PeeWee League football at age 7). Connect with these people and remind them on a weekly basis how awesome your child is doing. Invite them to all your childs events, email them the videos, and later on, send them the end-of-season DVD so they can see the progress your little star is making. If you do this, I guarantee the coach or organizer will remember you and your child for life. 3. Facebook Is a Great Way to Remind Your High School Friends How Awesome You Were Show Your High School Friends How Much Better Your Kid Is Than Theirs Facebook is for sharing interesting news about your families, your lives, the things that make you happy, and all that other loser crap that everyone else from high school is yammering about. But they all know the truth: if Coach had just put you in for that last play, youd be the state champs, not Fimore. Still, use Facebook to show your friends that youve moved on. That youre tired of living in the past, and youve put all your stock â€" and energy, effort, disposable income, and entire identity â€" into your future: your son, the starting QB for the Susquehanna High School Sycamores. Take plenty of photos (you may want to invest in a camera with a giant lens that compensates for your, uh. . . sports car you gave up to send Danny to Peyton Mannings QB camp), and upload them to your Facebook photo album. Be sure to give a rundown of every play of every game, especially that one where Danny rolled out for a 20-yard pass to the end zone. But be objective. Dont forget to point out his failures, like where his fat blob of a right guard slipped, and let the lineman through. Or where Danny didnt get his head out of his ass after his last interception because he kept glancing fearfully up in the stands at you. Social media can be a great boon to those parents who push and drive their children to have the successes they wish theyd had in high school, but everyone else kept them from realizing. Now, they can help their children have the success and approval they themselves so desperately craved 20 or more years ago. Author: Erik Deckers is the owner of Professional Blog Service, and the co-author of Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself. His new book, No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing. He is also a humor writer and satirist, which hopefully you figured out before you got this far into this blog post.