In today’s competitive market, it is very important to stand out as a leader in your industry to elevate your career to its highest potential. If you are serious about your career, then you must be serious about your brand.  Personal branding is vital when it comes to having a lucrative career, not only for long-term success, but also for your earning potential. How you present yourself to potential employers, clients, and customers is crucial if you want to advance within your industry; your brand shows them clearly who you are professionally and exactly what you can offer them, which can make or break your growth and elevation on your path of professional success.
 
Try out these tips for understanding the importance of personal branding, defining your own personal brand, and marketing your brand for greater career success.
 
Understanding the Importance of Personal Branding
 
Your personal brand helps you to:

1. Prosper as a free agent. Your personal brand is your reputation. It’s the way others see you. If you’re like most people, you may be switching jobs and employers regularly. Your personal brand is an asset you can take with you wherever you go.
   
   
2. Chart your own direction. Your brand will help you to establish goals, priorities and action plans. Even while taking care of daily obligations, you’ll have a bigger picture in mind.
   
   
3. Serve others. Self promotion can go too far, so it’s easy to think that branding is somehow vain or self-absorbed. In reality, your personal brand shows the positive impact you can have on other people and the world around you.
   
   

 
Defining Your Own Personal Brand
 
These tips will help you create an outstanding personal brand:

1. Take an inventory. Take a good look at yourself. Write out your strengths and weaknesses. Identify your passions. Think about what you’re good at and what you like to do.
   
   
2. Distinguish yourself from your colleagues. There are plenty of talented and dependable people in every field. Pinpoint your unique selling point. Maybe you’re a gas station owner who maintains the cleanest bathrooms in town.
   
   
3. Talk about benefits. Let your target audience know what you can do for them. Explain how you can boost profits by increasing sales or saving money.
   
   
4. Summarize your mission in 10 seconds or less. Be prepared to capture people’s attention quickly. Let them know what you do in 15 words or less. You can tell you’re on the right track when they ask for more details.
   
   
5. Ask for feedback. Survey your family, friends, customers and colleagues to find out what they think of you and your abilities. Show your appreciation for constructive criticism so they’ll keep sharing it with you.
   
   
6. Stay updated. Review your personal mission statement every six months. Make new action plans so you’re always getting closer to your goals.
   
   

 
Marketing Your Personal Brand
 
Use these strategies to expand your reach:

1. Increase your visibility. Post fresh content on your website or blog regularly. Stay active in social media. Look for opportunities to teach classes, give presentations, or write articles in your field.
   
   
2. Build buzz. Collect samples of positive feedback you get in the workplace. Assemble testimonials from happy clients and encourage them to make referrals. Word of mouth is often more effective and certainly cheaper than paid advertising.
   
   
3. Tell your success stories. Craft brief anecdotes about your accomplishments that showcase your skills and make you proud. Rehearse telling them so you sound natural.
   
   
4. Monetize your contribution. Numbers sound convincing. Try to quantify the value you can deliver. For example, if you’re pitching your IT services to a small business owner, discuss how much money they can save by signing up with you for monthly maintenance visits that reduce the risk of expensive repairs and downtime.
   
   
5. Put together a dream team. It’s difficult to go it alone. Cultivate your network. Help others to market their brand and they’re more likely to do the same for you. Team up with complementary partners.

 
Seek Professional Support
 
If you are serious about growing your career and establishing yourself as a leader within your industry, one of the best things you could ever do for your career is to hire help. A Career Expert can help you discover, define, communicate, and market your personal brand for your career growth in ways you never thought possible. VR Success Services – Career and Business Advancement specializes in professional branding and marketing strategies for professionals that are committed to their growth and want to stand out above the rest. Our team helps our clients advance exponentially in their careers. We offer professional services and support to help you reach your highest possible potential. Contact us for a free assessment and start your journey of purpose, abundance, and success today! 

​​​https://bit.ly/VRstrategy

Have you ever heard of Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia? An object in motion tends to stay in motion. An object at rest tends to stay at rest. This law not only applies to objects, but it is also true for people and plays a huge part in determining whether you will propel forward toward more success, or remain stagnant and unmotivated to achieve your goals.
It pays to have the power of momentum on your side whether you’re running an Olympic race or just trying to finish your sales report on time. Regardless of what you are wanting to accomplish, without momentum, it will be a losing battle, but the laws of physics can help you reach your goals faster.
 
Try these 18 techniques to propel yourself forward by establishing momentum and keeping it going by understanding and implementing this effective law of nature.
 
Make a Start

1. Take the first step. The kickoff of any project can be the most challenging stage. Give yourself credit for taking the initiative. You’re on your way to fulfilling your wishes. Even if you make a mistake, you can learn from it.
   
   
2. Begin early. Use your morning hours wisely. Rack up at least one accomplishment before breakfast. You may sort through your emails or do a load of laundry in record time when interruptions are fewer.
   
   
3. Start strong. Generate multiple leads to fill up your pipeline. For example, if one job interview fails to pan out, you’ll have several other applications to follow up on.
   
   
4. Break projects down. Simplify complicated jobs. If you’re renovating your bathroom, draft a budget and ask family and friends to recommend contractors.
   
   
5. Aim for easy wins. Feel like a hero by getting a few simple victories under your belt. It will inspire you to keep striving for more.
   
   
6. Gather facts. Avoid delays due to uncertainty. Conduct the necessary research first. Browse online or ask a librarian for the best resources. Reach out to experts to get their advice.
   
   
7. Identify obstacles. Similarly, anticipating roadblocks helps you to plan around them. For instance, arrange for a colleague to cover your responsibilities before you ask your supervisor for a week off.
   
   

Keep Moving Ahead

1. Clarify your goals. It’s easier to advance when you know where you’re going. Be precise about what you want to achieve.
   
   
2. Establish timelines. Target dates are another important element. Stay on track by deciding to get your taxes done by the end of the month or clean out the garage this weekend.
   
   
3. Hold yourself accountable. Realize that you generate your own energy. Motivation is more reliable when it’s internal.
   
   
4. Build on previous victories. Resist the temptation to rest on your laurels. Get back on the phone immediately after closing one sales call.
   
   
5. Share the glory. Enlist the support of others. You can spur each other on. Momentum is contagious!
   
   
6. Chose meaningful activities. You’re more likely to keep at something when you feel passionate about it. Devote your time to the things you care about.
   
   
7. Tackle irksome tasks promptly. Of course, there’s bound to be grunt work. Wash the dishes immediately and get them out of the way.
   
   
8. Get organized. Build up speed by putting systems in place. You’ll check off routine errands in less time.
   
   
9. Schedule downtime. Allow for rest and relaxation. Play with your children or listen to classical music. You’ll return to work with more energy.
   
   
10. Stay healthy. Productivity depends on your physical and mental condition. Exercise regularly, eat a nutritious diet, and follow your doctor’s recommendations for any medical conditions you have.
    
    
11. Evaluate your results. Take time to review your achievements and identify areas where you can raise your sights. Find satisfaction in developing your skills and being of service to others. Reward yourself with something nice like a potted plant or a good book.
    
    

If you want to achieve more in life and be more successful, productive, effective, and efficient, then you need to consider the above strategies to build momentum. Remember that once you start down a path with a single step, you have already started to build the momentum that you’ll need to propel you forward and complete your goals. Forget about getting stuck. Use momentum to build your confidence and put you on a winning streak so you can accomplish your goals and reach your highest potential!