When you meet a new person, what is the usual question? Most people will ask each other, “What do you do?” It is the way we network in social or professional events. It is a way to find common ground and provide a way to pave the way for new opportunities.
Since you passed the age of 18, you have focused on how to make a living and build a lifestyle through a job or career path.
Yet, the best way to really connect with others is to tell your story. Here are the three things that you need to have ready that is more than a 30-second elevator speech. The trouble with an elevator speech is that it is so short that you can often fail to engage the listener.
Creating a new personal brand story can utilize these pieces that I heard attending Hay House Speak, Write & Promote workshop in December:
- Your name, occupation and where you live
- Clear direct message about your work and how it will help them or others
- A moving, relevant story to underscore your message
- Simple restatement of your message with a call to action
As you talk about yourself and your work, focus your story on why you started into it or the passion that you have about what you do. The ability to lend an emotional, passionate piece to your story allows the listener to engage with how they feel about what you say and how it impacts their life story. The call to action can be as simple as asking for a business card or getting together for lunch.
For an example of a personal story, see https://www.mymarketinginsights.com/about-nicolette-lemmon/.
If you want to know more about structuring your Success Network and Personal Portfolio, check out our workbook, Almost Famous 2.0: How to Market Yourself for Success. Another resource is the webinar series “About You, Inc. – Success Tips to Manage Your Career” through Credit Union Marketing University.