The Mark of Distinction

There is no doubt that individuals like Oprah (Winfrey), Martha (Stewart), and MJ (Michael Jordan) have made indelible marks on society as a whole. So much so that the use of their first names (and in the case of Michael --- initials) can stand-alone. These three, whether serendipitously or skillfully masterminded, have carved out niches, distinguished themselves and branded their names so effectively that they have become household names, i.e. sellable products worth millions of dollars.

In an ever-increasing competitive society, marked by economic insecurity, one can no longer count on tangibles and "givens" like tenure, seniority, experience or even talent when it comes to job promotion or stability. There is no "job-insurance". Individuals must learn to rely on innate abilities to captivate, create, connect and position themselves as distinctive and memorable.

How do you position yourself as both marketable and sellable? The answer lies in each individuals ability to begin the process of self-distinction, understanding the idea of "product you" branding, and learning how to make an impressionable mark. Each of the aforementioned celebrities has done just that --- ultimately setting them apart and setting themselves up as "hot commodities" in a challenging consumer market. To duplicate some of their efforts and to begin making yourself stand out, take note of these three strategies for making your presence known:

Become Distinguishable - It is said in a crowded room of mothers and children, that a mother knows instinctively the cry of her own child. How does that work? A mother knows the distinction between her child's cry and that of another. Now look at that in another perspective. You're in a crowded room of professionals and contractors. What makes you stand out? What is it about your cry that distinguishes you among all the others? Is it an overwhelming outgoing personality, a distinguishable walk, a special broach or flower you always wear, or something special that you say? When you make this determination, you will be one step ahead of your competition. Determine what makes you different and distinguishable so that the next time you're in that crowded room, the contractor looking for you will be able to distinguish you from all the others.

Get beyond name and titles- The one thing our three celebrities have in common is they've created a name for themselves. Most of us haven't so we need to get beyond that. Until you've branded yourself effectively, your name is just your title without an image behind it. When you think of Oprah, or MJ, or some famous others, you get a mental image, a picture, a viewpoint on who they are and what they stand for. That's called name recognition. In the traditional sense Oprah is a talk show host and Michael Jordan is a basketball player, but when was the last time you thought of them that way? The next time you're at a networking event, instead of the tradition introduction, "Hi, I'm Mike Jones. I'm a motivational speaker." Try something new like, "Hi, I am a master of language, many enjoy the sound of my voice, which I use to inspire, uplift and motivate people towards change. I'm Mike" or Hi, I'm creative, enthusiastic, and an overall joy to be around. By the way, they call me Sondra."

Don't be afraid to re-create, explore, and experiment - Generally speaking, we should recognize that we are always in the process of evolving. Markets change, people change, and environments change. Over the course of one year, the economy has seen a major transition, corporate and CEO scandals are unraveling like we've never seen before, and our once peaceful nation is now at war. With so much change, a little risk-taking and experimentation is a means to our survival and progress. Oprah lost weight, gained weight, and tried "soap opera drama" programming. She finally came into her own both personally and professionally as she sculpted both Oprah the person and Oprah the show over the last decade. Likewise we saw Michael Jordan retire from basketball, try his hand at baseball and even give golf a try in an effort to distinguish himself beyond his basketball career. In the end, he was back where he started, but he wasn't (even with all his fame and glory in one sport) afraid to try something different. As you begin branding yourself, you will have to take a few risks and do some experimentation to see what really works for you and what doesn't. If you don't alter, modify, or adjust, you'll never get that custom fit.

Begin implementing these strategies and you'll find yourself in a better position to market and sell your skills, next proposal or idea more effectively.

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