Have you ever wondered how some people get so far ahead? People know them, remember them, respect them. No matter what their field, the most successful professionals have one thing in common: they have developed a clear, coherent personal brand. On this Sunday's Talent Wins with Jon Bartos, Jon and his guest, author and career coach Wendy Enelow will discuss personal branding and how it can make the difference in your career.

A personal brand--or individual value proposition-- lets you take control of how others see you. It's much more than a nice suit and expensive business cards, although they don't hurt. It is your personality, your passion, and your experience: the things that differentiate you from everyone else in the marketplace. Learn how to effectively communicate your brand in a professional, understated manner that makes clients, an interviewer or your boss think they developed this great perception of you on their own.

January 26.

An hour that will help you get the most from the year.

Talent Wins with Jon Bartos on 550 AM FOX

Listen live online at www.55krc.com/pages/streaming.html

How to Create a Personal Brand

The most successful professionals in the world understand their own value and are able to articulate that very well. They know what differentiates them from the competitors. They know what their clients want. They have a value proposition: the critical reasons a client would choose to do business with them, as opposed to all other alternatives.

Your clients must derive tangible benefits from partnering with you. Will you save them time and energy? Will you provide significantly higher quality candidates than anyone else? Are they buying your expertise, your in-depth industry knowledge, or your skills? Every professional possesses unique strong points. Know them and quantify them.

As a recruiter, I track the results of the placements I've made. For example, I placed a superstar in a document management company. He saved the business $50 million in his first year of employment. This has become an integral part of my value proposition. When potential clients hear huge numbers like that, you can bet they sit up and take notice. It is vital that you let clients or prospective employers know just how good you are and the superior results you've achieved.

The secret to success is this: what differentiates your offering in the eyes of the client is ultimately what wins the game. Know why you are better you're your competitors. Explain your unique strengths and accomplishments to make clients want--need--to do business with you. There are thousands of people in your line of work. Break away from the pack. Establish what it is you do best and show them why you are worth more. Make sure your perceived value far exceeds the amount of money you charge.

Branding Basics:

- Focus--Don't try to be everything to everyone.

- Define specific needs you can meet or problems you can solve.

- Establish credibility--you have to work for their business.

- Have a vision and a strategy. Know what the next move is before your clients do.

- Always give the impression you are the best in the business.

- Have the courage of your convictions.

- Know and be able to articulate your unique story.

- Believe in your own professional worth.

- Exude confidence built upon hard-earned professional equity.

- Earn respect by doing what you say you are going to do when you say you will. Always.

--Jon

Wendy Enelow

Wendy is an executive's resume writer, career coach and branding expert. She is founder and president of Enelow Enterprises, Inc. She has mentored, trained and coached hundreds of resume writers and entrepreneurial career practitioners to help them achieve higher levels of business, performance and financial success. She works one-on-one to help entrepreneurs plan and manage the growth of their businesses or private practices, isolate problem areas, identify realistic solutions, and implement the strategies, programs, practices and techniques that are guaranteed to enhance performance, productivity and profitability. She has over 20+ years of experience packaging and presenting top talent for top-tier opportunities. She is a published author with 20+ books on executive job search, executive resumes, executive cover letters, keywords, interviewing and more ( click here for Bookstore ), and a frequent guest speaker at conferences and events nationwide. For more information on Wendy visit www.wendyenelow.com

You've heard of the Buckeyes?

Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes, probably one of the greatest examples of coaching and branding in competitive sports today. Tressel has led his football team to an understanding of who they are and what they stand for in the minds and hearts of their fans. He has, in turn, been rewarded by player loyalty and superior performance on and off the field. Just as Tressel has ushered in a new era of success for his team, the right executive coach can do the same for you. Part of Jon's Magnum Program is effective personal brand development. Learn more at www.talentwinsonline.com

Quote it.

"What is it that you like doing? If you don't like it, get out of it, because you'll be lousy at it. You don't have to stay with a job for the rest of your life, because if you don't like it you'll never be successful in it."

--Lee Iacocca