3 Mandatory Tasks for Your Personal Brand in 2009

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[youtube=http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=poxh7ZWz15E]

A family catastrophy

It’s Christmas right now and I’m Jewish, so I figured I would have time to record a short two minute video for all of you.  I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas, happy Channukah and a pre – happy new year!  This week has been extremely difficult for me, as you might have seen on Facebook and Twitter.  Aside from my 90 year old grandfather being in rough shape, undergoing surgery and being moved to a nursing home, my grandmother and uncle got hit by a car.  They were both crossing this street and this middle-aged woman hit them.  She blamed the sunlight!  Can you believe that?  My grandmother (88 years old) ended up with a broken pelvis and is in extraordinary pain and my uncle was fine because he jumped onto of the car upon impact.  The really sad thing is that my grandparents are in two different places and don’t get to see each other.

Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern.  I appreciate it!

3 mandatory tasks for your brand

1.  Set achievable goals

Between now and January 1st, please sit down for an hour or two and write down some short and long-term goals for 2009.  You should do this every year.  The short-term goals could be monthly or quarterly and your long-term goal should cover the entire year.  This time next year, you should have check marks next to all of your goals as a sign of completion.  Depending on your current status or place in you career, some goals will be attainable and others will not be.  I recommend that you work with the ones you know you can pull off an work like hell to reach them.

2.  Remain focused

A lot of people are getting laid off around you.  You might have had a close friend or family member that is looking for a new job now.  Do not lose focus, even if you have setbacks, uncertainty and depression around you.  In 2009, you must concentrate on building as much personal brand equity as possible, in order to position yourself when our economic climate changes.  Also, if you lose focus, you might end up without a job.  Be confident!

3.  Network constantly

I’ve always said that any new opportunity can change your life.  Well, people lead to opportunities, meaning that any new person you meet can change your life for the better.  I don’t go to sleep until I’ve met five new people.  In 2009, this will double.  If you aren’t on social networks or aren’t going to network events, you need to start ASAP.  Also, start thinking about whose already in your current network.  Your family, friends, teachers, classmates and coworkers can help as well.  They all have networks already accounted for and, with permission, you can tap them.

Picture of Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel is the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm. He is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success (St. Martin’s Press) and the #1 international bestselling book, Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future (Kaplan Publishing), which combined have been translated into 15 languages.

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