Get Out!

The Cure For Networking Negligence

May 2009

"What good is sitting alone in your room?"
Sally Bowles, Cabaret

I recently had a client ask me if I could create a personal marketing plan for the extreme introvert. While you can do far more sitting alone in your room than Kander and Ebb ever imagined when they wrote the musical Cabaret, the ideal strategy is a combination of real and virtual life. And while hanging out in bars may not seem like the way to go, a lot of job seekers are finding positive reinforcement at Pink Slip Parties.

Blue Feet can help ease the way with the new Blue Feet Personal PR Program. If you really don't want to go out in public, Blue Feet can help you place bylined articles. If you thrive on connecting in person, speaking opportunities are the way to go. Better yet is a combination of the two, perhaps with a few media interviews tossed in for even more credibility.

Whatever you do - get out. You can't expect your avatar to do everything for you.

Your Network - It's a Fix-It Ticket

After years of working long hours and trying to squeeze in a personal life, many people found themselves facing the recession with no professional network. Fear not. The penalty for not networking has been drastically reduced.

Tough times have made people more generous in sharing what they have, be it a job lead, an introduction or time for a quick chat in hopes of future collaboration. Most people realize that anyone could be out of a job these days or have a dramatic business slow down.

Think of your past networking negligence like a fix-it ticket for an out-of-date license plate. You still have to pay the fine, but once you renew you're in good shape.

So get out there and start reconnecting - online and in person. Let people know what you need. Find out how you can help them. Do it now. It takes time to build a network.

The Blessing of Jealousy

I often ask clients what claims their competitors make that move them to want to stand up and say: "Hey! We do that, and better than you ever could!"

In The Artist's Way, the 12-week guidebook for recovering your creativity, Julia Cameron describes jealousy as a signal that you're not doing what you're meant to do or what you really want to do.

If your competition - be it a fellow job seeker or a business in your field - is making claims that you think are far-fetched, that probably means they're actually out there making claims. Out there being the key words.

So don't let your competition out-claim you. Use that jealousy as a tool to get in touch with how talented you really are. Then go out and tell the world.

Not sure how to articulate what's makes you so special? Ask your friends, colleagues or clients what they really appreciate about your work. It'll give you content for your personal marketing materials and a great boost to your ego.

Get Discovered

I once heard an Oprah producer explain that PR people couldn't really pitch Oprah because the show preferred to discover the guests themselves. I know someone who was "discovered" by Oprah's staff. He was featured in People Magazine.

Recruiters are similar. They'd rather find you, than have you come to them. One of the best ways to get discovered is the visibility that comes with bylined articles, guest blog posts, speaking engagements or being quoted in news stories.

Such opportunities provide credibility and demonstrate your strategic thinking. And even if you're speaking to a room of junior professionals at an industry trade group, the publicity reaches all levels and you're mentoring young people. It also gives you the benefit of feeling smart - which is always a good thing.

Do Good Work : Get Good Work

A wise friend of mine says that the best way for her to get work is to keep working - and sometimes that means giving away her time.

Right now every non-profit on the planet is doing more with less. Which is why this is a great time to offer your services, and possibly even get a seat on the board. You'll demonstrate your talents and make new connections. Most importantly, you'll feel good.

There are a plethora of options, with small organizations likely offering greater opportunity. Go with your passion to find something you'll want to stick with in good times and bad.

Start by typing in your zip code and interests into Volunteer Match, and you can be out volunteering right away, maybe as soon as tonight. If you want to know more about a non-profit, including its financial situation, GuideStar can help.

Personal PR Program

Blue Feet is now offering a Personal PR Program to help job seekers and entrepreneurs identify and secure bylines, speaking opportunities and media interviews. The goal is to provide executive-level services at rates that are more manageable than typical PR agency fees. Individuals need promotion too, and more than just your mom bragging about you (my son, the doctor). Call or e-mail to find out more.

Find out more