Bulletproof Blueprint for Career Success: Telling and Selling Your Value
Some people look at the road they have or will travel to career success as daunting, unattainable, inaccessible, and every other negative word in the dictionary. However, they look to the person on their left and right and think “Wow! They are so lucky! I wish opportunities fell in my lap the way they fall into theirs.” Well, I’m here to let you in on a little secret. You may be absolutely right about the blessings that rain on others, but it is absolutely attainable for you!
There are 5 best kept secrets on how to get your career, product, goals, etc. to the next level and I call them the bulletproof blueprint for career success. The same way that law enforcement officers ensure that their bulletproof vests are secure and construction workers don’t break ground without their handy blueprint, is the same way that we all should be prepared to achieve the career success that we rightfully deserve.
Each step will be published on Sundays and Wednesdays at 3PM EST beginning November 28th, 2021 through December 12th, 2021. By the time you’re finished with these informative reads and apply this knowledge to your day-to-day life, you’re going to be an unstoppable powerhouse to be reckoned with in your profession.
If you haven’t check out Step 1: Trust, Influence, and Informal Networking yet, please do before reading this blog. I promise you won’t regret it!
Step 2: Telling and Selling Your Value
As you begin to build trust with decision makers through the informal networking and influence tips above, you will find yourself in more situations to tell your story and sell your value. For some people, talking about themselves is as easy as talking about what they ate for breakfast this morning. For an Afro-Caribbean introverted woman like myself, it goes against everything I was taught. I came from a family where the slightest scent of arrogance was frowned upon, successes were only shared at the dinner table, and humility was to always be expressed. So, the thought of having all eyes on me as I share all my wins certainly feels like I am disobeying the laws of my ancestors. However, I had to ask myself a very important question, “how can I expect these decision makers to open doors for me without their own bulletproof blueprint on who I am, what I want, and what value I bring to the table?”
Thankfully, I wasn’t the only person who had embarked on such an internal reflection. Julie Zhou, co-founder at Inspirit, author of The Making of a Manger, and Former Vice President (VP) of Product Design at Facebook, asked herself the same question and published her answer in How to Talk about Yourself in the Best Possible Way. She surprisingly can answer this thought-provoking question with 6 simple steps:
I. Believe that everyone has an interesting story to tell.
The fact of the matter is that your story is interesting because your experiences and thoughts are uniquely yours. Therefore, you should feel honor and gratitude in being able to share it. Since that is true, doesn’t it mean that other people’s stories are just as important and interesting as yours? As you tell your story, call on Bonnie St. John’s 7 C’s. Remember that as you tell your story you should be genuine and caring, and you will authentically find commonality between yourself and your audience. Also remember to balance talking with the art of listening to their verbal and non-verbal cues.
II. Realize that you’re the primary actor in your life and so you should also be its biggest narrator.
Yes, your work and skills should speak for you, but you should speak for you too. While it is great to have our colleagues and friends share our story, it is important to recognize that they only know part of it. No one else will know your passions, motivations, or dreams better than you will.
III. Find your nuggets of “why” and focus your story on those.
Don’t just recite your resume or list your achievements. Connect with your audience on why you are the way that you are. Sure, your whys may be the result of past failures or negative experiences, but don’t deprive yourself (or others) the opportunity to grow from these struggles by not sharing them. Also ask yourself who you’d rather be stuck in an elevator with: the person whose life seems perfect or the person whose life had more twists and turns than your favorite roller coaster?
IV. Don’t leave out the facts of your achievements for humility’s sake.
No, you don’t want to lie about your achievements, stretch the truth, or tattoo your achievements on your forehead so that everyone knows that was you. However, if you’re telling a story and the facts emerge naturally, then tell them about the awesomeness that you brought to the table. This is how you authentically sell your value(s).
V. Know your “story clips” that you can call up in any situation.
Be prepared for the “interview”. If you are prepared for the typical questions that you may be asked (i.e., What do you do?, Why are you interested in this job?, What’s a perfect weekend for you?, What are your career goals?, etc.), then you prepare authentic and interesting responses that help you to connect to your audience and sell your value.
VI. Go out and tell your story.
Share your story with the world. Speak up more. You may just be surprised to find out that you were never alone.
Checkout this additional resource on telling and selling your value:
Carla Harris, Vice Chairman & Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, discusses Tools for Maximizing for Success in the workplace at LinkedIn’s Talent Connect 2018 event.
Upon completion of this blog check out Step 3: Enlisting Sponsorship (after 3PM EST on December 5th, 2021) for further guidance on how to take your career to the next level of success.
