Most people wake up every day and intend to change their life for the better. We strive to live with less fear, to act with more courage, and to generate greater peace, joy, abundance and well-being in our lives. However, to live and work within our 21^st century economy, there are many threats to healthy self-esteem.

How do we define self-esteem? “Self-esteem is confidence in our ability to think and to cope with the basic challenges of life, and a belief in our right to be happy; the feeling of being worthy, deserving, entitled to assert our needs and wants, and enjoy the fruits of our efforts.” according to Dr. Nathaniel Branden, the leading pioneer in self-esteem research.

Why is self-esteem so critically important? Because the relationship with our self is the single most important one we will consummate in our lifetime. Low self-esteem produces a feeling of unworthiness and adversely affects every thought we have, every choice we make, and every feeling we experience. Our unpleasant and negative thinking creates a powerful barrier to happiness, keeps us repeating unhealthy patterns, and blocks the achievement of our personal and professional goals.

How can you raise your self-esteem? Here are some suggestions:

1. Hold the desire to live more consciously. Self-awareness is a powerful key to generating authentic power. Keep an awareness journal and record your feelings throughout the day. Begin to pay attention to repetitive patterns that do not serve your desired outcome.
2. Begin each day with a few minutes of introspection. Simply sit for 10 min and become aware of the stories within your head and your internal state of being. Consider what might change if you consciously established your intentions for your day. Learn to mediate and soon you will appreciate the value of mindfulness.
3. Be willing to honor yourself. Maintain high self-respect and respect for others. Do not allow someone to treat you disrespectfully or deny what you are feeling in the moment. Know your values, principles, and moral compass – and let it be the foundation upon which you stand in good times and bad. If you need self-assertiveness training, hire a good mentor to learn the art.
4. Become a change agent. Decide what you want to change, write it down, and commit to small daily action steps to complete each goal. Be patient with yourself, yet disciplined and focused in developing your new habits of thinking, speaking, acting, and being in the world. If you have blocks to success, find a coach to help you identify them and offer tools for transformation.
5. Acknowledge your positive results. Feel your increasing self-confidence, self-acceptance, and self-appreciation with each positive change and new practice. In accepting who you are and what you feel in the moment, you will activate more creativity, expand your vision, and generate more energy to actualize your dreams.

As you navigate through the tumultuous changes now upon us, it would be wise to re-connect with your fundamental success practices. Focus on your strengths, accept your weaknesses, identify your unique value proposition, and create a personal brand that will offer a strong foundation upon which to stand. Amidst the uncertainty and fear of this time in history, learning to be more self-governing and trusting of your true voice can be a mighty fortress against the winds of change.

To discover ways to raise your self-esteem and generate more authentic power in your personal and professional lives, visit our website to learn about our services.

Remember when you got your first cell phone? You might have bought it “just for emergencies”. Perhaps you even kept it in your glove box and called it a “car phone”. Most likely, you did not use it as your primary means of communication. Now, for the majority of professionals (and teenagers everywhere), daily use of a cell phone is the new normal.

Remember getting your first big raise? It’s a thrill to think about all of that extra money in your paycheck. Did your salary still feel like there was anything “extra” about it after a year? Or did your increased monthly income become your new normal?

By nature, we are equipped with the ability to adapt – whether it’s to new technologies, new relationships or new economic circumstances. Sam Wang, a neuroscientist from Princeton University, says that human beings are “remarkably resilient in adapting to events.” This is true whether the initial event is positive or negative. “You might imagine that something like losing a limb would really affect one’s happiness. But studies have shown that after a few years, you adapt and it’s almost as if you had not lost the limb in terms of your happiness.”

Many of us have endured changes to our economic circumstances in this past year – losing a job, losing a home, or just generally learning to live with less. It can be difficult to adjust to changes that you haven’t asked for, or that happen quite suddenly. If you are one of the many unexpectedly unemployed Americans, here are some tips on making the transition to your new normal:

1. Shed your old self. Holding onto your old way of viewing yourself will hinder your ability to adapt to your new reality. You may need to let go of your old job title. This can be difficult for those who used to define themselves through their work. Create a title, or personal brand, for yourself that transcends jobs so that your identity is all about you, not about your company.
2. Think differently about yourself. Learn to describe yourself in a new way. Think about the unique skills, talents and abilities that you have honed over your career. Usually, these are bigger than what you did at any one job. Create an elevator speech which encapsulates what’s unique about you.
3. Be proud. There’s no shame in losing your job. With 10% unemployment in the U.S., you are in good company. In other words, it’s now normal. Getting laid off does not erase all of your excellent contributions to your former employer or the work experience you’ve built up over the years. That’s yours to keep.
4. Dress for a new role. You’ve probably heard the age-old advice to “dress like the boss”. But what if you have no boss? If you’re striking it out as an internet entrepreneur, you don’t need to dress like a banker. Don’t let your identity get caught up in a suit and tie.
5. Find a new source of validation. Many people receive validation through their paycheck; they build their self worth through money. That is an old paradigm. Instead of receiving validation from what you have or what you can buy, look for validation in: who you can help, what you can become, how well you adapt, and how authentically you are aligned with Your Unique Brand™.

To find out more about creating a powerful unique personal brand in words, online, and in print, email Deborah Madary at dmadary@youruniquebrand.com . Also, you can visit www.benchmarkconsulting.org to learn more about our services.

With January 2010 already behind us, it’s wise to ask ourselves – ‘Is the “New Year” already feeling the same as last year?’ 2009 held a lot of challenges for many of us, but it’s time to call up our courage and put the past where it belongs. One of the best ways to move forward in your personal and professional life is to create a new story or personal brand. For the past fifteen years, I have helped my clients re-script their story, find their authentic voice, and transition into a life of greater meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and financial well-being.

A new story can help you eliminate the internal barriers and blocks to success – and crystallize your vision for the future. Also, it will help you achieve your goals, and support you in becoming the person you desire to be. Here are four simple steps to help you create your new story.

1. What is your story now? Identifying your habitual story is the key to creating your new story. Are you rooted in the past? Recycling old storylines of frustration, deprivation, and resentment? Many people change their career, relationship, or financial position – yet still generate the same ‘state of being’ because they continue to identify with their old story. What do you need to let go of?

2. Step into the future. Imagine your story one year, or five years from today. Skipping over the immediate future can eliminate some of the confusion and disorienting feelings that come during a time of change. Start with writing your 2011 story. Next, create a blueprint designed to get you from where you are now – to there.

3. Limited edition. Remember that your story is a limited edition masterpiece, with a print run of only one. Only you can do what you do – the way you do it. Being able to see, appreciate and verbalize your unique skills, talents and abilities does not always come naturally. I’ve helped clients at all stages of their career development – from recent college grads to C-level executives – develop a powerful personal brand story with new scripts through my Your Unique Brand^™ Discovery Process.

To help you get started, here is a brief discovery exercise:

• Write down your current job title or label and describe what it is that you do. Summarize and entitle it: Current Personal Brand Positioning Statement.
• If you conducted a 360° survey, how might your circle of influence describe you?
• How would you like to be perceived? What is your lead strength and how might you script that asset to distinguish yourself within the marketplace?
• Now, write your Ideal Personal Brand Positioning Statement. Again, looking back from the future, write a few paragraphs about your accomplishments, and then summarize your future story in a short statement.
• Think of everything in the past as the prequel. This is ‘page one’ of your new story – and the starting point for your glorious and abundant future!

To find out more about creating a powerful unique personal brand in words, online, and in print, email Deborah at dmadary@youruniquebrand.com

Getting laid off or forced out of a job is a tremendously stressful experience which naturally results in a range of insecurities and fears. To ensure an optimal transition, executives must identify their hidden fears and create strategies to overcome them.

During the past 15 yrs of my coaching and branding executives in transition – these are the top five fears:

1. Fear of losing face. Many executives have spent decades building their career, and take pride in the hard work that has gotten them to where they are today. Often, they find their identity is closely tied to their job title. They fear that losing their job means losing that identity and they worry that their esteem within their personal and professional communities will be diminished. They often lose the confidence that helped make them successful.

2. Fear of a career setback. Executives worry that losing their job means that their career progression will come to a stand-still, or worse, that they will have to take a few steps down the corporate ladder. They fear that they will lose status in their industry. They also fear that because they were “let go”, their market value will decrease.

3. Fear of losing the house. Many executives have dependents that count on them, and they worry about having to make changes to the lifestyle they’ve established. At the top of the list is the fear of losing the house – especially during a recession when their house might not be worth what it once was (or even what they paid for it).

4. Fear of running out of money. Even those with a big payout often fall into the trap of thinking “what if the money runs out.” This leads executives to make decisions based on their financial fears rather than purposeful life goals.

5. Fear of their own great depression. Looking for a new job takes consistent effort and motivation, but it can be difficult to handle the rejection – or the lack of responses to job search efforts. If their search is protracted, that fear increases.

The first thing that you should do as an out-of-work executive is realize that it is normal to have these types of fears. But you also need to realize that fear will block you from achieving your goal.

Now is the time to invest in yourself – and address the blocks to success that may prevent you from actualizing your highest potential in your next role.

I’ve developed a number of strategies that have proven to be highly effective for executives in transition. One key element is creating a personal brand that will differentiate you within the marketplace. Identifying your unique personal brand with talking point scenarios will give you the vehicle to position yourself for the type of work you desire at the level you deserve. Crystallizing your unique value proposition and developing strategies to market yourself effectively can transmute your fears and build greater confidence during this time of transition.

Stand out from the crowd and use your current situation as a great opportunity to transmute your fears and create a professional life experience that may be new, different, and even better!

To find out more about creating a powerful unique personal brand in words, online, and in print, email Deborah at dmadary@youruniquebrand.com

In our current economy, a powerful personal brand is more important than ever. A brand that communicates your unique skills, assets, and abilities in your voice can help you “market” yourself with confidence – even if selling is not your strong suit. If you are in the job market or your company is restructuring, a personal brand can create a point of unique differentiation. If you’re not currently seeking a career change, but anticipate a future transition – this time is ideal to develop your unique brand in words, online, and in print. With your personal brand and talking point scripts, you will be positioned to capture new opportunities and take great leaps forward when the economy becomes vital and healthy again!

Here are seven reasons why you need a personal brand – now:

1. Job hunting. If you’re in the market for a job, you need a “wow” factor to stand out from the crowd. With more people competing for fewer positions, you need to be able to express your unique skills, abilities, talents and passions in a way that head hunters and HR managers will remember. This cannot be achieved with simply a resume.
2. Networking. When you attend networking events, business conferences or even social gatherings, you need to be able to answer the question “what do you do” with a well-defined brand statement and impactful talking points that communicate your unique value proposition. If the person you meet at a networking event doesn’t have an immediate need for your “brand offering” – a memorable brand will ensure that they remember you when a need arises six months down the road.
3. Partnerships. Business patterns are shifting. More people are moving into entrepreneurialism – some by choice and some by default. A more collaborative approach to business is emerging. You can use your personal brand to help you form unique, beneficial partnerships while still maintaining a strong brand identity of your own.
4. The Google age. A personal brand is a necessity in the digital age. What will potential employers, clients and partners find when they research you online? Once you have a personal brand, you can build a strong online presence so that your brand is consistent online and offline.
5. Get referrals. A clearly-defined personal brand will enable your friends, clients, colleagues and other contacts to refer business to you. If they are not sure what you do, or why you do it better than anyone else – it will be difficult for them to effectively communicate your unique value when referring you to potential customers, employers, and colleagues.
6. Communicate your worth. Your personal brand can help you keep your job or advance within your company by enabling you to communicate the unique value you bring to your current employer. It can help reframe the way your employer thinks about you.
7. Prepare for the future. The recession provides an incredible chance to lay the groundwork for growth when the economy picks up in the future. By building a powerful personal brand now, you will be ready to maximize all of the opportunities that arise in the new economy!

Email Deborah at dmadary@youruniquebrand.com to find out more!