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 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.

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

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

1. Looking for a new job
With unemployment in the U.S. currently at 9.8% and rising and job creation shrinking, there is a daily increase in human capital competing for fewer and fewer jobs. A powerful personal brand can help set you apart from the competition and may be the key to landing not just any job – but your dream job!

Finding a job is no longer just about who you know; it’s about how potential employers experience you through your brand identification and the effectiveness of your spoken presentation. Role definitions within the organization are not as clearly defined as they were in the past. Many Finance Directors have taken on Human Resource responsibilities. The Office Manager may become the de facto Event Planner. Throughout your career, you have likely built up a unique portfolio of skills and experiences and may be best suited for a job not yet identified. Presenting your personal brand to a potential employer rather than just identifying yourself by your previous job title on resume – allows the employer to truly understand your professional currency, expand his considerations and perhaps, place you in a needed role that was yet undefined.

If you’re job hunting, you’ll also need to communicate your unique personal brand at networking events, casual meetings, in your cover letters, and during the interview. Given all the challenges within the current job market, this is not a time to “wing it”. You need to be prepared with the words that optimally convey your brand.

2. Transitioning to a new career
If you are embarking on a new career, a personal brand can help you communicate your transferrable skills, abilities and talents. Identifying your core strengths and building your personal brand around those assets and experience will authentically “sell” you into a new role in your industry. You must visualize yourself in this new career in order to make it happen. Knowing and practicing your personal brand statement can help clarify your vision of yourself.

3. Becoming an entrepreneur.
In this changing economic climate, many of our clients are taking this opportunity to launch a promising start-up! If you are transitioning to a new role as an entrepreneur by design or by default, you need to be prepared to talk about your accomplishments and experience in a new way. When speaking with potential investors, business partners, or prospects – you can no longer simply review your job history as you may have done during past meetings. You need to re-package the skills, abilities, talents and ‘passion’ you are bringing to your entrepreneurial venture into a cohesive personal brand. Now more than ever, you need an impactful ‘elevator speech ‘so that you are prepared – when you encounter the perfect contact. Don’t fumble for words! Through our Unique Brand Development Process™, we can help you communicate your personal brand in a variety of different scenarios.

4. Breaking through to the next level in your career
Now is a great time to prove your worth to the company. If you want to move up the ladder, you need to start operating at the next level now! Companies are less likely to “take a chance” on you when the economy is in recession; but they want to keep the people that add the most value to their business. Your personal brand can set you apart and help you achieve your next professional goal!

To find out more about Your Unique Brand™ – email Deborah at dmadary@youruniquebrand.com

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!