| June is reality check month. Lots of the | | | | based appeal. Look for a topic that will |
| resolutions have been made and most are | | | | elicit a response. Just pull a few ideas from |
| already broken. It's time to take a hard look | | | | recent news: spelling bee winner, final |
| at where you are going in 05 and beyond. One | | | | episodes (TV). Get the picture?First |
| of the most important things you can do for | | | | impressions count! Have you heard someone |
| yourself is to update all your personal | | | | speak that you thought was a total dork? What |
| credentials including your bio & your | | | | turned you off? Did they look slovenly or |
| resume.Have you done your spring cleaning | | | | unkempt? Were they dressed appropriately? Did |
| (professional) yet? Do you have solid career | | | | they |
| plans for the balance of 05? Why are you | | | | |
| waiting to get started improving your | | | | sound incoherent with poor speech patterns? |
| career?Ask yourself these questions:How dated | | | | Appearance is one benchmark that will |
| is the material that you have been using to | | | | immediately determine how receptive the |
| present your skill sets? Is the language | | | | listener is to what you have to say. Do you |
| professional? Are you using current, | | | | have colleagues and associates that either |
| contemporary lingo in your materials? When | | | | turns you off or on when they speak? Pay |
| was the last time you spent time assessing | | | | attention to their style of speaking and |
| your personal portfolio? I know it's hard to | | | | mannerisms. What attributes do you like? Are |
| think about those aspects of your career, but | | | | they funny? Humor always has a way of |
| believe me its time well spent.Look at your | | | | breaking the ice or diffusing an |
| resume, does it seem "dated." The resume | | | | uncomfortable moment.If, in a chance meeting, |
| today is nothing like those of the past. So | | | | you run into someone you consider to be |
| if it's not current, it will immediately | | | | important, do you sound like a bumbling fool? |
| present a negative connotation about your | | | | It's easy to prepare yourself to put your |
| "contemporary-ness"Have you ever seen a | | | | best foot forward. All it takes is practice. |
| celebrity on TV who sounds illiterate? They | | | | If you are not sure how professional you will |
| are stars, so people over look how dumb they | | | | seem, practice now. Find a friend or |
| appear to be. That is not going to work for | | | | colleague and engage in dialogue. Don't talk |
| you. You will be evaluated by both your | | | | to them about work, but in general |
| verbal and written skills. Can you put | | | | conversation ask them to critique what you |
| together a coherent sentence without using | | | | said. Were you interesting? Were you |
| the word LIKE? If not, you better begin to | | | | engaging? Did you talk too long or sound |
| practice your pitch. Start with a written a | | | | boring? Did they want to keep the |
| paragraph about what you have accomplished, | | | | conversation going? Establish a comfort level |
| what do you have to offer. Write it down and | | | | with your words and speaking style. Adapt it |
| then read it over and over. Does it make | | | | to what you are like and don't imitate |
| sense? Does it grab your attention? Does it | | | | anyone. Create you own unique personal |
| compel people to ask more?If not, try | | | | speaking style.JoAnn Hines' specialty is |
| different version, substitute words, refine | | | | PACKAGING PEOPLE. Whether you want to be paid |
| and hone down your core message so you sound | | | | more, you just lost your job, or you want to |
| credible and believable. Action words are | | | | progress in the one you have, Ms. Hines |
| really important you want to convey an image. | | | | advice and expertise can help you transform |
| If you need help, get a thesaurus and look | | | | your personal brand. She can show you how to |
| for synonyms of the words you plan to use in | | | | package yourself and make your brand a hot |
| your pitch. | | | | commodity. It's easy once you know the ropes |
| | | | and begin to utilize her insider's secrets. |
| Tip: If you never use big or unusual words, | | | | She shows you step by step how to increase |
| don't start now.Are you good at small talk? | | | | your visibility, credibility and |
| This is a great way to open a dialogue or | | | | marketability with easy to use tutorials and |
| keep one going. The best method for small | | | | templates.It is time to get started |
| talk is to find something in the news (not | | | | "Packaging Yourself. |
| political), but something that has a broad | | | | |