Reinventing You

1. Recognize your starting point to initiate personal brand reinvention

Everyone has a personal brand, whether some skeptics want to admit it or not: there's no such thing as opting out.

Conduct a personal brand inventory. Start by understanding how others perceive you currently. This involves:

• Conducting your own "360 interviews" with colleagues, friends, and family
• Organizing a focus group to gather honest feedback
• Examining your online presence across all platforms
• Analyzing patterns in past performance evaluations or recommendation letters

By integrating this data, you'll gain a comprehensive picture of your current brand. This self-awareness is crucial for identifying gaps between your current reality and future aspirations, setting the stage for effective reinvention.

2. Research and test-drive your destination to ensure fit

It's impossible to know if you'll really like a new career direction until you try it out.

Explore potential paths thoroughly. Before committing to a major change:

Conduct behind-the-scenes research:

• Read industry publications and biographies

• Analyze career trajectories of those you admire

• Identify patterns and required skills

• Engage in informational interviews with professionals in your target field

Test-drive your path through:

• Apprenticeships
• Volunteering
• Job shadowing
• Short-term internships or "mini-retirements"

This exploration phase helps you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes, ensuring your reinvention aligns with your true interests and strengths.

3. Develop essential skills through strategic methods

Leveraging your current job to cultivate the skills you need for the future.

Strategically acquire new skills. Focus on developing the competencies required for your desired role or industry:

• Expand your current job responsibilities to include relevant tasks

• Engage in strategic moonlighting to gain experience
  Consider targeted education options:

  • Graduate programs (when mandatory for your field)
  • Mini-MBA programs
  • Specific courses or certifications

• Leverage your existing job to practice new skills

• Seek out projects or assignments that align with your goals

Remember, skill development doesn't always require a complete career overhaul. Often, you can cultivate new abilities within your current role or through strategic side projects.

4. Cultivate mentors to guide your professional transformation

The secret that most people don't realize is that you have to seek them out, and they often come in unexpected packages.

Actively seek out mentorship. Mentors can provide invaluable guidance, but finding them requires effort:

1. Identify potential mentors:

   • Look beyond traditional sources (age, industry)
   • Consider creating a "personal board of directors" with diverse expertise

2. Approach potential mentors strategically:

   • Clearly articulate what you're seeking
   • Demonstrate your commitment to growth

3. Maximize mentor relationships:

   • Develop your own "curriculum" of questions and topics
   • Show appreciation and find ways to add value to your mentor

4. Learn from various mentorship styles:

   • One-on-one relationships
   • Group mentorship programs
   • Peer mentoring circles

Remember, mentorship is a two-way street. Be prepared to invest time and energy into these relationships to reap the full benefits of their guidance.

5. Leverage your unique qualities to differentiate yourself

Too often, outsiders will dismiss your previous experience as irrelevant. We'll show them how your diverse knowledge and skills bring something new to the table, and make you far more effective than anyone else in the room.

Identify and emphasize your distinctive attributes. Stand out by:

• Analyzing your transferable skills from previous experiences
• Recognizing unique knowledge or perspectives you bring to your new field
• Leveraging your "outsider" status to offer fresh insights
• Embracing aspects of your identity that make you memorable

Examples:

• A legal scholar using analytical skills to excel in the wine industry
• A finance expert bringing market-based perspective to environmental advocacy
• An Arab psychologist creating globally successful Islamic superheroes

Don't shy away from qualities that make you different. Instead, frame them as valuable assets that set you apart in your chosen field.

6. Craft a compelling narrative to explain your transition

Humans understand the world around them through stories, narratives we tell ourselves about what's happening and why.

Develop a coherent story of your transformation. Your narrative should:

• Make connections between your past and present obvious
• Identify underlying themes that link your experiences
• Explain how your transition adds value to others
• Be authentic and true to yourself

Key elements of an effective transition narrative:

• Highlight transferable skills and knowledge
• Frame your change as a natural evolution, not a radical departure
• Emphasize how your unique background enhances your new role
• Focus on the value you bring to your new field or position

A well-crafted narrative helps others understand and support your reinvention, bridging the gap between your old and new identities.

7. Reintroduce yourself strategically to maximize impact

The secret is to orchestrate your "coming out" in the most memorable and strategic manner possible.

Plan your brand relaunch carefully. To effectively communicate your new identity:

1. Update all touchpoints:

   • Online profiles (LinkedIn, personal website, social media)
   • Professional materials (business cards, resume)
   • Email signature and voicemail greetings

2. Proactively reach out to your network:

   • Inform contacts individually about your new direction
   • Ask for help, advice, or business where appropriate

3. Leverage written communication:

   • Use introduction letters to highlight credentials
   • Display relevant awards or certifications visibly

4. Shift your behavior to align with your new image:

   • Adapt your communication style if necessary
   • Engage in activities that reinforce your new brand

5. Develop "validators" who can reinforce your new status:

   • Create a pact with a colleague to cross-promote each other
   • Consider hiring a professional to sing your praises

6. Seek out high-visibility opportunities:

   • Join influential committees or projects
   • Volunteer for tasks that bring you into contact with key players

8. Demonstrate your value through content creation and thought leadership

Because there is zero cost to publishing your intellectual property, there is also zero excuse for not doing it.

Build a portfolio of valuable content. Establish your expertise by:

1. Choosing the right medium:

   • Written blog posts
   • Video content (vlogs, webinars)
   • Podcasts
   • Social media engagement

2. Developing a content strategy:

   • Create a list of potential topics
   • Schedule regular content creation and publishing
   • Repurpose content across multiple platforms

3. Expanding your reach:

   • Guest post on popular industry blogs
   • Write articles for respected publications
   • Speak at industry events or conferences

4. Building relationships through your content:

   • Interview thought leaders in your field
   • Engage with your audience through comments and social media

5. Balancing quantity and quality:

   • Aim for consistency (1-3 times per week is often sufficient)
   • Focus on providing genuine value, not just frequent posts

By consistently producing valuable content, you demonstrate your expertise and build credibility in your new field.

9. Maintain brand momentum through consistent effort and adaptation

Reinvention never happens overnight. Even if it's possible to wake up and be a different person, other people simply won't believe you until you demonstrate that change over time.

Sustain your reinvention long-term. To keep your new brand thriving:

1. Monitor your brand regularly:

   • Set up Google Alerts for your name
   • Track mentions on social media
   • Gather feedback from trusted advisors

2. Make public commitments to reinforce changes:

   • Use social media to announce goals and progress
   • Consider using commitment contracts (like stickK.com) for accountability

3. Stay consistent in your messaging and behavior:

   • Align your actions with your new brand identity
   • Continuously reinforce your new narrative

4. Be open to further evolution:

   • Regularly reassess your goals and direction
   • Don't be afraid to make additional changes if necessary

5. Embrace lifelong learning:

   • Stay current with industry trends
   • Continuously develop new skills

Remember, personal branding is an ongoing process. By consistently reinforcing your new identity and remaining adaptable, you can ensure your reinvention has lasting impact.

Last updated: August 26, 2024