[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #56: Point Of Differentiation
*Yawn*
After interviewing a dozen students for a job in the restaurant that I was managing, that was all I could do—yawn. They all gave similar answers:
“I’m a hard worker…
“I’m a fast learner…”
Boring.
Many professionals, entrepreneurs, and students are pushing the same old stuff. Where’s the differentiation? Put some salt and pepper on it. Season it up.
For example, one guy asked me, “What’s the hardest thing to make on your menu.”
“Well…there’s this souffle…”
He interrupted, “If I go back there and make it, will you hire me?”
“Yes.”
He did. I hired him.
Here’s another example:
When Vitamin Water first hit the market, they didn’t put it on the aisle with juice or soft drinks. It was on the aisle with water. It was the only colorful drink on the aisle. Brilliant. That’s differentiation.
Million-Dollar Question:
In today’s competitive market,
what’s your point of differentiation?
_____________
The Benefits Of Individuality
This is an article I wrote eight years ago. Someone mentioned it on Twitter recently and since it can still be helpful today, I’m re-posting the link to it:
Q: What are the benefits of being an individual, as opposed to someone who just wants to be like everyone else?
A: Asserting your individuality will increase your sense of significance, as well as your perceived value. There’s your answer in one neat little sentence. I could leave it at that but…that wouldn’t be much fun, would it?
Read the rest here: The Benefits Of Individuality
[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #211: The Deciding Factor
Exxon Mobile Corporation conducted a study that shows that price isn’t always the main deciding factor for choosing a gas station. It’s other things like cleanliness, brightness, and safety.
That’s interesting because it shows that…
When someone makes a decision about you and what you have to offer, many times the deciding factor isn’t what you think it is.
I’ve seen plenty of people get tripped up over this. If you are a parent, educator, or mentor whether or not someone heeds your advice is seldom based on common sense. The deciding factors are things like trust, respect, and authenticity.
When you’re in an interview, seldom are your GPA and technical knowledge the deciding factors. It’s often a matter of soft skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, and decision making.
Million-Dollar Question:
When making a choice about you
and what you have to offer,
what will be the deciding factor?
Introduce Yourself The Easy Way: Your Personal Brand Statement
“So, tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do?”
Have you ever had to respond to a statement or question like that? I’ve actually been in that situation with thousands of young people the typical response I get is:
“Uhhhh…well…I uhhh…”
Not cool.
You will constantly be expected to respond to statements and questions about who you are and what you do, especially in interviews and networking situations. If you prepare something known as a personal brand statement and practice it, then you won’t be caught off guard. It’s an easy, professional way to introduce yourself.
Here are three simple steps for creating your personal brand statement:
Personal Branding: Tell Your Story
Over the last ten years or so, personal branding has become one of the “new”, hot and sexy topics in the world of personal development. (It’s one of my most requested topics.)
As people scurry all over the place looking for a competitive advantage in a crowded, competitive market place, personal branding experts and advice have been popping up everywhere.
Deliver value. Promote your uniqueness. Be consistent and authentic. Get yourname.com. Get a blog or fan page . Develop an online presence and please don’t post anything stupid online. Do those things and you’ll be able to develop a strong personal brand.
Is that really all there is to it? Eh..not quite. There’s something missing.
Duncan Nugget® #145: The New “Average”
How was the food? It was good.
How was the movie? It was good.
Can she sing? She’s good.
Nowadays, good is not good enough.
Have you noticed that when people are truly impressed and they really like something they use words other than “good”? They say things like “really good”, “soooo good”, great, incredible, hot, amazing, exceptional, or “wow”. Sometimes they make up words and phrases.
How was the food? It was Fi! (That’s how young people in Atlanta say “fire”.)
How was the movie? Oh my God! It was like totally awesome.
Can she sing? She ain’t no joke. She got mad skillz.
If you want to rise to the top in today’s competitive market, you need to be more than good. A lot of people are good.
Good is the new “average”.
Million-Dollar Question:
What are you doing to be
more memorable than “good”?
Duncan Nugget® #131: Personal Branding Starts on the Inside
It’s a crazy, competitive world. So, in order to compete, people are mad busy getting their resumes together; getting their blog, twitter, and facebook page together; getting their wardrobe together.
That’s cool but…
Pause for a second.
Get your SELF together first and everything else will begin to fall in place because self-development is the foundation of success.
What’s in your life tends to be a projection of what’s in you.
Million-Dollar Question:
What does your personal brand look like
from the inside-out?
