Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future by Dorie
Clark (HBR Press, 2017), reviewed by Steve Gladis, 2019.
1. Overview.
Most of us know we’re ready for a change long before we do it. Whether you want
a promotion where you are, intend to switch to a new company, find a whole new
industry, or even start your own company—this book will help you. It’s part
storybook and part manual of instruction. Simple to read, story studded, full
of easy-to-digest directions in sections like “Try This” and “Remember,” the
book is well worth recommending to anyone in search of a new path and
rebranding.
2. Perceive Yourself. Find out how others perceive you. Some techniques like hiring a coach or asking someone from HR to conduct a 360 is a good start. Asking peers, subordinates, your boss, and even clients what your strengths and challenges are can help. Try a personal focus group: Gather 10-15 people for feedback. Too awkward to conduct it yourself? Have another person conduct it. If you sit in, you only listen—no comments. Also, check out your online profile. Every potential new employer will!
3. Find Strategic Passions. You may know you need a change, but finding your destination takes time and effort. Start by investigating new careers online. Find people in those industries and read about their career path to the position. Google them and read “about” on their websites, their blogs, LinkedIn or Twitter posts. Next, the informational interview is the king of finding your new job and career. To get career informational interviews, go to LinkedIn to see who might get you an intro. Some tips: Be clear about your ask; Don’t overstay your welcome; Ask about a typical day; Get more names to talk to; Thank-You notes matter; Follow up and stay in touch.
4. Test Drive Your Future. Once you have a handle on your new path, it’s time to take a test drive. First, make a list of the companies you’d like to work for, find out if you’re connected on LinkedIn, decide on what you might have to offer. Then consider volunteering, apprenticing, and job shadowing. Volunteering: One way is to find the employer that almost always says yes to free talent—nonprofits. Volunteers are the backbone of nonprofits, so if you want to become a speechwriter, volunteer to write speeches and written content for a nonprofit. Apprenticing: Sometimes to start a new career path, you have to take a step back and restart. Offering to apprentice can be the beginning of a restart. Shadowing: If you really want to know what people do on an average day, follow them around—shadowing. If you’re selective and respectful, you can get people to help you, and you’ll learn a ton. Just remember that the path to rebranding isn’t straight, so be prepared for twists and turns.
5. Leverage Skills. While volunteering will help you explore new vistas, you can also expand your skills while staying at your current job by moonlighting and even by going back to school. First, at your current job, find out how you can expand or re-focus your work. This is called job-crafting and a perfect way to renegotiate your position with your employer, especially if you show how it will help her/him. Second, consider a side-hustle in the field you would like to break into. Some people start right where they are, and others start a home business. Third, be very selective about graduate school. In all but the top 10 MBA programs, carefully consider the brand value and perhaps consider a one-week executive education program at a name school that’s targeted toward what you want really want to do—and way cheaper!
6. Use Mentors. We all need guides to help us climb the right corporate ladder. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,” is a famous Zen saying that’s true also about mentors. Once you feel the need, look around and there are many that have been there all along. And you’ll want to find one with relevant experience, to whom you’re willing to listen, who has your personal interest at heart, and genuinely wants to help. Start by making a list of 6 people you admire who might help. Decide on what kind of mentoring you want, how often you want to get it. Also offer your help—maybe you’re good at social media or have some technical talents they need. You may have more than one mentor for different aspects of your life.
7. Match Skills to a New Future. Think about the skills you have now and how they can be used in a future position, and give yourself credit for important, but often overlooked, skills. For example, a stay-at-home mother who keeps the finances and the house afloat has critical organizational skills. Next, write down any professional skills you have—writing, speaking, leading. Provide concrete examples of each skill you mentioned. Think about any memorable skills you have—maybe you won a spelling bee in high school.
8. Create Your Narrative. Once you’ve laid out your key talents, skills and uniqueness, it’s time to tell your story. Tell them about your journey, explaining the twists and turns along the way. The author suggests that you make connections between your past and present life. Find and connect the underlying themes of your life, and explain the value you will bring to this new position. Write down in a couple of sentences why you’re making the transition and rehearse saying it—first with friends, then people you meet, and finally with recruiters.
9. Create Content. Build your portfolio. Use social media, blogs, and more to publish your philosophy and content for people to see. Create a video blog (vlog), a powerful way to frame your brand—think YouTube. Videos are 53 times more likely to hit the front page of a Google search! Podcasts are another way to extend your brand—what or who you want people to believe you represent. Schedule your social media (Hootsuite and Tweet-Deck).
10. Launch Your New Brand. As you reintroduce yourself to the community, remember: You can take your current status with you. Professional athletes sell shaving cream based on that! Have someone scan your social media to see what image/message you’re sending. Think of all the unconscious nonverbal cues you send—diplomas on the wall, your formal or informal clothing—and make sure it matches the job. Have friends provide third-party validation. Branding/rebranding is a forever thing.
2. Perceive Yourself. Find out how others perceive you. Some techniques like hiring a coach or asking someone from HR to conduct a 360 is a good start. Asking peers, subordinates, your boss, and even clients what your strengths and challenges are can help. Try a personal focus group: Gather 10-15 people for feedback. Too awkward to conduct it yourself? Have another person conduct it. If you sit in, you only listen—no comments. Also, check out your online profile. Every potential new employer will!
3. Find Strategic Passions. You may know you need a change, but finding your destination takes time and effort. Start by investigating new careers online. Find people in those industries and read about their career path to the position. Google them and read “about” on their websites, their blogs, LinkedIn or Twitter posts. Next, the informational interview is the king of finding your new job and career. To get career informational interviews, go to LinkedIn to see who might get you an intro. Some tips: Be clear about your ask; Don’t overstay your welcome; Ask about a typical day; Get more names to talk to; Thank-You notes matter; Follow up and stay in touch.
4. Test Drive Your Future. Once you have a handle on your new path, it’s time to take a test drive. First, make a list of the companies you’d like to work for, find out if you’re connected on LinkedIn, decide on what you might have to offer. Then consider volunteering, apprenticing, and job shadowing. Volunteering: One way is to find the employer that almost always says yes to free talent—nonprofits. Volunteers are the backbone of nonprofits, so if you want to become a speechwriter, volunteer to write speeches and written content for a nonprofit. Apprenticing: Sometimes to start a new career path, you have to take a step back and restart. Offering to apprentice can be the beginning of a restart. Shadowing: If you really want to know what people do on an average day, follow them around—shadowing. If you’re selective and respectful, you can get people to help you, and you’ll learn a ton. Just remember that the path to rebranding isn’t straight, so be prepared for twists and turns.
5. Leverage Skills. While volunteering will help you explore new vistas, you can also expand your skills while staying at your current job by moonlighting and even by going back to school. First, at your current job, find out how you can expand or re-focus your work. This is called job-crafting and a perfect way to renegotiate your position with your employer, especially if you show how it will help her/him. Second, consider a side-hustle in the field you would like to break into. Some people start right where they are, and others start a home business. Third, be very selective about graduate school. In all but the top 10 MBA programs, carefully consider the brand value and perhaps consider a one-week executive education program at a name school that’s targeted toward what you want really want to do—and way cheaper!
6. Use Mentors. We all need guides to help us climb the right corporate ladder. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,” is a famous Zen saying that’s true also about mentors. Once you feel the need, look around and there are many that have been there all along. And you’ll want to find one with relevant experience, to whom you’re willing to listen, who has your personal interest at heart, and genuinely wants to help. Start by making a list of 6 people you admire who might help. Decide on what kind of mentoring you want, how often you want to get it. Also offer your help—maybe you’re good at social media or have some technical talents they need. You may have more than one mentor for different aspects of your life.
7. Match Skills to a New Future. Think about the skills you have now and how they can be used in a future position, and give yourself credit for important, but often overlooked, skills. For example, a stay-at-home mother who keeps the finances and the house afloat has critical organizational skills. Next, write down any professional skills you have—writing, speaking, leading. Provide concrete examples of each skill you mentioned. Think about any memorable skills you have—maybe you won a spelling bee in high school.
8. Create Your Narrative. Once you’ve laid out your key talents, skills and uniqueness, it’s time to tell your story. Tell them about your journey, explaining the twists and turns along the way. The author suggests that you make connections between your past and present life. Find and connect the underlying themes of your life, and explain the value you will bring to this new position. Write down in a couple of sentences why you’re making the transition and rehearse saying it—first with friends, then people you meet, and finally with recruiters.
9. Create Content. Build your portfolio. Use social media, blogs, and more to publish your philosophy and content for people to see. Create a video blog (vlog), a powerful way to frame your brand—think YouTube. Videos are 53 times more likely to hit the front page of a Google search! Podcasts are another way to extend your brand—what or who you want people to believe you represent. Schedule your social media (Hootsuite and Tweet-Deck).
10. Launch Your New Brand. As you reintroduce yourself to the community, remember: You can take your current status with you. Professional athletes sell shaving cream based on that! Have someone scan your social media to see what image/message you’re sending. Think of all the unconscious nonverbal cues you send—diplomas on the wall, your formal or informal clothing—and make sure it matches the job. Have friends provide third-party validation. Branding/rebranding is a forever thing.
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