Social Business Success

Do you need to review the fundamentals?

I was asked to speak for the Michigan Shifting Gears current cohort (13) about LinkedIn.  When I gave my presentation to the members Cohort 13, I was amazed at how this program is still one of the best kept secrets.

This was a sharp group and I was challenged a number of times.  The questions that were asked were challenging and direct to the point.  I could tell by the questions asked that this group not only wanted to learn but take LinkedIn to the next level.  The training turned out to be one dialogue after another.

Cohort 13 of the Michigan Shifting Gears program attending a presentation.

The training consisted of two parts of LinkedIn.  The first part was discussing how each section of the profile should be written and why.  The second topic was how a person markets him/herself on LinkedIn.

When I discussed how to the write the profile, I emphasized how to write the summary.  The summary section of the LinkedIn profile for the person looking to land a new opportunity is where the person brands him/herself.  In order for the person to write a summary that brands him/her, a person needs to understand who they are.

As I continued with my presentation, I recommended a number of ways the participants should best use LinkedIn.  I reviewed an activity that these current participants had already completed in the Shifting Gears program and how they can use it to better write their LinkedIn profile.

I noticed that when I was done with the presentation, I was mentally exhausted.  Everything I talked about during my presentation I have experienced, am doing or “been there done that”.  I put a lot of emotion into my presentations and this one was no different.  I’m very passionate when I’m giving a presentation.

It was my pleasure to give back to the Michigan Shifting Gears program, because as an alumnus of the program, I got a lot of the program and wanted to give back.  A number of the principles I learned as a participant of the program I include in my presentations.

Thinking about all of the presentations and trainings that I have done, this one was most enjoyable.  This speaking engagement gave me the opportunity to show people how to put into practice what they learned in the Michigan Shifting Gears program.  How everything falls into place and how beneficial it is.

The take away here is you have know who you are.  You can’t market and sell yourself if you don’t know who are.  The second take away is you need to market yourself with passion.  In other words, you have to find a career that excites you.  If you aren’t passionate about who you are, you aren’t going to be able sell yourself.