Billboards are all around us. We most likely see hundreds every single week offering a product or promoting a movement but only a select number catch our attention—the same is true with people. My grandfather published a book called, How To Advertise Yourself, and I related his four principles to the ways my RFE coworkers have marketed their personalities in the workplace and, as a result, left an impression on me.
Know Your Merchandise. It makes it so much easier to sell something if you know everything about the product (yourself) and truly believe the product will be beneficial to the potential customer (others). My EC mentor and I spoke one day about the importance of being you. I have had similar conversations in the past, but this time I challenged myself to think differently about what it means to be me. I reevaluated my strengths and weaknesses and in doing so, I took a new perspective on what I have to offer others.
Attract Favorable Attention. Make a memorable impression on others, the way you dress, write, speak, or generally conduct your actions. The vibrant personalities at RFE do not go unnoticed and have really caught my attention in a favorable way. What I have learned from others here is that energy is contagious (like the usage of explanation points- I used to never use them!). Frustration is hardly ever worn on people’s sleeves so learn to spread and embrace the positivity!
Keep Them Interested. Remember that regardless of what you are “selling” people pay attention when they’re interested. My coworkers have taught me about the benefits of being spontaneous. Whether it is buying a dog or jumping in the fountain at Millennium Park, this type of behavior keeps me interested because I have seen doors open that otherwise would have been left undiscovered.
Be Convincing. It is far better to be modest and believable than boastful and questionable. There is no denying that hard work pays off. The hard work I see at RFE events reflects how convincing hard workers are. Late one Friday afternoon when everyone started going into “weekend mode” a few individuals convinced me that work takes full priority by staying late into the night to finish work.
By asking the question, “what do I have to offer to others?” I have further identified personal strengths and weaknesses. I have also realized that others here at Red Frog have such a wide variety of things to offer. Small favors, good ideas, friendship, having a genuine laugh, setting examples, and taking new perspectives are just some of the ways others favorably marketed themselves. When we learn something from someone else we are “buying” into what they have to offer. Personalities are extremely marketable so I have challenged myself to learn something NEW from someone NEW every day. By doing so, it decorates the billboard I have to offer.
-Posted by Andrew Sheaffer
Awesome blog!
Good job Andrew; sounds like you are gaining valuable experince this summer. Suggestion: lways type out the words of acronyms you intend to use the first time they are used in your document (i.e. EC and RFE). Maintain your positivity man!
Cheers
P.S. It is also raining at the beach, but we are maintaining our “positivity.”