Every quest begins with a question.

I woke up ultra-inspired today, thanks to a conversation with a friend about the power of expression.

My friend (we’ll call her Sarah) is someone I deeply admire, personally and professionally. We had tried several times over the past 3 years to get together without success. So when I noticed she had visited my website and scheduled a session this week, I was beyond excited to reconnect.

As soon as we got on the phone, I knew something was up. We jumped right into what was troubling her.

Doing nothing is not an option.

The CEO of the company where Sarah works announced a change in leadership. It was a change that directly impacted her opportunities to be promoted in the future.

The news had come as a complete surprise.

As we talked through Sarah’s concerns about the changes within her company, the position she holds today and the lifestyle she envisions for tomorrow, we agreed doing nothing was not an option for her.

Every quest begins with a question.

As a 50-something executive manager with lots of tenure, earning a top-shelf salary, Sarah is asking the right question: What can I do to gain more control over my career?

She still loves what she does and continues to give all of herself to her job because she’s that kind of person. But now she’s seeing that promises made about her growth within the company might not materialize after all.

Meanwhile, everything she has achieved while earning promotions and taking on added responsibilities over the past 2 decades is a best kept secret when you search for Sarah online.

If you want to know what she stands for or how she has made a positive impact at her company and in her community, you’d have to be lucky enough to meet her in person or hear it through word of mouth.

Expressing intangibles in tangible terms

After talking through the pros and cons of her keeping things status quo or us working together to clarify her personal brand and build her online presence, Sarah arrived at the most enlightened conclusion.

“I have so much to give. I know who I am. But I can’t express it. And I feel like I need to express it to really believe it.”

Wow.

How could I not be inspired to work with Sarah, to help her map her future path and express her value in terms she can believe in.

Time to think differently

If you’re thinking personal branding is not for you because you love your job or your light years away from starting a business, it’s time to think differently.

Personal branding is for people like Sarah who are gainfully employed, ooze self-awareness and drive. Yet they are selfless and rarely keep tabs on all they’ve done.

Personal branding is for professionals who have dedicated the best part of themselves going above and beyond for a company or industry. Yet, they find themselves uncertain and not in control of their career.

And personal branding is for you if you seek a sense of freedom to be authentic and the words to express your intrinsic value.

Just don’t wait for the right time or a shift in your company’s leadership before you act.

Express yourself.

To learn more, contact me at carole@itshernature.com or schedule a consultation. Our first session is free.

Happy trailblazing,

Carole

As founder of HerNature®, Carole Dupre’ guides professional women in unearthing their natural strengths, clarifying their niche, landing their dream jobs and launching businesses that honor their true nature. She is a certified personal brand strategist, resume writer, social brand analyst, 360Reach survey coach and digital marketer.