How to Raise Your Profile, Online and Off

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It’s a question that comes up a lot: how do I stand out? how do I break in? how can I be successful?

The answers are simple, but they’re not easy.

Be active.

Presence isn’t enough. You have to act. Whether that means you’re a company looking to break into a new market, or the new face in a crowd at a networking event, you have to do something to get noticed. We can’t just show up anymore. We can’t just write a blog and hope people will read it. We can’t just pump product out into the marketplace and hope people will buy. We can’t just put up a Facebook page or post a tweet or two and expect that it’ll be enough. We have to act, and act consistently in ways that contribute to the goals we want to achieve.

So do something. Do many things. And keep doing them. There’s a big difference between “Act” and “Be active.” One is a moment in time, the other is a way of life.

Be awesome.

I know, I know, this gets overused, but the message is important: you have to be be good at something. Really good. The good news is you already are. Maybe that’s innovative product design, or spectacular customer service. Maybe that’s memorable campaigns, or reliable delivery. Maybe you’re a fantastic writer, or an unparalleled connector of people. Maybe you know the nonprofit space like the back of your hand, or have a gift for organizing. Maybe you’re a first-class jerk (but people want you, anyway). Maybe you’re a gifted teacher, or manager. Whatever it is, everyone has something they’re really good at. They do. You do.

So figure out what that is, and be it.

Be different.

The tricky thing about being awesome is that sometimes we don’t like what we’re good at, or, because we’re so good at it, it’s easy and doesn’t present a challenge to us. But trust me, if you’re so good at something that it’s boring to you, other people would kill to have that ease of ability. Trying to do something that someone else is good at (just because you don’t like your own talents) is a fast-track to being part of the pack. We remember firsts and bests, not seconds and me-toos.

So whatever it is you’re awesome at? Be that. And make it better.

Be you.

The best way to differentiate? Stop trying to compete. Stop following someone’s else path and make your own. Do you need to be aware of the marketplace and your position in it? Yes, you do. But I’m hard-pressed to think of anyone, or any company, who made their name through simple one-upmanship. You’ve got to change the game, and you can’t do that if all your attention is focused on what everyone else is doing. So focus on you, and how you want to play your game—because sometimes, it’s not what you do that’s different, it’s how.

So define that for yourself. Figure out what your beliefs are. What you value. Turn that into a mantra you repeat over and over, and use that as your yardstick.

Because you? You’re already different. And awesome.

Now what are you going to do about it?

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Tamsen McMahon helps people get from where they are to where they're going. She's also the Vice President of Digital Strategy at Allen & Gerritsen, and a Weight Watchers leader. She writes on individual change at PersonalCartography.com.

  • http://twitter.com/megfowler Meg Fowler

    No WONDER I love working with you!

  • http://brasstackthinking.com Tamsen McMahon (@tamadear)

    The feeling's mutual!

  • http://twitter.com/duanebrown Duane Brown

    Really great post Tamsen. This is something I've been working hard at doing since last April. It's not easy but I'm making it work. Starting to speak at conferences has been a huge help & with a website relaunch coming down the pipe…. the last piece of my puzzle will be adding in my huge passion for gaming. I really how things have been turning out and I don't plan to stop.

  • http://twitter.com/frankrebecca Rebecca Frank

    Please, please, PLEASE put these four sentences on a t-shirt. I want to wear it when I am feeling sad.

  • http://twitter.com/4wallsrentals 4 Walls

    Sound advice and so true. thanks so much for sharing!

  • http://www.devacoaching.com Sandi Amorim

    Love that all the actions are BEing actions. First time to the blog, but not the last. Thank you!

  • http://brasstackthinking.com Tamsen McMahon (@tamadear)

    Success builds on success, doesn't it? Congrats on all the great things you've got going on.

  • http://brasstackthinking.com Tamsen McMahon (@tamadear)

    I may need to start a line…Project Runway was on last night, after all! ;)

  • http://brasstackthinking.com Tamsen McMahon (@tamadear)

    You're welcome! Sometimes we just need to be reminded.

  • http://twitter.com/JackBPravda AngrySponge, llc

    I can hear Sammy Davis belting out 'I Gotta Be Me'; of course, as a look alike for a certain Jack, it's doubly hard, but…………….YOU've shown ME; thanks, doll.

  • http://membershipjedi.com MikeCassidy

    A tear trickles down my cheek…Tamsen called me different and awesome. Love this post. Tenacity and individuality are not only traits, they are practices. It's not an easy journey, however there are those out there like Brass Tack to inspire us and provide a push, prod or lending hand. Thank you.

  • http://brasstackthinking.com Tamsen McMahon (@tamadear)

    Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

  • http://brasstackthinking.com Tamsen McMahon (@tamadear)

    You're welcome, Mike! And I guess today I was channeling my inner Tony Robbins. Except I'm a LOT smaller than he is. So are my teeth. ;)

  • http://twitter.com/chrisjoneslehi Chris Jones

    I lived for twelve years in one town down the road. Met a few people. Caused some trouble. Ended up not wanting to stay because of the reaction some had to that trouble. I had a few friends, knew a couple of people, but on the whole, I was nobody.

    Then I moved up the road. The first week I was there, I went to the Chamber of Commerce meeting. And instead of sitting at the back, getting my bearings, I sat up front and introduced myself to the Chairman before the meeting. I was invited to stay after. Then to sit on the Board. Then I was the Chairman myself after a couple years. The same thing happened in Rotary, and over and over in other organizations. Shockingly, in just a couple of years I knew everyone in town, where in the other town I knew only a handful of people. The difference was exactly what you've brilliantly outlined here.

    People drop out of those organizations all the time, and the main reason they give is “it just doesn't work for me”, which, being that I was in a position to observe, meant “I don't do anything, so nobody can tell how awesome I am. Guess I'll quit.” Those of us that have been there, and worked, some of us for years, know that these organizations can be fantastic networking tools, but they respond with a multiple of the force we put into them, after we demonstrate that we're in it for the long haul. Put in zero, and no multiple will help. Put it huge effort for one project, then disappear, and a similar thing happens.

    Tamsen, you put this all so well. And do we ever need the reminder. Keep up the great work, you and Amber. Speaking as an @ambercadabra groupie, we're thrilled she introduced us to you. Good fortune to you with Brass Tack.

  • http://www.youintegrate.com Kneale Mann

    I must eat more vegetables. I must get more exercise. I must, I should, I could, I know. But without action, it's all empty words. This is a brilliant post, Tamsen! Thank-you for the kick in the pants. :-)

  • http://allantyoung.com Allan

    One of the hidden actions behind all of these great tips is commitment or choice. You have to choose. You have to choose your niche, your specialty. That's the hard part – the part that scares everybody.

  • Karen Toms

    I love this post. It's an important lesson to keep remembering to focus on yourself and all the great things about your uniqueness. Rather than stalling through focusing on others and not investing the time in creating your own voice and presence.

  • http://www.2seo.com/ Teena

    Awesome article, love it…it's easy to take action but it's hard to be active, agree with that.

  • Danniibeauty

    Great post! I have just started blogging and need to get myself out there! Thanks for the encouragement!

  • http://twitter.com/larsv Lars Voedisch

    Good post – thanks. Feeling quite hyped up now (again) :) I think you had in there implicitly at least – but the 'delivery' portion matter quite a bit, or to use the latest buzz word: “Communitain”… (interesting post: http://www.jacksonwightman.com/2010/07/5-things…)

  • annholman

    Great post! Big difference between action and impact!

  • http://twitter.com/bikespoke John Kosic

    Nobody ever remember to read the retraction page in a newspaper. Its the first Story, Impression, that tends to stick in peoples memory.

  • Steve Collins

    Excellent advice. If your passion shines through you will be successful.

  • http://blog.fmidm.com steve olenski

    I like to think of myself as the most over caffeinated blogger… is that different?

    Great post Tamsen… gets one to thinking, which is ALWAYS a good thing.

  • http://twitter.com/ed_han ed han

    Very good advice. I agree that uniqueness is the key.

  • http://twitter.com/danyashea DanyaShea iMarketing

    If I am ever in Boston you are someone I must have coffee with.

  • http://www.gregandjannelle.com greg + jannelle

    what a great post! lot's of good info and encouragement for us to grab onto and apply. we are fairly new to the idea of social media. just started twitter. feel WAY behind. but know all of it is an important tool to communicating these days! we want to be relevant and give info that has value and actually reach people on a real level.

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