how to separate yourself from the...

Corine La Font

HelpDeskJA.com

How to Separate Yourself from the Pack Preparing to build your unique business to stand out in a sea of options.

How to Separate Yourself from the Pack

Contents

Taught to Be the Same ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

Peer Pressure .................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Be Different ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Competitive Advantage #1 ............................................................................................................................................. 3

Be Yourself ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3


Humility............................................................................................................................................................................. 5


Think Outside of the Box .............................................................................................................................................. 6


Be visionary. Be futuristic. ............................................................................................................................................. 7


Decide how you would run things ............................................................................................................................... 8


Listen ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Competitive Advantage #7 .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Be the Bigger Person .................................................................................................................................................. 10

Competitive Advantage # 8 ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Informational Products ............................................................................................................................................... 11

Competitive Advantage #9 .......................................................................................................................................... 12

Speak When Spoken To ............................................................................................................................................ 12

Competitive Advantage #10 ........................................................................................................................................ 13

Define your value........................................................................................................................................................ 13

If All Else Fails… .............................................................................................................................................................. 14

Credits ................................................................................................................................................................................ 15


Taught to Be the Same

Peer Pressure

When we were younger we probably experienced peer pressure at some point. We were forced

or influenced to follow the crowd. If you don’t do what everyone else is doing you are seen as deviant. But

now that we are older and wanting to start our own businesses, we are being told to have answers for

questions like, “What makes you different?” and “What is your unique selling point?” Those are hard

questions to answer after experiencing peer pressure as children and even as adults; since peer pressure is

something that follows us through every phase of life. Take a look at the characteristics of peer pressure

below. See if it sounds familiar.

Be Different

You must “unbrainwash” yourself! Change the way you think about conformity. It’s the ones who cause

trouble, the deviants, who become successful in business and in life. You want to show yourself and be bold.

You may conform in some areas but in this course we are going to explore how to be different in smart,

strategic ways. We will explore how you can you put your own spin on the norms of your industry and

bring your own flair in your business?

Peer Pressure Characteristics

Pushed to conform

Play by the rules

Adhere to culture

Don't ask questions


Competitive Advantage #1

Be Yourself

Be yourself…everyone else is taken. Accept who you are. You are unique in your own way. So be

yourself. Recognize who you are. Who do you want to be in your business? How do you want others to see

you when you are interacting with them, speaking with them? This is called “The Plan of Me.” Recognizing

and accepting your unique and genuine self will give you an advantage because there is only one you.

You cannot be replicated.

Call to Action

Develop “The Plan of Me.”

Who are you? How will you reveal that to others to help your business stand out?

My name is

I am a

I am from

I specialize in

Others have described me as

My favorite color is

I have a dream to

My style is


My strengths are

I’ve grown the most by

About myself I can also say

Now come up with a short statement to describe who you are in terms of your business. How can you

express your unique self in the different areas of your business?

My Plan of Me



Humility

Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. Don’t boast. Let others speak about you, i.e. your clients,

your partners and colleagues. Let your work speak for itself. Be a silent competitor in your industry.

Call to Action

Stop being boastful

Reach out to people in your industry

Identify those you thought of helping but held back because of selfish desire

SELFISH DESIRES INCLUDE KEEPING YOUR GIFTS TO YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID

YOUR COMPETITORS MAY GET AHEAD OF YOU IF YOU HELP. INSTEAD LEVERAGE ONE

ANOTHER’S UNIQUE GIFTS.

Make a list of persons you thought of helping but held back:



Think Outside of the Box

When one door closes, another one opens. What that is really saying is to think outside the box. In the

metaphoric sense what is a closed door? Maybe it means the opportunity is not for me or not for me at this

time. Do I need to change the locks, unhinge the door, or look at another door? What about door #2, #3,

#4 and so on? Is another door wide open? Think creatively. Think innovatively. Position yourself as a

problem solver. Find creative ways to solve problems, because prospective clients, colleagues, and others

are watching to see if you will find creative ways to solve problems.

Call to Action

Ask yourself – Am I a problem solver and how can I be perceived as such to my prospects or clients?

People are watching



Be visionary. Be futuristic.

There is nothing wrong with being a misfit. Embrace it. It’s a good thing. Even if you have the same idea as

someone else, your version will always be different. Look to the future in your industry and come up with

innovative solutions for future problems.

Call to Action

What trends do you notice in your industry?

What can you do to add value? Will it be something new or put a different spin on something that

already exists?



Decide how you would run things

What if you were president? What if you were running your business today? What would you do

differently from those who have a similar business? What would you do differently from the owners of the

company you work for now or have worked for in the past? What would you do that is the same? Don’t

forget the things that you saw as mistakes when you observed other businesses. Also consider the things

that you admire about how other businesses are run.

Call to Action

Make a list or write your operational policy on what you want or don’t want in your business.



Listen

Great ideas pass us by because we are not listening keenly. People who don’t listen to their customers

don’t come up with solutions. How can they? It’s the people who listen who find solutions quickly. Listen with

an open mind.

Call to Action

Talk less, listen more.



Be the Bigger Person

Don’t fight with competitors for a limited space. Instead, think of them as potential collaborators and work

with them in that space. Support them, share their social media posts, and be helpful without looking for

reward. Some won’t reciprocate, but others will. Once you give it will come back to you tenfold.

Call to Action

Make a list of the persons you wish to grow with and offer support and encouragement.


Competitive Advantage # 8

Informational Products

Start working on material like informational products (online training, programs, or books). Leverage

previous experience to earn money and increase your visibility and credibility. Having these products

immediately sets you above those who do not have them. Believe in yourself.

Call to Action

What informational products can I create?

Make a list and put a timeline.

Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals (S.M.A.R.T. stands for specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic/relevant, and

time based)

Product idea

Timeline/SMART goal

Product idea

Timeline/SMART goal

Product idea

Timeline/SMART goal

Product idea

Timeline/SMART goal

Product idea

Timeline/SMART goal



Speak When Spoken To

Be focused and speak when you’re spoken to. In networking, there is an art and a skill to introducing

yourself. Don’t interrupt other people to introduce yourself. Don’t force your business card on people. Stay

in your zone. Be the best you can be at your specialty. Be strategic. Know when to join the conversation.

Call to Action

Make your silent and strategic move at the right time.



Define your value

Demonstrate to your clients how you can save them time and money. The two most desired assets every

potential client wants. Start thinking about what you have done in the past to maximize your time, energy,

and resources. Adopt strategies to learn to save more time and money.

Call to Action

Demonstrate how you can or have saved your clients time and money


If All Else Fails…

If all else fails, here are a few more wise words to follow:

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

When in Rome do as the Romans

Sometimes you have to follow before you can lead.

Call to Action

Sometimes you have to follow before you can lead

Just observe for a while

Be genuine, be helpful

You never know when this will pay off and make you a leader among your peers


Credits

Corine La Font is a Self-Publishing, Online Marketing and Virtual Events

Specialist and Consultant. She is also an author, online business and writing

coach, columnist for the Jamaica Gleaner, online radio host, speaker and an

Award Winning Publishing Resource in the 2013 Small Business Book Awards.

Get a copy of her book at http://amzn.to/TFHQka and Office for One (use

aff link) and Tune in and follow her radio program at

www.blogtalkradio.com/empoweringnetwork.

Workbook created by LeslieRichardsva.com

Image Credits

Denken/Thinking by Sebastiaan ter Burg

See page 6

License information (CC BY 2.0)

Chess by Pixabay user: tpsdave

See page 12

License information (CC0 1.0)

Other images are from the Office.com clip art gallery

http://www.helpdeskja.com/

http://amzn.to/TFHQka

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/empoweringnetwork

http://leslierichardsva.com/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ter-burg/8127175006/

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

http://pixabay.com/en/chess-board-pieces-macro-close-up-79638/

http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en

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