Leave Your Resume at the Door

Whether you're interviewing for a job, consulting gig, or fellowship program, 10 times out of 10 the conversation will start with, "Can you tell me about yourself?" The answer to this question should be your brand story. 

Instead, what most people do is this:

• They give an executive summary of their resume.

• They highlight their professional experiences.

• They show interviewers why they will be an asset to the company.

• Some will even talk about their most recent experiences and how they are relevant to the position or opportunity. 

While these are all good answers, they are generic and average at best. Moreover, chances are high that each of your competitors had the same responses. Unfortunately, your interviewers want more - they want to meet to real you and what they truly want to hear is your brand story. 

A great brand story should be comprised of the following:  

• The intrinsic qualities that set you apart from your competition,

• Your hero/shero journey,

• Your professional defining moments,

• Your purpose statement, 

• Your professional identity, 

• Your core values,  

• Your superpowers and, 

• Your industry-specific vision. 

Why is this important? It is important because in today's globally competitive world, companies are not just hiring you as a professional, they are hiring and doing business with your personal brand. So the next time you go into an interview, leave your resume recital at the door, and instead go in with your personal brand story.

PRESS RELEASE : GO Global Launches Business & Stories Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
GO Global , info@globalgoinc.com , (202) 496-9220

WASHINGTON, DC, November 26, 2019 – GO Global is proud to announce the launch of Business & Stories, an event series that spotlights local entrepreneurs telling the story of how they built their business from the ground up. The kick-off series features Anika Hobbs of Nubian Hueman located in the historic Anacostia community of Washington DC and Baltimore Maryland. The event is scheduled to hold on December 19, 2019 and will feature a gathering of investors, media and local entrepreneurs. Participants will not only hear the powerful business stories but will also learn how to use storytelling to power their own businesses.

According to Gbenga Ogunjimi, Chief Storyteller at GO Global: “After working on the stories of several entrepreneurs in communities of color, I have realized storytelling is a widely untapped resource for business growth. The Business & Stories event series is a wonderful opportunity to show the world how these business and social entrepreneurs are changing the narrative of their community from struggle and scarcity to that of opportunity and wealth.”

About Nubian Hueman

Founded by Anika Hobbs, Nubian Hueman is a social enterprise that specializes in sourcing and curating unique goods, fashion, and art by designers representing the global Diaspora. Since inception, the business has partnered with close to 400 artists and designers, from 6 different continents, and over 25 countries. Nubian Hueman is the only digital and brick-and-mortar store with 99% of its products made and purchased by people of color. For more info, please visit www.nubianhueman.com

About Gbenga Ogunjimi

Gbenga Ogunjimi is an author, speaker, and storyteller. Gbenga has coached hundreds of business and nonprofit leaders at organizations like Verizon, American Express, Teach for America, and UN Foundation. His book, Borderless Voice: The Power of Telling Your Story and Defining Your Identity, is a compilation of stories and strategies that shows readers how to harness the power of their story. Gbenga believes telling one's story is not only everyone’s greatest asset, but it is also a conduit to all of life’s highest aspirations. For more info, please visit www.gbenga.org

A Breakthrough Story

I caught up with Augusta Massey, a participant of my recent Tell Your Story Coaching Intensive to hear how she has been able to use her newly found insights in her professional and personal life.

Describe the Tell Your Story Coaching Intensive in three words?

Emancipating. Thoughtful. Focused.

What was your biggest challenge before participating in the program?

My biggest challenge was accepting that I needed professional help to rescue me from the quagmire I was in. Every successful athlete, speaker, etc. has a coach. It took a while for me to accept my limitation. 

At what point during the program did you have an aha moment?

I had several aha moments throughout the program, but my favorite was week one when we had to create a 360-life plan. Boy, was that liberating! It put me back in the driver seat of my life and changed my whole perspective. The class made me see how everything in my life was connected and useful! Everything is by design. I love vision boards and it was like making a vision board on steroids. Being back in the driver seat, I could "reverse" and see how my family heritage and power networks all contributed to who I am today. I could then get into "drive" mode and propel my dreams forward, armed with the knowledge of my ancestral lineage. Life always leaves clues and this class helped me see what was right underneath my nose all along. With my hands firmly back on the "steering wheel" of my life, things just became so crystal clear and I knew instinctively what I needed to do next. 

How have you been able to put the program to use?

Since the program, I have tweaked my LinkedIn page and put myself out there under my new, re-branded and improved professional identity. I have started working internationally, I have been certified by the Better Business Bureau, I have launched an online course to help new start-ups and business owners called "The Legal Advantage" which you can find at www.theaugustamassey.com  and I just got back from an international speaking engagement!

How did you professionally identify yourself before the Intensive and how do you identify yourself now?

Before the program, I was lost to be honest. I wasn't sure what my identity was. I am an award-winning lawyer turned into a Judge Pro-Temp, living in Las Vegas, Nevada. I also wanted to be a speaker but was not sure how to pursue that in addition to everything else I was doing. I had a vision to work with government leaders on sustainable government policies and did I mention I was a mother of two small children. I was finding it hard to juggle it all and pivot and combine all my passions. After the Intensive, I saw how all my skills and talents and multi-potential qualities made me a unique thought leader on succession planning and legacy building. I have been able to transfer these skills to help small businesses and countries alike. 

What is the biggest insight you discovered about your story/brand during the program?

Using one of the several powerful techniques I learned in the Intensive, I have been able to clarify or illuminate the qualities that make me a thought leader, speaker and author. One of such qualities is my core value of legacy; through the coaching intensive I was able to grasp how transferable this core value is to my speaking, consulting and coaching businesses. This singular insight helped me to reposition my brand as succession planning expert for business entities both locally in the United States and internationally.

Elevating Your Professional Identity - How These Thought Leaders Gave Themselves Permission

As an Identity Strategist, I have observed that thought leaders in transition struggle to give themselves permission to be the architect of their career goals, even considering all of their previous successes and accomplishments. I recently caught up with three participants of my Accelerate Coaching Intensive to learn more about their experience with the program and how it helped them to own their professional identity and personal brand.

Amy Lokoff – Creative Economy Catalyst

Describe the Accelerate 5-Day Coaching Intensive in three words?

Illuminating. Empowering. Clarifying.

What was your biggest challenge before participating in the program?

Just getting started! I had long thought about creating arts programming, curating shows, and starting my own business. I didn't know how to begin and I didn't trust that I had the skills or motivation to make it happen.

At what point during the program did you have an “aha” moment? 

It wasn't a lightbulb moment per say, but on days 2 and 3 I felt like I had a small breakthrough. We were talking about our survival skills, achievements, developing our bios and LinkedIn pages. I realized that there were small adjustments I could make right away that would allow me to manifest my dreams in tangible ways.  

How have you been able to put the program to use?  

I instantly changed how I thought about myself and spoke my dreams into reality. One month after I participated in Accelerate, I proposed a show to Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center and it was accepted. After that I had no choice but to take myself seriously and to believe that I had what it takes to be an entrepreneur. I am proud to say the show will be opening this Friday and I have been using the skills I learned from Accelerate along the way! 

How do you professionally identify yourself before Accelerate and how do you identify now? 

Before Accelerate I told people I was an aspiring curator, after the program told people I AM a curator. Just making that small switch completely changed the way I introduced myself, thought about my goals and I noticed it changed how people saw me. On my business card and on my social accounts I call myself a “creative economy catalyst” to sum up all the different roles I fill in my professional life. 

Learn more about Amy’s art show here.

Robin Baker – Social Entrepreneur

Describe the Accelerate 5-Day Coaching Intensive in three words?

 Challenging. Insightful. Inspiring. 

 What was your biggest challenge before participating in the program?

 My biggest challenge was clearly articulating my personal and professional story. 

At what point during the program did you have an “aha” moment? 

That would be Day 2. The Professional Identity and Thought Leadership class provided my “aha” moment because it introduced the concept that “I am not what I do, but what I do is the expression of who I am”. This was a brand new concept that I never considered. It was particularly insightful because prior to the program my organization, GoTherapy was my professional identity. Now in hindsight, I realized I never gave myself permission to think bigger. The idea that my professional identity is a personal brand with multiple facets of expression. This “aha” moment inspired this new way of thinking about my identity within a professional context.  

How have you been able to put the program to use?  

Since this program, I have expanded the scope of my professional identity by building my personal brand as a thought leader in global health and rehabilitation both within and outside of the United States. Most importantly, I have gained confidence and I am now able to clearly articulate my story, which ultimately has improved my ability to narrate the story of my organization. GoTHERAPY is now spearheading a new Initiative outside of the United States, we are establishing the very first Stroke Community Reintegration Program in Ghana to provide stroke survivors access to home-based rehabilitation services.  

Learn more about Robin’s organization GoTHERAPY here.

Oyindamola Johnson – Human Capital Strategist

Describe the Accelerate 5-Day Coaching Intensive in three words?

Mindset-shift, Enlightening and Inspirational.

 What was your biggest challenge before participating in the program?

My biggest challenge was bringing myself to the point of recognizing that I needed the program. Having pushed it off for a while, I finally took the leap and it's one of my best decisions ever. 
My initial hesitation was because at the time of the program I had already considered myself a leader. I had worked in many countries, currently enrolled in a prestigious nonprofit management training and served as a Chief of Staff at Practice Makes Perfect, a leading nonprofit in New York. As far as I was concerned, I was on the ideal leadership path. Participating in Accelerate ended up being one my best decisions ever because it provided me with the tools to make the leap towards my personal brand.

At what point during the program did you have an “aha” moment? 

I didn't have to wait too long to reach my “aha” moment. It started right from Day 1.

How do you professionally identify yourself before Accelerate and how do you identify now? 

Before the program, I knew I was skilled in different areas and passionate about many things. I, however, couldn't properly define who I was. Having gained clarity, here's my purpose statement: "I am passionate about raising ethical leaders to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership in rural and urban communities, as well as empowering social change leaders to function effectively at the intersection of passion, purpose and impact”.

Learn more about Oyindamola’s personal brand here.

ACCELERATE 5-DAY COACHING INTENSIVE is designed to position you towards the path of thought leadership in your chosen industry. This 5-day program covers five action and change-oriented modules on life, career, and business leadership strategy. Learn more about the upcoming class here