Tag: Dorie Clark

August 21, 2015 / Book Reviews

Book Review | Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It

Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It
By Dorie Clark

Head: (4 out of 5)
Heart: (4 out of 5)
Leadership Applicability: (4 out of 5)

Some people go to work each day with an innate desire to be known for their ideas and expertise and to make a difference in the world, but lack the courage to speak up. Instead, they hope their good work will speak for itself and be noticed by others. But the workplace today is filled with noise – from work pressures to social media distractions – and being passive about your professional reputation can actually hurt your career. Setting yourself apart in the workplace today is critical.

To many, developing their own thought leadership feels like a daunting task, and the term “thought leader” sometimes seems like a status reserved for geniuses. But this book, by Dorie Clark, a marketing strategy consultant, recognized “branding expert” and thought leader, offers essential insights to get you started because the truth is anyone can have a big idea.

The content in this book will help you:

Understand various methods you can use to identify your own breakthrough idea
Learn how to build a following around your idea
Understand the logistics of making thought leadership happen
Explore ways to make a living while building your reputation

Dorie taps into the wisdom gained from her own experience building her reputation as a thought leader and shares insights from interviews with other recognized experts in a range of industries.

Aspiring entrepreneurs and those looking for more stability in their career will want to read this book. Buy it now.

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August 21st, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dorie Clark, stand out|

On: "Productivity Improvement: It's Not What You Think"

In this article, author Dorie Clark sets out to challenge the traditional mindset on what it means to improve one’s productivity. Many executives try to increase productivity using times of intense focus without interruptions. Dorie contends that this “head’s down” approach isn’t the only route to increased productivity, and may hinder creativity and innovation.

In the article, Productivity Improvement: It’s Not What You Think, published in the National Center for the Middle Market, Dorie redefines productivity. She draws on the expertise of Mariposa CEO, Sue Bethanis, for tips on behaviors executives can adopt right away to positively harness the energy in office interruptions. Read it now.

What is your definition of improving productivity? How do you go about making the most of office interruptions?

Comment below! Or pose a question via Ask Mariposa.

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October 24th, 2013|Categories: Articles We Like, Design Thinking / Creativity / Innovation|Tags: creativity, Dorie Clark, innovation, interruptions, Mariposa Leadership, productivity, productivity improvement, sue bethanis|

Book Review: Reinventing You

Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future
By: Dorie Clark

Head: (4.5 out of 5)
Heart: (3.5 out of 5)
Leadership Applicability: (5 out of 5)

Professional branding is not just for the job seeker. At some point, executives at all stages of their careers face the need to reinvent themselves to keep up with the pace of corporate change. In Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future, author and marketing expert Dorie Clark offers a strategic road map and do-it-yourself exercises for professional branding.

Both insightful and practical, this step-by-step guide is rich with advice anchored by case studies and anecdotal tips. The exercises and reflection points help readers define their unique value and ultimately cultivate and communicate that value to others. Readers will learn how to:

Understand the starting point
Research the destination
Test-drive the path to determine fit
Develop and refine skills for reinvention
Identify and engage a mentor
Leverage points of difference to stand out
Create a narrative that makes sense
Reintroduce the new brand
Concretely demonstrate expertise and prove worth
Monitor perception of the new brand

As the author notes, professional branding is taking control of life and living strategically, by defining career goals and taking steps to reach them. The applicability of professional branding goes beyond simply landing a new job. It can aid in breaking through misconceptions about capabilities which are preventing a promotion, transitioning to a different area of a company and building a compelling case for an unusual background as an asset in a career change.

In an age in which competition for jobs is fierce and one cannot simply rely on being noticed because of hard work, staying relevant and competitive through reinvention is important to fit into the new context of work. Buy the book.

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April 1st, 2013|Categories: Book Reviews, Strategy|Tags: business, Dorie Clark, marketing, personal branding, personal strategy, professional branding, reinvention, Strategy|