Keep An Updated Electronic Business Card

This is a real quick, but necessary, post.

Today, my father-in-law called me and asked if I had a moment to chat. I said yes and he put me on the phone with a well-known local photographer. My father-in-law had known him for a couple decades and thought the two of us should connect. After about a 10 minute talk, the photographer asked me to text him and we’d set up a time to grab coffee at my co-working space. I texted him, he sent me his e-business card and I replied with mine.

I say all that to say, in a day and age where it is very easy and inexpensive to connect with people and share information, make sure you’re making it easy as possible for them to remember you. This is where you can tell them those things you want them to remember about you. If you want them to be able to connect with you on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, you can add that info. If you want them to have your mailing address and birthday, you can add that in as well. And make sure it has a decent photo, if not a professionally done one.

Create a functional e-card and use it. It’s a brand enhancer.

 

Make professional development a priority.

That’s Great Work. Who Created It?

If you look at my photography page on Instagram, you won’t see many branded photographs. That is because, starting out, my photography was only meant to be artistic expression. I never thought it would turn into a source of income and recognition for me. But now that it has, I have invested in a professionally done logo (which will be released within the next week or two) and I’m in the process of getting some pieces printed. Going forward, my creations will be treated as a source of income, which they are.

But this post isn’t about turning your passion into a business. It’s about making sure you get credit that can take your craft to the next level. No, credit is not the goal with creativity but imagine the impact your art can have if you know that what people are seeing isn’t even your best work? What if being recognized gets you the resources necessary to create even better products and provide better services? For instance, let’s say there is an awesome video centered around LeBron’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers that a graphic designer created. The video was passed around the web and, finally, Bron saw it. He reposts it. But he doesn’t know who to credit because your creativity is unbranded.

Damn. Now you’ve got a great piece of artwork with a dope soundtrack and no one will ever know you created it because it’s been reposted 37,000 times.

I’m not saying you have to plaster your face or logo across everything you create but I am saying that, if someone wants to get in touch with you to offer you an opportunity to create for their brand, you shouldn’t be impossible to find.

By the way, this post was inspired by that great artist who will likely remain unsung.

Make effective branding a priority.

#TrendingThursday 2.0 – Num. 16

What to Do When a Personal Crisis Is Hurting Your Professional Life by Amy Gallo
Life happens to us all. You can’t stop it. And most of us have to have some kind of income in order to survive so quitting our livelihood just because something challenging has happened isn’t realistic. But how do you address personal struggles in a healthy manner while maintaining a level of professionalism? This article tackles that issue. Take a look and apply where you can.

How To Say No To Work Events And Still Be Considered A Team Player by Sarah Greesonbach
Some work events are fun. And sometimes, you want to go home at 5 and be left the heck alone. Sadly, you can’t always get what you want *Mick Jagger voice*. This Fast Company piece talks about picking your battles and, sometimes, sucking it up and taking one for the team.

10 Colors That Might Get You Sued
As an entrepreneur, everyone wants their brand to be recognizable and have some specificity. Just make sure that, when choosing the color scheme for your company’s logo, you don’t use any of these ten hues unless you want to run the risk of having to do a total brand overhaul once you make it big.

 

Make professional development a priority.

Is Your Blade Growing Dull?

When I was in undergrad, I intellectually stimulated almost every day. Sure, there were the Saturday nights when the most intellectual discussion was how fast can we finish the beers at the track team’s party (shoutout to the homie Devon Smith), but regular days consisted of my group tossing around ideas about how we would take over the world while either eating in the cafe, working off our cafe eating in the gym, or making sure we still had access to the cafe/gym next semester by sitting in the library to keep our scholarship dollars rolling in.

I miss those days — the days when we dreamt and planned more than we worked ourselves into an apathetic torpor. Whether the goal was entrepreneurship or figuring out how we would climb the corporate ladder or improving the quality of life for others, we used our minds in an unconventionally imaginative fashion.  Their iron sharpened mine and mine theirs.

I still talk to (but rarely see) many from my circle, as many of us have gotten bogged down in the mundane and monotonous movement from Monday to Friday, only to pray on Friday for the weekend to move in the slowest motion possible and, conversely, for Monday morning to prey on us as hard as we pray on Monday for Friday. This is week in and week out. We do it for the bills and the insurance, the 401(k) matches and the paid days of sick leave, benefits which ultimately catalyze the very mental health days that we end up taking and retirement we long for (because I am convinced that I will never truly want to retire from a passion but I’ll be in a hurry to leave a job). Security holds many of us hostage, which is ironic, because our “security” only secures the prison we have chosen for ourselves.

Instead of security, we should reach for risk, which lies in having those around you  keep you sharp and hungry and thinking outside of the box that would become a cell were you to think inside of it. To keep from being a prisoner of habit, you must have friends with whom you can toss ideas around over a glass of bourbon on the rocks or a good game of Spades. Those who remind you that you are not the smartest person in the room. A circle whose skill sets don’t mirror yours but, instead, complement them. People who specialize in various fields so that, when one of their clients/friends needs help in your field, you’re going to be the first to get the referral.

Today, I charge you to reconnect with an old friend who once inspired you. Whether they pushed you to strengthen yourself spiritually, financially, physically, professionally, or otherwise, give them a call or shoot them a text. See when you all can get together for coffee or lunch or a drink after work. If they’re in a different city, find a time when you all can meet somewhere just to catch up. While I love technology, there is something magical about tossing ideas across an actual table and working through a problem face to face. In short, allow their iron to sharpen yours and do the same for them. It’s the only way you’ll get out of this stagnant stupor that “security” supplies.

 

Make sharpening your sword a priority.

Neck n’ Neck Vintage Co.

A man’s wardrobe choices can make or break his entire career. But, what many don’t realize is, a man’s choice in accessories can make or break his entire wardrobe. Now, often, the most prominent accessory a man in business professional/formal attire is his tie. That being said, where do you think you ought to build your wardrobe’s versatility? If you guessed “From my tie rack,” you’re today’s winner.

You’ve likely heard of my go-to groomer Vince Jamael, of Adrian Fanus Grooming, Inc. (and if you haven’t, just click this whole sentence and you’ll get taken to a handful of posts on this site dealing with his greatness). One thing you may not know about Vince is that he’s not only a well-groomed groomer, but he’s also something like a style icon in his own circle. Always well-dressed for any occasion, Vince is constantly asked where he gets his threads. And, more often than you’d believe, his answer is “From XYZ Vintage Clothing Shop.” Much of his style is vintage with an intentional new school flare. Head to toe, the brother is sharp and I don’t say that about everyone.

I can recall the year after I graduated from undergrad and was sleeping on Vince’s living room couch (times were tough but look what God has done five years later), and I saw that he had this dope tie. Now, I didn’t have any skinny ties in my wardrobe at the time and, not only was this one skinny but it was a vibrant shade of red and made of cotton. Far outside my realm of comfort but it had my attention. Vince caught me checking it out and said I could have it if I wanted it. That was my first step to exploring more nontraditional styles of neckwear.

Fast forward to present day and Vince has started his own neckwear company, Neck n’ Neck Vintage Co., based out of Brooklyn. His business model is a unique one, in which he carefully curates only the most exclusive neckties from vintage shops, both across the United States and in his international travels. His goal is to provide his clientele with the caliber of tie that their grandfather would look for at a reasonable price. The curation, purchase, and restoration of these timeless pieces are responsibilities that fall squarely on Vince’s shoulders alone, but ones that he accepts.

“My passion for helping young men and women feel their best when they put on a necktie is helping to make this dream a reality,” Vince said when asked why he’s investing so much into this vision. “I recall looking at classic photos of gentlemen from older days and thinking ‘What if we combined their knowledge of proper dress with this generation’s fashion sense? We’d be unstoppable.’ So here I am, trying to create a brand that is truly timeless.”

Initially doing private consultations to present clients with his neckwear, Vince is now able to be contacted on Instagram at @vtg_ties. As the brand grows, he will develop more avenues through which his pieces can be purchased but right now, he prefers “personal style consultations to cold cash-based sales.”

You can’t put a tie on without a shirt without looking like a Chippendale, so get the shirt and trousers together but, when you’ve got those two checked off, make sure your neck speaks to a level of distinction without breaking the bank. The best way to do that? Grab a distinguishing necktie from Neck n’ Neck Vintage Co. and let it tell a story without you having to say a word.

Make quality neckwear a priority.

#TrendingThursday 2.0 – Num. 9

Does guest posting even work anymore? by Olivia Angelscu
After five years of successful blogging, I frequently have aspiring bloggers reach out to me and ask for advice. One of the many staple suggestions I provide is to offer to guest blog on other sites. This article examines how effective that suggestion really is and how to do it strategically.

What is the Best Résumé Font for You?
As a professional development consultant, I review and work on quite a few résumés each week and one thing I will say is that fonts do matter. You want to catch someone’s eye but not scare them off. Keeping a solid résumé ready is a must for young professionals like those of you who are reading this blog.

5 Common Mistakes Leaders Make: Which Ones Are You Guilty Of? by Jordan Kasteler
Consulting is a tough gig. Some people start off by rolling the dice but it’s always good to have some insight on best practices. This article gives some solid tips on how you can keep from ruining relationships that could pay dividends in the long run.

 

Make professional development a priority.

Four Women Redefine the Term ‘Bougie’ for Women of Color (Review)

Last night, while I was in bed, I came across this article and said “WOW! So Bougie isn’t a curse word anymore?” I love when people take words that have negative connotations and make them positives. This piece about these four lovely sisters rebranding “bougie” for their own entrepreneurial endeavors is awesome and I wish them all the success.

The term bourgeois carries a negative connotation that suggests women who aim high in their career, love life and inner circle are materialistic and self-centered. What happens when you take the term and redefine it to show camaraderie and empowerment? Meet The Bougie Bunch: Ericka Hatfield, Chief Executive Officer; Lyndsay Christian, Chief Marketing Officer; Shawanda Green, Chief Operations Officer; and Joi Adams, Chief Technology Officer, organizers of The Bougie Brunch.

Check the rest of Marsha Badger’s article out here on the Huffington Post’s site by clicking here.

 

 

Make shifting the culture forward a priority.

Brand It… All of It

Where is your logo? Where is your brand on things?

I hope you pride yourself on doing exceptional work. I don't like putting out anything that is not quality. And I believe that, when I put out quality work, people will share it. As a matter of fact, I hope that my work gets shared. But what if it does and my mark isn't on it?

I don't need to brand it so that I get recognition for recognition's sake. I need it to be identifiable so that my previous work is able to be seen and can help others. I need it to be identifiable so that my future work continues to help young professionals as I evolve and have more experiences.

My logo hasn't been on each of my Instagram creations before but, from this second on, it will be. Create quality content and make sure that it can be traced back to where it came from.

 

Make professional development a priority.

What Do They See?

I’m not advocating that you have a professional photo shoot every time you dress up. But if, in 2017, your LinkedIn profile photograph looks like it was taken on a Motorola RAZR, I’m going to need you to update it. The same is true for a résumé or a cover letter or a blog. If it doesn’t look like it was professionally done, you won’t look professional.

Right or wrong, these days as much emphasis is placed on how someone looks as is on what they know. So, whether we’re talking about the layout of your résumé or the aesthetic appeal of your brand’s Instagram content, employers and potential clients will always judge you based on the way you look online before they ever meet you off line.

Make sure you’re presenting yourself in the most intentional manner possible, while paying attention to whether or not your look aligns with what your target market is looking for. And, if you’re having a tough time doing that, reach out to me or someone else who takes their brand seriously. I’m definitely here as a resource.

 

Make professional development a priority.

Five Years In

Today, I am honored to say that I’ve been building this blog for five years.

That’s half a decade!

In that time, I’ve had a number of professional successes and learning opportunities. I’ve gained life experience, gotten married, and taken chances. I’ve moved from minimum wage to straight commission to salary to better salary. I’ve been an entrepreneur and an employee, sometimes exclusively, currently simultaneously. I’ve gone from having little to having an overflow. I went from looking for an exit to being at a place where I’m looking for a step up.

The Daniels Daily Reader has gone from one consistent reader who now has a blog of her own (and, in an attempt to slightly embarrass Mrs. Daniels, a new last name since five years ago) to hundreds of subscribers, followers, and readers daily. It went from being a free blog to a sizable investment in my business goals. And, possibly most importantly to me, I’ve inspired others to begin writing about their passions. You don’t have to be a writer to write, but, once you begin writing, at that moment, you become a writer.

Thank you all for reading, engaging, critiquing, subscribing, and for just being a part of my journey in professional development. You may not know it but every comment, every hit, every like and share lets me know that my writing is impactful. This has been a great five years and I look forward to sharing many more with you all.

Since it’s the fifth year, here are links to the top five posts of all time:

The Art of the Pocket Square
Where to Shop: The 10 Best Stores for Finding Affordable Men’s Style
Italian, English, or Modern Cut?
How To: The Job Seeker’s Attention-Getting Email Signature
How To: Tie an Eldredge Knot

Though the content and format of The Reader has evolved, the message remains consistent: Make professional development a priority.