Personal marketing plan David LaFrance

agenda Thoughtfully get ready Testimonials Trust – taking the leap Summary *Time permitting – my marketing plan (at age 30)

Thoughtfully Getting Ready

What is a marketing plan? A business document outlining your strategy and tactics Often focused on a specific period of time, investments, goals, and action steps It is not a static document Usually it is focused on advancing or promoting a product or service In this case, the “PRODUCT” is YOU! Which is the “product” you should know the best!

The wheel of life… Let’s start thinking about you. Using a simple tool called The Wheel of Life

The wheel of life Zero = not satisfied 10 = highly satisfied What is the wheel Rate you satisfaction in each area Connect the lines Look at your wheel Zero = not satisfied 10 = highly satisfied

The wheel of life Group Questions For you, are these the right areas to measure? How is your balance in life— highs and lows? How smooth is your ride? What does it mean to have a smooth ride where all areas are rated as 1? We are going to focus on the Career “slice”

Developing your personal marketing plan

This will be quick The goal for today is to start: Think about what it will take for you to reach the next level in your career Think about strategies to get there You will not be done today It is reasonable to ask yourself… Will it work?

Testimonials

These real people they are not actors and they say “yes, It works!”

THEN: “I never participate in exercises, but I thought, I really want AWWA to create a Student/YP Program Manager. I want to have that job!” NOW: “Five years later, I’m the (AWWA) Section Services Manager.” BOTTOM LINE: “The Personal Marketing Plan helped set me up for success. I achieved a higher goal than I was originally interested in.” Nancy Sullivan Then: Section Relationship Manager Now: Manager of Section Services

THEN: “I focused on working hard and believed that my effort and dedication would be recognized and ultimately rewarded. But that wasn’t enough.” NOW: “I take a strategic approach to building my professional resume and marketing myself. I started by envisioning the career that I wanted.” BOTTOM LINE: “I continue to expand my vision of what I want to achieve.” Sally mills-Wright Then: AWWA YP Operations Service Administrator, Arlington Now: AWWA Director at Large Volunteer of the year Asst. Dir. Water Production City of Dallas

THEN: “Originally, my mission (what success looks like) was to become Dir. Of Technical Services for American Water’s corporate engineering group.” NOW: “Today, my mission is to use all of my skills to make a difference in the water industry and be a role model for my children. And now I want to be President of one of American Water’s operating companies.” BOTTOM LINE: “The personal marketing strategy has led me on a 4 year soul searching, career development journey to bring me to a place I never thought I would be” Lindsey Olson Then: AWWA YP Operations Engineer, American Water Now: AWWA Director at Large Design Process Engineer, American Water

Trust… taking the leap

Don’t forget to celebrate how far you’ve come. what are your priorities? What can you control? What can’t you control? Get to the other side techniques Training—be prepared Sighting – where are you heading? Pacing, gauging distance Don’t forget to celebrate how far you’ve come. Sharks and other swimmers

First you need to be the ball. Are you ready? First you need to be the ball. “There is a force in the universe and all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, BE THE BALL… Picture the shot Danny, picture it, turn off all the sound, let it happen, BE THE BALL DANNY, BE THE BALL…”

Becoming the ball Phones off Get comfortable Focus – Be present Block distractions Clear your mind This is about you and your future Think about yourself What makes you happy? What do you do better than others? Think about your career, what you do

Becoming the ball Are you good at what you do? How smooth is your career ride? Are you satisfied, could you be better? Should you do something different; something more; something less? Are you where you want to be in your career? Think about success—What is that, what does it look like? Do you feel successful? Visualize yourself in 5 years If you are doing the same thing in 5 years will you feel successful? Do you have a plan to get to where you want to be? YOU ARE NOW THE BALL.

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Summary

Final comments There are many paths in life You are lucky, you have options AWWA can play a critical role along your path, if you use it right to create opportunities

7 tactics for creating opportunity Being involved gets you involved Submit an abstract Join a committee—and do the work Propose a win-win (bring the benefits home) Understand the politics and the constraints Be prepared to work harder than the immediate benefit Take responsibility to breakdown the generation barrier—or leverage them BONUS: Learn and practice the power of being the introducer

Thanks David LaFrance CEO, American Water Works Association dlafrance@awwa.org David LaFrance