Share your fabulously Positive Image with all

You are just fabulous! Time to tell everyone. The beginning of a New Year is a great time, at least symbolically, to take important steps in our lives. Too often, it is a missed opportunity. We don't go to the gym after the first month, we stop eating a healthy breakfast, we slip back into negative thinking...whatever that hard habit is to break, we give up on it fast.

I am here to tell you that the one “resolution” you do have control of and that you can keep, is taking stock of what you have done in your career and volunteer life, and sharing it.

Think for just a minute about the last year. In this economy, chances are that you took on additional duties at work. Whether that came with a raise or a title isn't important in terms of what you have to sell in your future. Did you complete some web training, get any certification, attend some face-to-face conferences, accept any positions in professional organizations or do any volunteer work? Time to tell the world.

Think of this exercise not in terms of dusting off the resume so you can look for another job; you may be perfectly happy where you are. Think of it in terms of collecting your thoughts as your prepare for your own annual evaluation. Sharing these accomplishments is also a way for you to “give back” as you network. As professionals network on line, they're often looking for a counterpart who has “been there and done that.” Sharing ideas in professional on line discussion groups is rewarding. Often, your expertise could land you a speaker's slot at a conference, with expenses paid!

Moving forward in 2012, document your improvements as you make them, so you're instantly ready to think on your feet if the opportunity to pitch a promotion comes up.

I am declaring Saturday, January 7, 2012 to be “Profile Update Day.” Join me in taking a few minutes to update your professional profiles. Share your Positive Image with all!