Episode 229 - Is Your Professional Brand Aligned With Your Career Goals? 4 Questions to Help You Find Out, with Mark Mears
In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Mears, a renowned branding expert with extensive experience working with major brands like McDonald's and Frito-Lay. Mark shared invaluable insights from his corporate experience that we can adapt to develop our professional brand and leadership style. We also discuss one of Mark's great passions: The significance of creating a fulfilling workplace.
The Epiphany Behind Purposeful Growth
Mark's journey into branding was serendipitous. Initially set on a path to law school, his journey pivoted towards marketing communications, eventually leading him to Northwestern University for a master's in integrated marketing communications. This shift sparked his interest in brand building integrating strategic and thoughtful practices.
On a spring day in Southern California, Mark had an epiphany that led to his LEAF model - Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Fulfillment. This model aligns with his belief in purposeful growth, emphasising the importance of each element in creating a thriving workplace.
Personal Branding: A Necessary Step for Career Advancement
Mark stressed the importance of personal branding for career advancement. He explained that good branding is essentially storytelling, and having a compelling narrative about oneself is crucial for job seekers. He encouraged our listeners to be introspective and understand their unique stories.
Here are the questions Mark suggests we ask to develop a multi-dimensional approach to professional branding:
Personal Brand: "Who am I?"
Internal Brand: "What do we stand for?"
External Brand: "What value is exchanged here?"
Employer Brand: "Do I belong here?"
Mark believes that a sense of belonging is vital for personal and professional success. His focus on the employer brand is particularly pertinent in today's job market, where job seekers are increasingly looking for workplaces that align with their values and offer a sense of community.
Embracing a Purposeful Career
The pandemic and its subsequent events have refined Mark's thoughts. His realization that many were (and still are) quitting their jobs due to toxic work environments led him to emphasise the importance of a positive, fulfilling workplace culture in his work as a speaker and author.
We discussed the concept of purposeful growth in job searches. Mark believes finding purpose in any job can make work more inspiring and fulfilling. He shared a powerful story about someone who found purpose in her mundane job by understanding its impact on a larger scale.
Listening to this episode with Mark Mears will provide insights for anyone looking to understand the depths of professional branding and the importance of a purposeful career. Mark left us with a profound thought as we wrapped up: “We each have 24 hours in a day. How you use those hours is up to you.”
About Our Guest, Mark Mears
Mark A. Mears is a nº1 Best Selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and business leader. He has a significant track record of building stakeholder value—driving innovation and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory. Today, Mark serves as Founder and Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC—a consulting firm inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential while making a positive, lasting difference in the world. Mark has just released his new book titled, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder. Mark is also a member of the Senior Leader Network within Conscious Capitalism, Inc., a global organization whose mission he shares: Elevating Humanity Through Business.
Resources mentioned in this episode
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