You’re feeling stuck in your brand strategy career. How can you move forward and find success?

Feeling stuck in your brand strategy career? Start by recognizing your strengths and passions. Are you a creative mind, a data wizard, or a master storyteller? Reflect on what sets you apart and how you've applied these skills in past projects. Embrace your uniqueness and leverage it to propel your career forward.

It may seem counterintuitive, but advancing often involves helping others in areas where we lack. Feeling down? Try lifting someone else's spirits. You'll be surprised at the boost it gives your own mood. Professionally, it's the same. Stuck in your career? Helping someone facing tougher challenges can remarkably shift your perspective and clear your vision. Remember, the fastest way to expertise is by listening and aiding others. Embrace this approach to unlock personal and professional growth.

This has worked wonders for me! You might be good at multiple things, but not all of them will get you excited. So pick the ones that you truly enjoy doing. For me, they are - creating marketing strategies from scratch & coming up with unique content ideas, styles & narratives. I keep experimenting every time there's a new thing on my plate. The more I explore these areas, the more I learn, and the more I enjoy my work!

You can always pivot. Think about what got you excited when you started? Is there a passion point you can cultivate and explore new interests. And don't feel bad when the career you used to love is not fulfilling anymore, you're evolving.

Puede parecer un paradigma, pero a mi me sirve no hacer nada. Detenerme. Respirar. Y confiar. Confiar mucho. Confiar en el proceso. Dejar que las ideas lleguen. Dejar al cerebro pensando en piloto automático sobre un brief-problema-idea específica. Pronto llegarán las respuestas. Hay quien cruza el bosque y sólo ve le?a para el fuego, pero hay mucho más que le?a, hay mucho más que un bosque, ahí afuera están las ideas para continuar el viaje. Tomé la frase de Tolstoi prestada, por cierto. El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena inspiración le cobija.

Don't underestimate the power of interdisciplinary knowledge. Brand strategy intersects with various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, design, and technology. Exploring these interdisciplinary connections can provide fresh perspectives and inspire innovative solutions in your brand strategy work.

We often think that what makes a great professional is their knowledge; to me, a great professional is made of passion and ambition. The will to continuously learn and grow, through the hability of understanding one's mistakes or faults, is the most powerful tool in a professional scope. After all, no one knows everything. And it's that endless curiosity that will keep you ahead of the curve.

We all know (our should know!) which skills we lack proficiency or tasks that we don't deliver masterfully. Constant self-knowledge exercises help in this journey of continuous improvement, such as identifying weaknesses, consulting past feedbacks and counting on honest assessments from managers.

I've found it's better to double down on your strengths and outsource/delegate your "gaps". Granted, you have to identify the areas that could use improvement and understand why they are gaps. Is it a knowledge gap that you are interested in learning more about? Or is it a gap because you have no interest in that area? I've found that it's a better use of time, and you provide more value to stakeholders (and yourself) to focus on your strengths/interests

Before you can identify your Gaps you need to first set your Goals. Go Grand, Never Bland, Brand to Land & #KeepRockingLinkedIn! Kevin On a Mission to Eliminate Organizational & Personal Blanding?

This article is a prime example of AI putting the Cart before the Horse. The 3rd step is identify your Gaps based on your Assessments compared to your Goals. Share the Knowledge, Set Others Free & #KeepRockingLinkedIn! Kevin On a Mission to Eliminate Organizational & Personal Blanding?

Goal: To advance to a senior brand strategist position in the next 3 years. Specific: Obtain a senior brand strategist role at a reputable marketing agency or global company. Measurable: Increase responsibilities by leading at least 3 major brand campaigns annually. Achievable: Enhance skills through relevant courses and mentorship, networking to secure opportunities. Relevant: Aligns with my passion for brand development and desire for professional growth. Time-bound: Secure the senior brand strategist role within 3 years through proactive career development efforts.

-Start teaching others and share your experience -Read and go for further education to develop yourself and increase your knowledge - start working on wider scale and increase your scope of work

One thing is very important is to set your career goal through the brand strategies of the brand you currently work for, your current achievements or work outputs will be a great reflection on your career to set a road map for your ultimate career goal. Do what you want to be recognised for.

Is smart goal setting the best available tool in contemporary agile work environments? I like to think about my personal and professional goals more flexible than this. And I believe that the upcoming times will prove that right. 'Walk the path of joy' is one of the best quotes written on that little tag of my morning tea bag. And it means a wonderful concept of going for those goals in life, where your heart will lead you. In the end you are going to land there anyway no matter what strict goals you have set. Take care everybody and have a nice weekend.

My career advanced significantly when I decided to look beyond traditional paths. I spent considerable time engaging with an early-stage, cutting-edge technology I was passionate about and the wider branding landscape that existed at the time. This exploration revealed a critical shortage of creative talent and brand expertise, presenting a wealth of opportunities. Rather than merely expanding your network, I suggest a fundamental change in perspective. Explore emerging or niche areas that capture your interest. By reaching out to both creatives and other professionals in these innovative fields, you'll discover an array of unexpected opportunities that exist outside your current professional sphere.

Create a career accountability group of marketing talent in your region. With just 10 people, it's amazing how quickly you can have a pulse on the market, reputations (leaders, companies, recruiters), events, tools, etc. - Referral only, at same career level - Weekly meetings via Zoom, Monthly in-person - Active Slack to get immediate advice, shared job postings, education, shared resources, pep talk - Supportive, not competitive. Willing to make introductions for others and coach one another

People want to help people. Advocate for yourself by reaching out to people who are doing the job you want to do, who possess the skills you want to grow in and who work for brands you want to work for. Reach out to someone with a clear objective: Hi (name). I am reaching out because I admire the work you are doing and want to grow in my career. Can I buy you a virtual cup of coffee and ask you a few questions? And when you do get that virtual coffee meeting, come prepared with intentional questions. Don't ask to just "pick their brain". Seek to understand how you can grow and gain experience. I once had someone ask to shadow me in a brand strategy meeting and I said Yes. Why not? They genuinely wanted to learn and I admired the ask.

Industry associations are worth their membership price in knowledge and networking. You learn the stuff Uni didn't have time to touch upon (or can't keep up with), and you meet influential contacts to help answer the questions you might not want to ask internally.

Expanding your networking is significantly important to growing your career in brand strategy. Finding networking groups in your niche is helpful, and you can even search out virtual ones. I found an amazing resource through a Facebook group of local women in marketing and communications. Taking the step to reach out and make connections one on one is important. I find people love the ability to help and support growth in others careers so asking for a quick get to know you coffee meeting or virtual chat is usually well received!

Showcase your value in a strategic manner and the audience will grow organically. You are a living brand that adjusts and grows according to your DNA and environment.

We all learned in business class that at the end of the day it comes down to shareholder value. Make sure you are professionally documenting and making sure your value is known; I’d also recommend shedding light on the values others create. Take the time to make sure you are increasing your capabilities so that when future opportunities are presented you are ready. I find that everyone has a timeline and boxes they are looking to check. Within reason, make sure you are enjoying the journey learning as much as you can while sharing the value you create. If you take this approach, you’ll be ready when new opportunities present themselves.

Para destacar en estrategia de marca, es esencial que muestres tu valor de forma tangible. Crea un portafolio digital o sitio web donde puedas exhibir tus proyectos más exitosos, reflexiones estratégicas y resultados obtenidos. Utiliza blogs, podcasts o redes sociales para compartir tus conocimientos, visión de la industria y casos de estudio. Al comunicar tu propuesta de valor, enfócate en lo que te diferencia y cómo aportas soluciones únicas a los retos de marca. Recuerda, tu presencia en línea es tu carta de presentación; hazla reflejar tu expertise y pasión por la estrategia de marca.

En mi trayectoria, he aprendido que nuestras experiencias personales son una fuente invaluable de aprendizaje, inspiración y conexión con los demás. Cada uno de nosotros lleva consigo una historia única, tejida con momentos significativos, desafíos superados y lecciones aprendidas. Considero que compartir estas historias es un acto de gran valor, no solo porque nos permite expresarnos auténticamente, sino también porque tiene el poder de inspirar, motivar y generar nuevas ideas en los demás. Cada vez que comparto mi historia, ya sea de éxito, fracaso, o simplemente de aprendizaje, encuentro que establezco conexiones más profundas con quienes me rodean.

Demonstrate your expertise and impact. Create a portfolio, website, or blog to showcase your best brand strategy work and results. Start a podcast or post videos discussing trends and insights. Build your social media channels and share content positioning you as a thought leader. When pitching clients or employers, have a value proposition highlighting your unique experience, skills, and approach. Ask clients to provide testimonials about your work. Present at industry conferences about your innovative projects. Find opportunities like writing guest articles to reach new audiences. Promoting your differentiated value and expertise boosts your personal brand and opens new opportunities.

Asking feedback from peers and managers is a fantastic way to test your self awareness related to your own performance. It's important to learn to listen without resentment, drafting tactical actions to overcome challenges and keep these channels open for a constant validation of your efforts.

Seeking feedback is crucial to overcome challenges and advance your brand strategy career – sometimes we are stuck in our heads and need an objective perspective. Reach out to your mentors, colleagues, or industry professionals for diverse perspectives on your work and your personal brand. Take the opportunity to refine your personal brand. Apply the principles of brand strategy to yourself. Refine your unique value proposition and crystalize your skills and achievements. Seeking feedback is a valuable tool for professional growth and can help you navigate challenges and excel in your brand strategy career.

Many of us think of feedback as negative, but it is quite crucial to your career growth. No one knows it all and many successful business owners fail multiple times before their success. Seek feedback from your peers, executives, mentors, and even outsiders who are not in your industry. I live by The Whole Brain Thinking Methodology. We all have different strengths, but we don't have them all, seek others that can compensate you where you are not as strong. These individuals will give you their insight and feedback that will make you stronger and your brand stronger. But the key to be successful is to be open to feedback and act on the feedback.

I learned that feedback is a gift, specially if it′s actionable. Don′t be afraid of asking your peers, managers or customers what do they think about any professional related content. And remember, is a gift.

Na minha experiência, é fundamental buscar feedback constante para aprimorar suas estratégias de marca. Crie um ambiente de confian?a onde feedback honesto seja encorajado e valorizado. Realize reuni?es periódicas com sua equipe e clientes para discutir o desempenho, identificar pontos de melhoria e celebrar os sucessos. Essa prática promove um ciclo contínuo de aprendizado e crescimento, impulsionando o sucesso em sua carreira de estratégia de marca.

If you're feeling stuck in your brand strategy career... if you need some motivation and inspiration... here's my suggestion. Read a good book on business, brand or behavioral science. Check out: Nine Lies About Work (Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall) The Million Dollar One Person Business (Elaine Pofeldt) Predictably Irrational (Dan Ariely) Using Behavioral Science in Marketing (Nancy Harhut) How Emotions are Made (Lisa Feldman Barrett) Marketing to Mindstates (Will Leach) Simply Put (Ben Guttman) Visual Leadership (Todd Cherches) Creating Superfans (Brittany Hokak) and so many others. A great book will open your mind and fuel you with new energy.

Stuck in brand strategy? Here's a quick boost: 1. Assess strengths & bridge gaps: Know your skills (creative? analytical?) and address weaknesses (e.g., digital marketing). 2. Set goals & network: Define your desired path and connect with industry professionals through events and online platforms. 3. Showcase value: Build a strong portfolio highlighting past successes and consider industry competitions for recognition. Remember, continuous learning and proactive efforts are key to unsticking yourself and thriving in brand strategy.

Broaden your perspectives and engage with individuals outside of your “normal sphere”. Be curious and explore other disciplines that can expand your thinking. Study… be aware that your thinking is often bound by biases and assumptions so explore more…stuckness is a state of mind.

IMO - You'd have to first understand "why" you are feeling stuck. What circumstance(s) do you find yourself in and what obstacles are preventing you from moving in your desired direction. Are the obstacles "self made" or are they external forces? 1. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM 2. SET GOALS 3. SET EXPECTATIONS 4. ASSIGN A TIMELINE 5. RE-ASSESS EVERY WEEK 6. ADJUST/PIVOT/ADAPT 7. SEEK HELP FROM OTHERS

Here are two ways to diversify the brand strategist portfolio. 1. Seek opportunities in different markets If you are a brand strategist in one sector, for example, in FMCG, maybe, you can look for jobs or portfolio in other sectors, like telecom or gaming. This will add newer perspectives, challenges, and learnings for you. 2. Seek other brand roles: I was lucky to have a brand strategist role that also extended to corporate brand manager role. I moved on to also work in digital marketing and I am back to being a brand manager again because it is what I liked best. I recommend exploring your options within the marketing function and find out your growth opportunities