1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: tip is to think about how to explain what you do. 4 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: A very simple formula works for a great many people 5 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: and can quickly show others the value that you add. 6 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: In her book LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies, author Donna 7 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: Serdula has a great template for the about section of 8 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: your LinkedIn profile. Basically, you say I help individuals or 9 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: businesses or whoever your target audience is do x so 10 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: they can achieve Why as in I help homeowners make 11 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: their homes more energy efficient so they can save money 12 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,959 Speaker 1: and help the planet. I help biotech companies figure out 13 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: the regulatory process so they can bring new drugs to market. 14 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: I help make sure the employees of our construction company 15 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: have everything they need so they can focus on their jobs. 16 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: I love this. You get specific about who you help, 17 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: and you emphasize how you are helping them achieve their goals. 18 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: You say why your work matters. This is really powerful. Indeed, 19 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: it might be worth hopping over to LinkedIn to update 20 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: your about section right now. But you don't have to 21 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: reserve this formula for an about section. It works in 22 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: general conversation too. I am sure we have all been 23 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: asked at one point or another what it is that 24 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: we do. I might say I'm a writer, and then 25 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: people say, oh, well, what do you write about? Or 26 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: they quickly drift off if they don't actually want to 27 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: hear about it. I haven't conveyed really much of interest 28 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: either way. But how about this, I help busy people 29 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: learn to manage their time so they can live happy 30 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: and productive lives. I do this through writing, but also speaking, podcasting, 31 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 1: and so forth. That's a more informative answer, more accurate, 32 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: and helps people continue the conversation if they want to. 33 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: A lot of other work can fit this template, too, 34 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: So think about who your work helps. I can think 35 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: of all sorts of different audiences someone might talk about, like, oh, well, 36 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: I help single moms pursuing a college degree, or I 37 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: help businesses aiming to scale. Whoever your audience is, naming them, 38 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: lets you convey who your work matters for. I also 39 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: appreciate the way this template emphasizes the value that you add. 40 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: The last clause about how they can achieve their goals 41 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: is key. Why does what you do matter? You can 42 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: use this template in conversation with colleagues you don't work 43 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: with too closely. It will help them recognize the value 44 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: that you add to your company. Practically speaking, it also 45 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: lets them know if there's an occasion when they should 46 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: come to you and take advantage of whatever it is 47 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: that you do. Even outside of professional contexts, Capturing the 48 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: impact of what you do makes your work more understandable 49 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: to other people. Saying you are a supply chain analyst 50 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: could be a bit of a conversation stopper at a party, 51 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: because well, what on earth is that? But what if 52 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: you say I help businesses keep track of how food 53 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: products are getting to grocery stores so you can always 54 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: find the gram crackers, Well, then your work is more concrete. 55 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: I am sure you can think of somebody your work 56 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: as helpful for and something it helps them achieve. So 57 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: why not give this template a try. I mean, maybe 58 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: this format doesn't quite fit for everything, but in general, 59 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: much of our work is helping people achieve their goals 60 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: in some way. Keeping the focus on that can make 61 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: work make a lot more sense. In the meantime, this 62 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: is Laura, Thanks for listening, and here's to making the 63 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. 64 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach 65 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast 66 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, 67 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 68 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.