Make a Name for Yourself: 8 Steps Every Woman Needs to Create a Personal Brand Strategy for Success [Paperback]

Robin Fisher Roffer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 8, 2002

One of America’s leading brand strategists shares her step-by-step program for creating an unforgettable identity in today’s marketplace.
For any woman who has ever gone to work in the morning and thought "there must be more," branding expert Robin Fisher Roffer reveals the eight surefire steps for developing a unique, personal brand strategy for success by identifying your extraordinary attributes, thinking about your values and passions, and learning how to use them to build a successful and fulfilling professional life. Whether you’re starting out in the workforce, beginning your own business, changing careers, or tying to make it in the corporate world, Roffer will help you to uncover a focused direction for your career that celebrates you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A marketing consultant for Web sites and television networks, Roffer applies the principles of brand-building to the popular self-help imperative to create a personal "mission statement" in this up-to-the minute career strategy guide. "Branding for people is about finding your 'big idea,' the core you, and putting it out in the universe to fulfill itself," she says, citing Oprah, Martha Stewart and Madonna as examples of women whose professional "brand name" is immediately recognizable and definable, and the cornerstone of their success. By breaking branding into eight steps (such as "dig deep to unearth who you are"; "go after your target audience with a vengeance"; and "recruit a squad of brand cheerleaders"), Roffer clearly guides her readers through the same process and exercises she uses in developing marketing identities for her clients. Whether a woman's goal is to scale the corporate ladder or to launch her own business, Roffer's lessons on developing a thick skin, creating a no-fear zone, handling professional jealousy ("never play the victim in business") and having a professional coach or mentor will resonate. Agent, Barbara Lowenstein. (Jan. 2)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap

One of America?s leading brand strategists shares her step-by-step program for creating an unforgettable identity in today?s marketplace.
For any woman who has ever gone to work in the morning and thought "there must be more," branding expert Robin Fisher Roffer reveals the eight surefire steps for developing a unique, personal brand strategy for success by identifying your extraordinary attributes, thinking about your values and passions, and learning how to use them to build a successful and fulfilling professional life. Whether you?re starting out in the workforce, beginning your own business, changing careers, or tying to make it in the corporate world, Roffer will help you to uncover a focused direction for your career that celebrates you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Crown Business; 1 edition (January 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767904923
• ISBN-13: 978-0767904926
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Business & Investing > Women & Business

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth its weight in gold! July 14, 2004

By Carole Pivarnik

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this book. I couldn't read it fast enough the first time--it is well written, well organized, and easily understood. There are many useful examples of women who have successfully branded themselves using a variety of strategies. The 8 steps suggested by the author for defining your personal brand identity are within anyone's grasp. That's the beauty of the book--you don't need a big hunk of startup capital, you don't need a PhD, you don't need to aspire to a six figure income. Anyone can jump RIGHT IN and use the principles today. I have begun the process and find it very do-able even in the context of an insanely busy life. It is forcing me to think more clearly about my business goals and really define what I am offering to my customers. It is equally applicable to someone on a career path within a company as it is to a small business start-up like mine. Highly recommended...wish I could give it 25 stars. Amongst all the business books out there, this one provides the missing piece that can really help you differentiate what you offer to your employer or customer and maybe more importantly--the value or benefit THEY perceive will come from working with you.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An uplifting get-to-it book critical to business success February 7, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is one of two books (the other being 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)that have entered my life at critical times and contributed significantly to my success. Different from 7 Habits, this book focuses specifically on marketing your strengths and how to do it. Just like 7 Habits, it calls you to a new level of understanding about yourself and what to do about it. It is fun and easy to read and delivers valuable info and steps to celebrating what makes you different. I always knew that what drove people crazy about me as an employee would be the very thing they would want in me as a entrepreneur/consultant(which I have been now for 11 years). Making A Name For Yourself reinforces that your uniqueness (your brand) packaged correctly, will bring you happiness and success whatever your career. This book does it with humor, how-to-steps, and a universal understanding of women that refreshes hope and inspires you to succeed. Many steps above most self-help books.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Propelling Personal Power August 9, 2004

By J. Ann Lazarus

Format:Paperback

It is the rare book that is written by a "big time expert" that actually connects with the needs of small business owners. Usually such books miss being practical because their picture of perfection is too far from the day-to-day realities of reader. Not so with this book and I heartily and frequently recommend it. Either Ms. Roffer is a particularly insightful teacher, or she is, despite her level of success, delightfully attuned to the every woman. If you are building a library to support your journey to thriving, take this one home and get out your highlighter.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Manifesto for personal success. December 28, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book is priceless for anyone wanting to insure success in this frenetic and highly competitive world. I have read almost every self-help book, but wasn't changing. I knew a lot about self esteem etc, but it's as if I was waiting for ONE FINAL PIECE, the missing part of how to succeed. This book gave that to me. To think that I have the ability and tools to brand myself, just like a company never occurred to me. It's one thing to get charged by great motivators, like Tony Robbins or Steven Covey, but the piece they all neglected was the personal branding we needed to rise above the crowd. Now its up to me to use these simple tools.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent "How-to".Better than any "Brand You" seminar! January 28, 2001

By "nybrandstar"

Format:Hardcover

Robin Fisher-Roffer has taken a "hot" idea....and created a powerful, *substantial* product. This is one of the *few* examples I have found of a book that has *actionable*, complete information...and isn't just a bunch of self-promoting hype or high-level fluff that alot of professional-development books are.

A significant attribute of this book is how well the information was structured and presented. In addition to timely, relevant and practical ideas...this book provides *real* value, with straightforward language, a clear, not over complicated structure and useful, easy-to-implement tools... and thus in my opinion deserves a 5-star rating.

The approach she takes is to present the personal brand-strategy development of four hypothetical women throughout the process defined. The case studies are very realistic (based on composites of actual clients -- and herself). By taking a step-by-step approach to presenting, demonstrating and reinforcing the "lessons", Robin has made it easier to learn, understand and apply .

(An added bonus for marketing professionals reading this, you'll learn some useful brand assessment strategies that apply to business as well.)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brand yourself or brand your small business. This book will help you in that endeavor. October 29, 2006

By Jeff Lippincott VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

At the outset let me say that I read this book from the perspective that the reader was a professional such as an attorney or CPA. And that branding oneself would be basically branding their small business.

Are you responsible for the marketing function in a small business? Do you have a written business plan and a written marketing plan? Is your marketing plan working? Could your marketing plan be working better? Maybe your marketing efforts would improve by focusing those efforts so your small business can develop a brand?

This book is short sweet and simple. It explains how to "brand" your small business. It describes the 8-step process in a well-organized and easily understood way. In a nutshell, it says to set goals and devise a plan as to how to achieve them.

Maybe that message is obvious. And maybe someone might say there was no need to even write this book since the message is so simple and obvious. But some people might not have heard or thought of what this book has to say. And the author has done a wonderful job saying it. 5 stars!