Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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!

The good thing about this book is that I know that Robin Fisher Roffer does actually work in the branding space and she works with some big companies. So it's a far cry from a bogus self-help book that some of these other tooting horns and walking in front of the parade (no offense if your book includes those words) often portend to offer. In the first couple of chapters she suggests you fill out some forms and begin to package your personal brand strategy. The only thing I wish is that she had used REAL people rather than "Mary Beth" Or "Jillian" who are either composites or made-up characters. Her chapter 5 about recruiting a squad of brand cheerleaders goes along with my advice in my SUCCESSFUL RECAREERING book to create a personal board of advisors....NO INDEX makes me sad -- because I really think that people who are on a quest (potential readers of this kind of book) want an index to check out and refer back to. Some references to a page in your planner type of thing date this a bit for any Gen X or Gen Y user who is heading to social networking sites like Myspace.com or Youtube.com for their videos and bios and brand building. What a difference six years makes...could be a lifetime in Internet Years in the new Digital Economy. Looking forward to meeting the author some day -- and seeing what she says about updating some of the goodies in here.

This is a terrific book. I think it's a perfect tool if you've reached a point in your career when you need to take that big step to "go out on your own." It's an easy read and the exercises at the end of each chapter can teach you so much about yourself and who you really are and can be. This is a book you have to read more than once to get the true benefits from Robin's ideas and suggestions. "Make a Name for Yourself" is a winner! And I suspect its author, Robin Fisher Roffer is, as well.

This book is an easy, empowering, motivational read. I found myself folding over a lot of pages for reference and ideas - ultimately the sign of a good book. It isn't over-complicated or laden with a lot of marketing/branding spin words that don't mean much. Ms. Roffer's background and experience are in the entertainment industry - so a lot of her examples may be a bit out of mainstream America's world making some insider references and terminology hard to relate to - but ultimately, this is a book that should speak to women. In essence, it's a good tool kit to help you realize what's important to you, how to figure out your core attributes/interests - and make it all work together!

Roffer's recommendations are powerful. I found that she provides the framework for helping you define your aspirations...or redefine them as many who make career changes, like me, need to do. Then, she offers very effective steps and ideas for achieving goals. Her skill shows in the simplicity of her direction. Roffer has uncovered the most efficient methods to attaining personal success so that all ideas seem possible and can really be put into action. No lofty notions here...just practical, essential material. It's a must for building your career now and a great reread to check your progress. I've added this book to my business library and I highly recommend that you do the same!