Writing Your Bio
August 20, 2010
You know having a written bio is an important part of being a professional business person. You also know when you are uniquely qualified and perfectly-suited for a job, a board membership, or a particular project. So why, then, does your bio read the same as every other mid/senior/executive level professional with whom you may be vying?
Take a look at these two examples:
James Mayer is Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning at ABC Internet Group. He is responsible for the operations, business plans, creative direction and distribution of popular Web sites. James first joined ABC in 1993 as Manager, Strategic Planning where he spearheaded strategy and business development for all of our interactive/Internet and television businesses worldwide.
Mayer received his M.B.A. from Penn State University in 1990, and holds an B.S. from San Diego State University.
OR:
Matriarch of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, Nellie Jackson serves as Executive Director. Her passion for automobiles combined with her business acumen are a driving force behind Barrett-Jackson’s evolution into the world’s leading collector car auction company.
With Partner Tom Barrett, Nellie co-founded Barrett-Jackson and has held an executive position with the company since the doors opened in 1971.
Born in the automotive town of Pontiac, Mich., Nellie’s first office job was in the cost accounting department at Fisher Body, a division of General Motors. Her affinity with classic autos began when she and her new husband Russ purchased a 1934 V-12 Cadillac Opera Coupe from a junkyard they passed while on their honeymoon.
Which one do you think is “uniquely qualified”?
Put YOU in your bio, people! (And if you can’t, have someone else do it for you)
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an individual in transition, you know you want to project a certain image. But the pressure to show how you are detail-oriented, self-motivated, an early-riser, calm, collected, organized–any number of the traits we believe we should possess–is strong. Pretending to be “all that and more” ADDS to stress, fatigue and promotes a further need to continue to pretend. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you could brand your true self–and behave accordingly? Believe it or not, it’s not just easier, it’s more profitable as well!
zzzzzz. Oh, sorry–I drifted off there for a moment. I was researching companies on the web for one of my clients and, well, at least I was able to catch up on much needed sleep!
Who was speaking of the AIA? We were! 
It’s a unique and wonderful experience to help new entrepreneurs start their company. It has been a pleasure to work with experienced construction executives John Sciotto and Chip McAteer to get their company Constructure Management off the ground by creating their identity, their brand image and their website.
