How to repackage yourself for a comeback

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In Summary

• Without improvement, it is easy to find yourself getting stuck in a rut or being associated with old-fashioned ways

 

By Irene Njoroge
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Every career or business woman is a brand unto themselves. This means that you have to keep on evolving and improving yourself and your product. Without improvement, it is easy to find yourself getting stuck in a rut or being associated with old-fashioned ways.\

Suppose you have been in a certain field for the last 10 years and then wake up one day to realise that there are several new players. The new ones are up and running with current ideas. Next to them, you may appear somewhat jaded due to the energy they exude. How do you keep up? Here are some personal tips on how to stay ahead.

1. Start with yourself: Give yourself a complete image makeover so that you are seen as fashionable and re-energised. The best way to do this is to upgrade your clothes and stationery such as cards and flyers. All this should reflect the new you.

2. Get a new address if necessary: At times, you may find that the place you operate from has become inaccessible and boring. Some addresses will give you more clout and prestige especially if you are in an image-conscious business.

3. Change your networking style: Look for new and different clients.

4. Become computer and internet savvy: Many entrepreneurs have made fortunes by simply going online. Once you decide to rebrand yourself, an online image and profile will boost your chances because people will Google your website.

5. Be seen: Do not allow people to forget about you as long as you are in business. Pop into offices every now and then to remind them that you still exist. If this is not physically possible, you may send emails and texts every so often.

6. Plan: If you have been in the diaspora for a long time and wish to re-settle, start doing it at least a year before you come back. Do it through the Internet by reaching as many people as possible. This way, when you finally get back, several people will have heard of you and you will not be starting from scratch.

7. Throw a coming out party: In Europe, when people are coming out of retirement to go back to active work or business, they often host a coming out party where people in their respective industries are invited. You may wish to carry out a variation of this by hosting a dinner or cocktail where you present your new ideas and visions to several industry players at one go.