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👏 Today, in 5 Minutes or Less, you’ll Learn

• The value propositions from companies like Apple and Nike and why they work.

• How to write a business value proposition for yourself using this step-by-step guide.

🧐 Did you Know?

Can you identify these companies by their value proposition?

(Answer at the end)

1. Where all athletes belong

2. The smartest way to get around

3. Start your own online store quickly and easily

What’s in a Value Proposition?

A value proposition is a statement of how a company differentiates itself from its competitors.

For example, the Apple iPhone (The experience is the product), Krug Champagne (You never forget your first sip), and Rolex (longevity, reliability, continuity) have value propositions focused on the product being uniquely better, if not the best.

In contrast, Walmart (Everyday low prices) and Southwest Airlines (Low fares. Nothing to hide. That's TransFarency!) have value propositions focused on minimizing the lowest cost for customers.

A value proposition is a promise of value, highlighting the unique benefits and solutions your offering provides to address specific customer needs and pain points. If you were a company, what would your value proposition be?

Why Do Companies Need a Value Proposition?

To boost customer acquisition and attract new customers by clearly communicating the value of their product or service. What makes you unique and passionate?

A value proposition reminds existing customers why they chose that company, reinforcing the value they receive and increasing customer retention. What makes people want to keep working with you? What problem do you solve? How do you make people's lives better?

It improves brand awareness by helping customers understand what the company offers and stands for. What do you stand for? How do you make it easy for people to understand what they get by choosing you?

Making the case for choosing a product helps drive sales and revenue and encourages more conversions. What are the intangible benefits you provide? Things like trust, inspiration, or community.

For employees, it guides and aligns everyone on the core offering and how they contribute to it. How do you make a positive difference in people's lives? What stories can your supporters share about your impact?

Why You Need a Personal Value Proposition (PVP)

Your personal value proposition is how you want people to see you. It's how you define the distinctive value you bring to your career. 

With the clarity of a PVP, it's easy to build authentic relationships and ultimately realize your goals. It helps others understand who you are and what you stand for and allows others to speak accurately on your behalf when you’re not in the room, which is your most potent influence.

A Guide to Writing Your Personal Value Proposition

🙄 1. What are Your Selling Points? 

What's a brand that you think favorably about? What makes it attractive? For example: Reliable, luxurious, bleeding edge technology, instantly recognizable, “ultimate driving machine” BMW.  What makes you attractive to employers and clients?

😼 2. Put yourself in the customer or employer's shoes.

Notice the times you performed at your very best. What were you doing? Ask others which attributes they have seen you display. When people recognize when you’re performing, this is you at your most valuable.

👉️ 3. Identify Your Differentiation 

Ask yourself these questions and determine what drives you:

1. What motivates you to get up in the morning and go to work?

2. What is the "one thing" that everyone says you rock at?

3. What skills or talents are you most proud of?

4. What kind of tasks or projects energize you?

5. Will you still be interested in this particular area six months or a year from now?

6. Ten years from now, what do you want to have contributed to the world?

7. What are the things that define how you make things happen? 

8. What skills are you curious about but have yet to build?

9. What do the people you most admire have in common?

Example: A project manager needs to do these things:-

• Manage the evolution of a product that leads the industry

• Identify the value the market needs

• Develop and manage project requirements

• Meet Deadlines

• Stay within budget

Example: This project manager is different because:-

• Highly Qualified: Has PMP from PMI or Six Sigma

• Valuable Experience: From a compliance background, which allows them to manage risk

• Influential: Excellent presenting skills at C-level to external clients and board members.

🤑 4. How to Apply This

Put the findings from your research into this sentence structure to create a finished PVP statement.

I am a _________, and my specialty is helping ________ achieve _______. 

I do this by _______. 

I have been successful because of my _______. 

What’s unique about me/my approach is  _________.

Example: Project Manager PVP

Draft: I am a project manager focused on software projects in Financial Services, driving them to be completed on time and within budget. I have been successful because of my exceptional analytical, problem-solving, planning, and communication skills. I also use agile and waterfall methods. What’s unique about me is that I am 6 Sigma certified, so I focus on process improvement and have a compliance background to focus on risk management. I am a skilled communicator, providing  C-level presentations and liaising between tech staff and business leaders.

Final: “From risk mitigation to agile execution, I deliver high-impact Financial Services software projects on time and within budget, leveraging 6 Sigma, compliance, and clear communication across all levels.”

Example: Design Director PVP

Final: I humanize technology for growth, unlocking 15% higher user engagement through strategic design leadership and collaborative teams.

Draft: I am a strategic design leader passionate about human-centered experiences. My specialty is helping technology companies bridge the gap between user needs and business goals. I do this by fostering cross-functional collaboration and building high-performing design teams. I have been successful because of my strong leadership skills, deep understanding of business objectives, and proven track record of driving impactful design solutions. What's unique about me is my ability to translate complex technical concepts into intuitive and engaging user experiences that resonate with target audiences and propel business growth.

Example: Principal Designer PVP

Final: I drive impactful product adoption for startups and scale-ups by crafting elegant, data-informed experiences that 2x engagement through iterative design.

Draft: I am a data-driven design champion obsessed with creating elegant solutions to real problems. My specialty is helping startups and scale-ups ignite user adoption and drive meaningful product engagement. I do this by leveraging user data and design research to inform every step of the design process. I have been successful because of my proactive approach, iterative design methodology, and ability to measure and iterate on design decisions for maximum impact. My unique blend of creative vision and analytical rigor allows me to create visually stunning and functionally practical experiences that stand out in the competitive tech landscape.

💥 The Short Of It

Standing out in a tech landscape buzzing with talent can feel like a Herculean feat. But fear not! Step into your interviewer's shoes: what makes you shine? Identify your "one thing," the skills that make you rock. Ask colleagues and mentors. This introspection is your gold mine.

Stop waiting to be noticed. Take control of your career and stand out with a personal value proposition that screams, "Hire me!" Own it, refine it, and watch your career trajectory soar. 

That’s it for this week!

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With ❤️ from Sally

Answers

1. Nike

2. Uber

3. Shopify

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