Primacy essentially means that we believe the first thing we learn. Primacy is the reason first impressions matter.

This is the moment when your quirks get to shine. What appealing aspects of your background, your work process, your life story, and your personality (the sky’s the limit!) help you stand out from others?

In the past, your career success was related to focusing on your role, function, and department. Today, success requires that you be a company brand ambassador and megaphone, even if you’re not going to stay with that company for more than a few years.

Analyze the audience who will be present. What are their perspectives? What are the hot buttons when it comes to this topic? Who’s the key decision maker?

Intriguing. Not the kind of dramatic intrigue you’d get in a John Grisham novel, but the kind that makes people want to know more about you.

Research job listings. Find at least five job listings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and so on for the role you have, and five for the role you seek to have (remember, personal branding is both authentic and aspirational). Then look for the keywords these listings have in common.

Although you might expect CEOs to be the most prominent and polished online presences because of the opportunities they have to visible, it’s not the case. It’s the younger generations—those who grew up with their fingers attached to keys and their heads gazing at their mobile devices—who are most visible online.

A 2018 study by Olivet University revealed that 76 percent of people think mentors are important, yet only 37 percent of people currently have one.

Just as with most messes, there are two ways to clean it up.