I had an amazing time this past Monday and Tuesday attending the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in Philadelphia. The two day shindig started off with a small business bootcamp Monday, with the amazing Tori Johnson of Spark & Hustle, followed by a full day of career and business workshops on Tuesday. The ever-amazing Gloria Steinham gave the keynote luncheon address on fear, unity and human nature, and Marion Jones on the importance of “taking a break” when life and career get to be too much.

Many of the lessons I’ve learned myself were reaffirmed, and I also walked away with some fab ideas for my own business and for my clients. If I could sum it up briefly (which will be hard), here are my top take-aways for aspiring entrepreneurs and careeristas:

Your Brand is Your Story
Creating your brand as a business or a job seeker is all about telling your story – what are your defining moments in your career or business that make you the perfect person to do what you do?

A Support Network is Key
Surround yourself with people who make you push yourself harder, and keep you motivated and focused on your core values and purpose.

Be Marketable
Have something to say and be willing to package it and say it in a way that your target audience can understand and relate to.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive. But You Do Have to Ask.
In the words of the uber fabulous Lena West, “If you don’t A-S-K, you don’t G-E-T”.

Never Take Your Eye off the Wisdom
Educate yourself on what your competition is doing, so you can position yourself differently. But remember that competition is irrelevant. People might offer or do what you do, but “no one can do YOU”. -Melinda Emerson

If You Don’t Feel Confident, Fake It
To be a successful business and a successful brand, you have to believe 100% in your value. “If you don’t feel it inside, then fake it, says fashion diva Liz Lange. “Live with the discomfort.”