Why you? better yet ~ Why NOT you?
Enjoy your business, enjoy your life.
This was written especially for the women who just completed my group branding course ‘Create a Charismatic Brand that POPS and Profits’. Thank yourselves for the spirit, drive and dedication you showed throughout these six weeks! It was a powerful way to show up for your life, your vision and your goals. I have such gratitude for each of you.
Living in LA, I see celebs often. And recently with the launch of my Walking Momtra radio show (soon to debut!), celebrities have been top of mind as I’ve reached out to some to be a part of the show. Just today I had renowned celebrity yogi trainer, Kristin McGee (www.kristinmcgee.com), on to talk about re-invention and happiness on and off the mat. She talked of Tina Fey and it cemented this thought for me…
…those actresses who embody and really believe in the message they’re delivering are wonderful examples of how we can believe in and embody our brands.
When we believe in our vision (our “new story”) we must also fully accept and embrace the lines, moves and action steps that GO with that vision.
And, in order to create the brand we know ourselves to be (in order to LIVE the lives we want to live) we must first start by getting to know this new story intimately.
THIS is exactly the reason we go through the branding process: to do an archaeological dig on ourselves. To un-cover the story. The drive which I also call the “internal audit.” The branding process turns up these fabulous relics we’ve let be buried for way too long. And it all starts with…permission. Then, play, just like the actresses do it.
When we do this we not only find our new story (out with the old) but we find our purpose, our message to the world and how to build a sustainable and authentic BRAND around that message.
Branding is so much more than branding…oh yes, and you’ll un-cover that too.
I joke that I have a love affair with the word YES. You too? If I can think it and dream it, I’ll do it (find a way how)…no matter how much my knees are knocking on that skinny branch. And even if I trip on the way to doing new things like writing that first book (meeting with my editor today!) or reaching out to our first agent (soon!), re-branding etc that’s ok…
…we are strong, capable women who can brand bruising sexy if we need to (insert laugh). Falling, tripping, making “mistakes” are all STILL getting us closer to our goal. I think we forget imperfection is where it’s at. It’s where our human experience is at and, like the thrill of a roller coaster ride, it’s also what makes life so worth living. We don’t think it so much in the moment but I think that’s where, as successful women we can be moving towards: thinking of a fall as a “good thing” even in the moment. This is a practice to engage in daily…picking ourselves up, dusting off and moving on. If you think about it, it’s the only option if you want what you want ~ a big life with little to no regret.
Here is my yogi formula for how to help the knees knocking/stepping on that skinny branch syndrome (the more comfortable with being “uncomfortable”, the larger success we shall see):
• Get into the growth mindset which says that there is always “failure” en route to our goals…when it happens, nod (you knew she might have been coming) and move on as quickly as possible. Just think of everything you’ve done and accomplished: you are resilient. No reason to stop here. You gotta play the full game to the last inning! And, just like in yoga, if you fall, make loud noises en route to a new pose…we all forgive you. We are on the same path. We want to try new, big, bold moves too.
• Keep your eyes on your own mat. The way your knees are knocking is almost exactly the same as the way her knees are knocking. However, your path is not the same. The way YOU do business, create your programs, speak on stage and deliver your message is your own…and so resist the urge to copy people…copy principles. That fire and desire you have inside to do the big, new scary things? It means you’re supposed to do them! And do them authentically. If that means not doing online marketing because you don’t feel right or doing it in a new and unique (YOU) way then so be it. We need more diversity in the marketplace! Just like in yoga, if we watch someone else as we are also trying to hold a pose, we fall or waver (maybe even injure ourselves), the same can happen in business. But we hurt something much more meaningful than maybe our physical bodies when we copy people inside our beloved business: we hurt ourselves emotionally. Keep your eyes on your own mat…trust that greater success is coming if you let your uniqueness, genius and quirky side out. Do the big thing you’re thinking about and DO IT YOUR WAY.
• Focus that drishti (your focus/gaze)…modify now if you have to! Focus on those things every day that will get you closer to your big vision and goals. Ask yourself “Is this project/action/email/web surfing/reaching out inching me (quantum leaping) me to my vision of speaking on stages/of publishing my first book/of taking on huge clients etc???”…and if it’s not, be wise, be your own guru and modify! Time is a finite commodity and just as when we’re in a yoga class and we see others doing a pose we don’t feel like doing in that moment and so we modify…our entrepreneur lives need to be fed the same. We need to take an honest survey of what we’re about to do each day then modify in that very moment. Simple? Yes. Powerful. 150%.
With that, enjoy your business, enjoy your life!
How do you know if you’re building a business (a brand) with personality? (I can’t share this enough and with all the new ladies we’ve had join the international community lately I felt it timely to mention again…)
Ask yourself if you are doing these things each time you are creating/communicating:
Is what I’m creating/doing right now UNIQUE?
Is it AUTHENTIC?
Is it relevant/talkeable/shareable?
(all three must be in working order with everything you create)
Also, make sure to check in with your top two to three (max) values; what are they?
Remember that as the founder of your business you make up the brand. Getting clear around your values and injecting them into everything you do in the business is trés important. This will be how your clients and potential clients experience you…through your top 2-3 values. Business through values. Isn’t that nice? It’s my love.
I call it branding but you can call it the work around creating a connected business. We all have it in us.
Enjoy injecting more and more personality (and depth!) into your brand.