Being the Mother of your own re-invention in business AND in life starts with the above action. Short + Sweet = Success.
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Branding yourself happy (and connected).
I was in New York for various meetings (and a little bit of fun) last week.
Getting out is a going in; it works wonders every single time.
It was a great time!
New York. Photo from the back of Mario Andretti’s taxi.
The anonymity that comes with travel has always sparked a clarity and creativity in me that, in my opinion is unparalleled (travel and creativity are linked; a study). Come to think of it, this is why I’ve been inspired to pick-up and move six times in ten years (yes, you read that right).
I love change, I dig re-invention and live for getting out to see the world and its people (our people, really) and I find great value in sharing all of this with my family. The above illustration shows all the cities we’ve lived since 2001.
In my time on the planet, I’ve come realize that at the core of humanity is a desire to be seen. Really being seen. We hear the words unconditional love or respect used to describe this phenomenon. The ways we get there (to really see someone), of course, are taking the time, being focused on repeating that time taken and ~ as often as we can ~ truly being in the moment.
The way we are seen is by showing more of who we are, no matter what. No matter what we think someone will feel or say about us. No matter what our very own judgements or conditioning says (and no matter how loudly the mind screams it).
Being seen, of course, is not about the limelight, a stage or a being behind a camera. It’s about being seen for all that we are and for the value this brings; the positive ripple effect our uniqueness has on all come into contact with. You (yes you) have touched so many lives, personally and professionally. And there’s probably so many more you don’t know even know about yet…
Branding, in fact, is about that; seeing the whole you. And touching others with your true and meaningful story. I like to say branding helps you be seen for how haute you really are; the true value you bring.
Our connection with our humanity and that around us, no matter if traveling afar, under our own roof or while sitting across from a client is about doing this: seeing the whole person. Taking the time to slow down enough produces a magic that not only fosters individual happiness but, in turn, a collective peace in the world. Mother Theresa said that in order to grow world peace we needed to go home and love our families. It’s true. And I’d add seeing people for all that they are versus just a sum of their moving parts.
Helping a woman brand herself/her business, in my opinion, is creating this space. Helping unlock her authenticity, go public with it (can you imagine) and communicate it throughout all she does (can you IMAGINE). giggle
This process, at the core, is a coming back to self most marketing or branding experts don’t discuss. It’s something that, back in my advertising days, wasn’t discussed either. Though branding huge corporations “human” is done all the time, the conversations weren’t exactly like the one here. I do feel, however, branding is more about self-development, visibility and expression than it is about sales, growing a business or helping you with your marketing. It does those things too but it’s deeper than that. (we don’t call it an archaeological dig for nothing)
So, how to brand yourself/how to be happy (they’re one of the same):
• Gives ourselves permission to be ~ tada ~ ourselves.
• Practice/DO the unique act, over and over again.
• Grow the ability ~ being able to then work, act, talk, write from this powerful place no matter the situation or pull is to be different or fit within the box society creates for us.
If you own a business, here are three things you can do right now to create a more haute, heartful and human brand; one that connects with your ideal audience in a meaningful way. If you don’t have a business, here’s how to be happy and how to have better, more rewarding relationships:
• Share your story…not just on a static page on your website but often and in different times (and often) on your blog and newsletters.
• Find out what that authentic yet slightly unexpected you “thing” is. You’re an acupuncturist who is a foodie: that’s not unexpected, per say, but if you’re a lighthearted, funny and sarcastic tell-it-like-it-is acupuncturist like a recent client of mine, you could call yourself “the doc with bite” and use that unexpected piece about yourself to then create all the copy and design pieces for your brand.
• Share your pain. A level of honesty and relate creates connection points that genuinely and authentically move your ideal clients closer to you…whether it’s opting into your list, picking up the phone to call for a consultation or deciding to work with you.
It’s so easy to get sucked into the “professional” trap; only say or do this, only share that much and the same goes with our personal lives, sometimes even with close friends. We don’t allow a richer connection to be created when connection is what brands us happy…successful.
Get out of your head; get out of your own way, be yourself.
And this brings us full circle to travel. Travel help us do this. It helps us tune into more of who we naturally are and what we’re authentically searching for in life.
Authenticity is definitely the new black. Haute!
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Faith is your shot of wheat grass…
Make faith in yourself your religion…
Faith in ourselves as entrepreneurs and business-owners is vital. In fact, if you’re visual like me, I see a shot of wheat grass, espresso, cup of joe or cup of fresh-squeezed OJ going in…
We must drink it in (faith in ourselves, our power) every single day.
Particularly, every single morning because tuning into this faith is the life juice to getting what we want. It’s the life juice in growing our businesses… (and by the way, if you’re wondering if you can grow the business/brand to what you want…yes, yes you can!).
If this faith doesn’t exist first thing, the glass will continue to seem half empty all day long (that’s a long day). What you think about not only grows but attracts more of the same.
What you think about not only grows but attracts more of the same.
The way we get there:
First, recognize what you’re currently waking up thinking..”What am I thinking about right now?” It’s the seed that grows.
Second, if you don’t like the answer, ask yourself, how do I shift this? And ~ stay long enough to hear the answer…
Take action immediately.
What are you waking up drinking in? (tip #11 in this video series shares a similar topic:
What would you like to feed and grow in you versus what’s been your drink of choice lately?
Good.
Now, let’s hit repeat on that question and awareness each morning; drink it in. Get your groove on.
Thoughts from the Dalai Mama…
This article is 150% inspired by my clients as of late…their haute fearlessness. And this is not just in branding or marketing themselves or their businesses but in living their happiest lives truly doing what they love.
This never goes out of style.
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What would SHE do?
What would that woman do? (as in the YOU one year, two years and five years down the line)
When you think of the woman you want to become, what does she say to herself?
We are what we think about most of the time…
Would she focus on her accomplishments or her course corrections? Her trip-ups or the two steps forward she made after that door closed?
Celebrating our accomplishments, no matter how small, helps create more of what we want. Focusing, excessively, on what’s left to do or the opportunity “missed” creates more of what we don‘t want. It’s just the way it works and it’s not just yogis, the motivational speakers, the life coaches, the business coaches or inherently happy who say it…
When we celebrate and acknowledge all we’ve done and where we are now as a result, we allow for the making of additional space emotionally that allows for more of the same goodness to come in. And when we hit repeat and do this as a constant practice is when we truly give ourselves permission to not only receive success in our business but to live our best life.
We get what we focus on most of the time.
Let’s get real; you have gotten so far and there have been so many successes.
Focus on those things.
• Focus on having done the deed. On moving past the fear.
• Celebrate immediately having done it. No matter the outcome.
• Write down the top three things you learned from the experience (whether the full outcome you wanted presented itself or not). Leave that card or post-it in plain sight for at least one week afterwards. It will lessen the propensity to focus on the “not getting it.”
• Repeat.
We are what we think about most of the time.