Wouldn’t it be great if all you had to do to create the best brand ever was to just be yourself? This can be your reality. Creating a brand that your client’s will resonate with instantly doesn’t have to be an expensive, difficult project. All the ingredients you need came factory installed!
As Michael Port says in Book Yourself Solid – “The greatest strategy for personal and business development on the planet is bold self-expression.”
Everyone wants to be fully self-expressed, however it’s not always that easy…
How often do you catch yourself thinking, “What will they think?”, “What if they don’t like me?”, “I should act more like ___________ or do __________”.
Giving validity to these self-censoring questions can put a thin veneer of normal, aka boring, on the branding of your business. To create a memorable, authentic, one-of-a-kind brand, all you have to do is be your memorable, authentic, one-of-a-kind self!
How do you discover your memorable, authentic, one-of-a-kind self? Here are several exercises to discover your most self-expressed state.
1. List the times when you feel your best. What are you doing? Who are you with? How are you behaving?
Often when you are having the most fun and feeling the most comfortable, you’re being your most authentic and natural self.
2. Ask close friends, family, and clients what are your most memorable traits?
People who are close to us often see us in a different light than we see ourselves. You might be surprised at what shines through you.
3. What have you been good at or enjoyed since childhood?
In your childhood you were free of “shoulds” and social pressure, what elements of your youthful self would you like to resurrect?
4. If you believed in destiny or your soul being sent here for a specific purpose what would yours be?
When you connect to your life’s purpose, you will have all the motivation and drive you’ll need to accomplish anything!
When you are fully self-expressed in your business, you attract clients and customers who are like you. They will resonate with you at a deep level, creating a quality relationship and brand loyalty.
Don’t worry if those pesky negative voices start to surface. Whenever you feel those self-censoring voices creeping in that’s the perfect time to let your true self shine through. Ignore the voices and be yourself!
If you have reservations about being fully self-expressed, think of some of your role models or people you look up to. Contemplate what draws you to these individuals. Most of the time, it’s their personality quirks, their idiosyncrasies, and the feeling you get when you’re around them. You like them. You feel that they are authentic, real, and they usually possess a quality you would like to see more of in yourself. These people are often simply being their true selves.
You have that power – it’s in you.
So, as you can see, self-expression is the key to developing an authentic, memorable, and profitable brand. Complete the exercises above and put your answers into practice. Everyday, ask yourself – “how can I express my true self a little more today?” You’ll soon have an authentic, memorable and profitable brand
- Brilliant Branding Made Easy - May 2, 2012
