Archives for June 2011

Healthy Body, Healthy Brand

June 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Healthy Body, Healthy BrandThe other day I sat down to do some work.  I had actually scheduled this time a week earlier and reserved a private room at the library so I wouldn't be disturbed.  I had assessed my priorities days before and already knew exactly on what I was going to work.  I was really excited and proud to have planned, prepared and followed through with my goal.  However, about twenty minutes after I started to work, I completely lost steam.  I lost my energy and concentration and the ideas and words just stopped flowing.  I was so frustrated I finally packed it in and left.

The problem was I was TIRED and HUNGRY. Time is such a precious resource when you are an entrepreneur with a family  and to have wasted this opportunity was infuriating.   We had had a very busy weekend with lots of commitments and in the mix of things, I had failed to take care of my number one business asset, my body.  Without the proper sleep and nutrition I could not do my job.  

Fortunately for me, this was an isolated incident.  I know how important a healthy body is so I make it a priority to take care of myself.  As an entrepreneur YOU are the business, YOU are your brand.  If you are not in tip top condition your business suffers.  You do not have the energy to go that extra mile, your creativity suffers, your looks suffer and your mood plummets.  Not exactly a formula for success. 

Between the myriad tasks of running a business and the unending demands of family life it can be easy to put your needs last.  This is a huge mistake.  If your well is empty you have nothing to give.  You must make your health your number one priority.  However, it is not enough to just say your health is your priority, you must also take ACTION.  Here a few tips:

1.  PLAN and SCHEDULE your workouts for the weekon the weekend.  Be as specific as possible.  What time will you workout?  How long will  you workout?  What exercises will you do?  Cardio, how long?  Weights, how many reps?  The more specific you can be in planning, the easier it will be to follow-through.

2. PLAN what you will eat.  If you know what you are going to eat ahead of time it takes the stress out of making healthy choices, plus it forces you to actually buy the things you want so they are there when you are hungry.

3.  PLAN to get enough rest and go to bed around the same time each night.  Set your watch or phone alarm or set a reminder on your computer if you work at night to a time 1/2 hour before your bedtime to promt you to start winding down.

4.  PLAN and SCHEDULE some down time for your brain every day.  As entrepreneurs we are constantly thinking of the next thing that needs to get done or the trying to come up with the next great idea.  If you do not give your brain a chance to relax and recharge you will actually be less productive and creative.  Read a non-business book, meditate, people watch, even stare off into space. Just stop thinking.

I'm sure you notice a pattern here.  Good health does not happen as an after thought.  You must plan and prepare for it, commit to it and take action. If that seems hard for you, think of it as a business investment because it will truly pay off. 

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June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Happy Father's Day to all you great dads!

http://www.clearvoicebranding.com/2011/06/happy-fathers-day-to-all-you-great-dads/

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Brand my Style

June 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you've ever struggled with what to wear, you are not alone.  Many people go into their closets, see their inventory of choices and just don't know what to put on.  They are unsure.  It's not always because they are unskilled at putting ensembles together, it often has more to do with how they are feeling.  "What do I want to wear today?"  "I don't feel like getting dressed up."  "It's not worth the effort." "I want to feel comfortable."  "I want something to make me feel happy?"  "Does this make me look pretty?"

While using your daily emotional barometer as a tool for choosing how to dress isn't necessarily as bad thing, I would suggest it is not the most effective way of creating a powerful impact with your appearance.  A better way to approach the decision of what to wear on a daily basis is to think of your brand and your projected goals.  Ask yourself "How do I want to be seen?" "What impression do I want to make on my customers?"  "What do I stand for?"  "What are my career goals?"  "What kind of people do I want to attract into my life?"  

When you start to think about these bigger questions it shifts how you make your daily decisions.  If you, for example, say your brand is sophisticated and modern and you want people to see you as a leader and a forward thinker, you will be less inclined to reach for faded jeans the next time you get dressed to meet a colleague for coffee.  Or perhaps your goal is to become known as the go-to person for financial planning in your community.  Next time you reach for something in your closet, ask yourself "Would you trust your finances to this person?"  If you are dishevelled or dressed too casually you may be repelling the very people you are trying to attract.

It may feel like what I'm suggesting is over thinking, however, it actual simplifies the process of choosing what to wear.  Instead of following the roller coaster of emotions we all go through, you can ask yourself one simple question.  "Does this reflect my brand and serve my goals?"   The trick, of course, is knowing what your brand is and where you want to go.  When you do, everything else becomes more simple, including getting dressed every morning.

Filed Under: Image Management Tagged With: , ,

You don’t get paid to sing in the shower.

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We all love to sing in the shower.  One reason is because the acoustics are awesome. Your voice pings off the tiles and the sound of the rushing water usually makes just enough noise to block out any tiny imperfections in an otherwise Met-worthy tone.   More than likely though, the real reason most people love it so much is because it’s one of the few places they can let it rip with complete abandon.  There is no audience to make us feel self-conscious or judge us.  However, there is also no one there to pay us for our killer vocals or spread the word about spectacular performance.

If you are not effectively getting your message out about your business you are doing the equivalent of singing in the shower.  You may feel all the courage in the world writing your business plan, dreaming up your big goals, or designing a your beautiful new website, but unless you get out in front of people and show them what you can do, you are an audience of one.   It can feel scary to step out and say “Here I am. This is what I do and I do it well, so well in fact, that you should pay me for my talents.”  However, the alternative to taking this risk is remaining isolated in a stagnant business.  Here are a few tips to get over your stage fright.

1.  Practice.  If you are nervous about launching your business or introducing a new product or service, find a practice audience.  Find a friend of friendly client who will be encouraging, but also give you feedback on your performance so you can improve any weaknesses.  Nothing builds confidence like experience.

2.  Remember your big WHY.  How do young marines find the courage to put their lives on the line in battle?  They can do it because they are committed to their mission and believe in the value of their contribution.  When you know why you are in business and believe in your unique value of promise you are more able to move forward despite any temporary discomfort.

3.  Be a copycat.  When we want to know how to wear the latest styles most of us pick up a magazine to see how the celebrities are doing it.  We learn by watching and copying.  If you feel nervous about putting yourself out there, find a few examples of people who you think do it well and emulate them.  What mannerisms do they have, how do they dress, how do they speak?  Even as infants we learn to eat, walk and talk by watching our parents.  Choose a virtual mentor and copy them.

4. Fake it til you make it.  Have you ever heard of method acting?  The basic idea is that you do an action and the emotion follows.  For example, if you need to cry for a scene, you make a sad face and you begin to feel sad.  This may be a gross generalization, but the idea is the same for creating more chutzpah for yourself.  Act “as if” you feel confident. Stand taller, smile more, act “as if” you are the most expert in your field.  People will respond to in turn which will boost your confidence.  It is a positive cycle which you can leverage.

You may not be ready for the Met just yet, but if you keep practicing, keep your goals in front of you, and act as if you deserve to be on the stage, you will find your audience and they will applaud you for your efforts.

Filed Under: Projecting your Voice Tagged With: , ,

Find your light.

June 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Find your lightWhen I was in high school I auditioned for the school production of "Fiddler on the Roof".  I remember the audition process very clearly as each girl sang and danced hoping to get the part of one of the daughters.  After our initial solo, the director would put us together in different group combinations to see how our voices sounded together, how we looked and moved together.  I remember watching some of the other groups audition and I noticed there were times when one or another of the girls would sort of disappear on stage because they moved out of the range of the lighting.  When it was my turn I paid very close attention to that light and made sure I never moved out of it.

Since then, I have done many, many shows and I know the importance of finding your light.  At high level professional companies they have lighting rehearsals where all you do is walk around the stage while they sets the lights.  It's so important. I'm sure we've all seen shows where someone moves out of their spot light.  They just disappear.

You do not want to disappear in the market place.  You need to be visible.  There a many platforms these days to express your brand and let the world know about your brilliant services or your superior product.  However, no one will know about it if you don't step forward.  If you just sit back and wait for your clients and customers to find you, you will be disappointed.  You may have the best widget in the world, but unless you promote it you will fade into the background.  You need to be bold, find your light and step into it.  You want to be the one your audience notices, not someone else. 

By the way, I won the part of Hodel that year. It wasn't the biggest moment in my singing career, but it was a very big lesson to learn that has paid off many times in many ways.  It can work for you too.

Filed Under: Winning Strategies Tagged With: , ,