How to Make 13 A Lucky Number For Your Brand

January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“You’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?’–Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry

Doesn’t it seem like some people are born with a horseshoe over their head? Good things just seem to come their way. Ah, if only you could tap into some of their good fortune…

Perhaps some people are just born lucky, but for the rest of us, we have to make our own. The good news is, you don’t have to carry a rabbit foot in your pocket to turn the tides in your favor. Here are a few tips to make 2013 your luckiest year yet: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Success Strategies Tagged With: , ,

5 Tips for Stripping for Success.

December 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This is the time of year when everyone looks back on the good, the bad and the ugly of the past year. We review the top 10 news events, sports events, movies and songs. Some things thrilled us and some things floored us. It can be fun to reminisce, and it also a gives us an opportunity to understand what is working and what isn’t in our lives and businesses.

The past gives us the clues we need to make better decisions moving forward. The problem for most of us though, is we tend not to change our behavior or change it enough to elicit a different outcome. In order to get real traction, we need to be willing to let go of things, but this can be difficult and scary.

All too often, we look at a situation we know isn’t perfect, perhaps we have a difficult client or vendor, but instead of addressing what needs to be changed, we trudge along in the same manner and tolerate the results. Next year at this time we will be thinking the exact same thing, “I really should do something about this situation.”

When you carry forward those things which aren’t working, you lose time, money and FUN! You may not even realize how much these irritants are weighing you down until you get rid of them.  When you do strip away what’s not optimal, you create a more streamlined, on-brand and enjoyable business.

 To help you lose your inhibitions about stripping down, here are a few tips: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Authentic Branding, Bold Branding, Success Strategies Tagged With: , ,

“Free your mind, and the rest will follow…”

July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

"Free your mind, and the rest will follow..."I LOVE summer.  I do not like summer, I LOVE it.  Despite the inch-thick layer of gooey sunscreen I have to wear, despite the bozo-esque hair I sport after a dip in the pool, I still think summer rocks.  It’s the one time of the year when all my kids are free at the same time.  We don’t have to be at gymnastics, girl scouts or soccer.  We are free to rome and explore and do as we please.

One of my favorite things to do on these steamy days is take the kids on mini-adventures.  We explore different parts of the city, a new beach or a new restaurant.  Last weekend we went into the North End of Boston and had pizza, gelato and a carousel ride.  I find after these little outings my mind feels freer and I have many more creative ideas.  I also often find myself adapting or incorporating something from these experiences into my routine when I return home.  This time it happened to be a wonderful watermelon and basil salad, yum.

Summer is a great time to re-energize your brand too.  Things are not as rigid and structured as the rest of the year.  It’s easier to try something new.  I’m not talking about radically changing who you are or what you stand for, but rather opening up to new possibilities that feel exciting and authentic.  New exposures and experiences can give our brands new life and greater depth.

So next time you find yourself meandering through an exotic spice shop or people watching on a park bench, don’t chastise yourself for not being behind your desk.  Just think of it as a working vacation.  See you on the beach!

Filed Under: Personal Branding Tagged With: , ,