Ahh, the brutal truth of self-awareness. Sometimes our best traits, when in over-drive, don’t serve us well.
My Mom said, “if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well” and I heard her! I have lived by it. I don’t like half way – ever. Generally, that works for me and I love pushing myself. But sometimes too much of a good thing sends me right to perfectionism and procrastination. Which is really fear dressed up in 2 different costumes.
And wow – Fear, I am so done with you!
C’mon Brave – let’s get to that party now!
Would you rather be brave or perfect?
Jun
15
What will your brand stand up for?
Both Covid-19 and the racial injustice movement have changed us forever.
We can do better.
I’ve been thinking about just how can we do better.
If we have been changed, surely our personal brands and the brands we work for must change too. We cannot imagine that from here we simply go on as we have.
We have always had choices on which businesses we will support, but now that choice seems more important.
The truly purpose-driven brands have always been more successful. The purpose-driven brands employing people with a personal purpose aligned to the purpose of the company are even more successful.
So why now, when we have been so severely shaken by global events would we support brands that do not support our deepest held beliefs?
We won’t.
To get the attention of the marketplace you want to impact, it is time to declare what you stand for and what your brand will stand up for, and what you will not tolerate. Then find concrete ways to ensure you walk the talk.
If you are looking to be a purpose-driven brand, start by declaring your values. Once considered “fluff”, or a “nice to have”, now your values are a rallying cry, a uniting force, and a source for motivating a team of staff that wants to make a difference. Values are a way to retain and acquire new talent. Values will also be your differentiator in the marketplace.
What would change if you added anti-racism to your values?
What would change if you added well-being to your values?
How would that drive internal and external change? What impact would the results of those actions have?
The time has come to be a purpose-brand. If you need help navigating this impactful way of living and working, let’s work together to make this part of your story.
Forever changed is the silver lining.
Keep going.
Live your story, on purpose.
May
26
The more we talk of the “new normal” the longer we stay tethered to the past.
And let’s face it; the past was not perfect, even though right now we are idolizing it. We did not have it all right then, the economy was still difficult, and we have never been able to go back in time, so why wish to go back now? Obsessing about the past is a lot of backwards energy.
But we are craving something. (Which often includes many trips to the fridge, hmm salty or sweet? 🙂
We are aching for something that will act as our rudder to steer us as we move forward and as we move our business forward.
That rudder is your purpose, both your personal purpose and your corporate purpose.
Dominic Houlder, professor of strategic and entrepreneurial management at London Business School put it bluntly and succinctly:
As business and organizations face stronger crosswinds, purpose becomes even more important, not less so. That’s because the “what” and the “how” of business is changing more frequently in a volatile world. This leaves the purpose, the “why” as the primary compass for navigating key decisions.
There is no shortcut, no magic wand, to wave us through this pandemic, but if we do the hard work and get clear on our purpose and then put our purpose to work, we will have the type of impact we imagined.
Keep going.
P.S. If you would like to get clear on your personal or corporate purpose so that you can have the impact you are looking for, set up a time to call me by clicking below.
May
08
I had a blast as the guest speaker at the WESK Uncorked event last month.
I loved the chatty chat line.
We might not have been able to see each other but we sure knew that each other were there. I soaked up all the vibes like a sponge.
The pandemic has asked us to make mindful, generous, and difficult decisions. There has been very clear language around what we cannot do. And it has worked! We listened.
But when we gather at Uncorked we are there to honour the art of the possible.
So it only seemed natural to flip the “can’t” talk on its head and think about what we “can” do.
I asked listeners to finish this sentence: Now is a great time to …………….
Below are the answers that came flying in faster than we could read them and I can’t resist sharing the main threads of the responses with you:
- Business growth
- Stretching what I can do and be in this world
- Follow the opportunities
- Own a business
- Re-launch
- Re-focus
- Be bold
- Tell your story
- Pivot
- Re-commit to what matters
- Believe in myself
- Be the leader you want to become
- Mentor
- Find my purpose
- Re-invent myself
- Lean in
- Become who you really are
- Personal growth and self-care
- Be grounded in your why
- Brand building
- Hold on to calm
- Get grounded
- Get loud
- Love myself
Can we keep this conversation going?
What resonates for you?
How will you finish the sentence? Now is a great time to…….
topics
- book reviews
- brands
- collaborator
- cool things
- design
- Digital Marketing
- entrepreneurs
- Fun
- FutureProof
- get creative
- great stories
- Growth
- marketing strategies
- marketing tip tuesday
- Mentoring
- Misc.
- our work
- personal branding
- PurposeBrand
- PurposeDriven Leaders
- Random Thoughts
- Retail Education Store
- Stellar Storytellers
- story cafe
- StorySchool
- working remotely
- Workshops