If you are satisfied with the results you are now getting, why change? If you are not satisfied, why not experiment? Dale Carnegie
This quote is from Dale Carnegie’s breakthrough book, How to Win Friends and Influence People , that I read as a teenager. Published in 1936 it is credited as being one of the first self-help books written. It is also one of the first manifestos on developing your potential and presence and its writings and philosophy are still practiced today.
To step into your potential, perhaps you should consider his quote and experiment with evolving your personal brand.
These last few years will be recollected in history as a time of considerable change and uncertainty throughout the world. However, we do know that change brings challenges and opportunities.
If you want to change and revive your personal brand to create new opportunities, here is a checklist that may help.
Collate. Before you move forward you need to gather intelligence, i.e. data and research from current and former clients and even competitors. Can you set up conversations or do an online survey with your clients and any stakeholders such as suppliers and industry personnel to find out what is working and what is not currently right now. What are they needing right now? Where are their pain points? Analyse your business and see where most work or leads comes from – what are they requesting and what social media is resonating?
The only way on earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it. Dale Carnegie
Creativity. Once you know what problems exist either in their business or your own, you need to innovate to solve that problem. Tapping into your creativity is one way to find solutions. Perhaps it may simply be a new way of saying what you do or reframing what you do to make it sound more exciting or relevant.
If you are looking at developing a new product or service, carefully scope out what you want to do. Think of every possibility, even those you don’t want to explore at present. No project is near perfect in the beginning and often needs many tweaks but go ahead anyway and improve and evolve as you go along.
Another fabulous book I read many years ago, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron looks at many ways to explore and unearth your own creativity.
You need to look and listen for areas of need and always be open to ideas.
Communication. Spread the message of your new and invigorated personal brand and create awareness of what you offer. I saw Gary Vaynerchuk the well-known personal brand and marketing expert on stage a few years ago and he said, “You don’t have to constantly create content – curate. By that he means talk to your audience constantly about who you are, what you are doing, give tips, share ideas, share photos and videos and provide an authentic insight into you and your brand.”
“You must work every day to captivate and stay relevant to customers to grow your audience,” he adds.
Celebrate. Take time to acknowledge your wins, however big or small and realize that to stay ahead of the curve, you must make change before change is required.
That is what every successful person loves: the game. The chance for self-expression. The chance to prove his or her worth, to excel, to win. Dale Carnegie
Learn more about your personal brand in my free video series Your Nook, Look, Hook, 3 Steps to Build a Stand Out Personal Brand
Sue Currie is a speaker and the author of IMPRESSario, Present and Promote the Star Within You. She is passionate about helping business executives and entrepreneurial professionals elevate their personal brand, image and professional presence. Sue’s suite of services delivered through workshops, consulting, coaching and keynote presentations provides a multi-faceted approach to gain high transformation for her clients.
