3 Tips to Master Brand Preparation
We agonize over some of the simplest things in our business… why do you think that is? We have incredible fear of failure and if I may be so blunt…there is often EXTREME GUILT! To address some of these issues, I’m offering some of my tips to master brand preparation. “Victory is the the child of preparation and determination”; it’s a quote I found that really speaks to the importance of being prepared.
Think about it, when DO you find yourself most afraid? If you’re like me…it’s when a customer seems unhappy or a deal seems to be going south.
TIP #1 is MASTER THE ART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE: The idea here is to recognize CUSTOMER SERVICE is directly linked to the way your brand is perceived. The preparation required for a positive perception, is in the development of policies and procedures that reflect your brands culture. Customer want to know you have THEIR best interest at heart and are sincerely vested in solving their problems.
TIP #2 is MAINTAIN BRAND CONSISTENCY: Consistency MENTALLY creates trust, but it requires you to tap into your value in an honest way. The preparation required for this tip is in the work it takes to ensure your brand communication (both verbal and non-verbal) speaks AND relates to your customers issues. It’s important for your brand messaging to attract the “know, like, trust” relationships from those you’re targeting.
TIP #3 is MANAGE YOUR GOALS & ANALYTICS: If there’s one thing I know for sure… it’s that you must have goals, they must be quantifiable, and you must manage them through analytics. The preparation required to manage these areas is in creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals and testing, testing, testing. There is no magic bullet to getting the success formula right the first time. Doing business is called a “numbers game” for a reason. Determining the right Marketing Mix formula can only be done by testing different strategies and learning from the analytics gathered in the wake.
Your success is in your preparation and your preparation comes from knowing your value and having the confidence to make decisions based on it. The rapport you build with your customer is the result of being prepared with a brand identity that represents your values, a brand message to which your customers can relate, and the ability to share it authentically. This brings me back to the quote I mentioned at the beginning of this post, “Victory is the the child of preparation and determination”. Have your VICTORY! Be prepared!
I know it can be difficult to get it all done. This is especially difficult if, like me, you’re a one person show. That’s all the more reason to think about your preparation. If you liked this blog post please share your comments below and become a VIP Member.
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How to Persevere and Build and Authentic Brand_BTBTV
In this episode of Be the Brand TV, today you’ll learn The P.E.A.R.L.S of Perseverance. There are lessons waiting for us in every experience. I know my own experiences make me uniquely qualified to share these P.E.A.R.L.S with you and I have the professional and personal results know they’ll help you persevere as you continue on your leadership journey.
Be sure to give it a thumbs up, leave a comment answering the question I ask at the end (I’d love to hear how you persevere in your business/life), and then… as always SHARE & SUBSCRIBE!
5 Perseverance Pitfalls to Avoid Burnout and Overwhelm
Steadfastness – Persistence – tenacity – determination… These are the many ways to say it, but here’s the point: perseverance is a huge factor in building a brand identity that resonates and stands the test of time.
The past few years have been a lesson in perseverance for me, but when I started tackling the task of encouraging & educating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, exposing the community to their needs and equipping employers with the tools needed for a mindset change, I truly understood perseverance.
Today, I want to talk about:
5 Perseverance Pitfalls to Avoid Burnout/Overwhelm
STEADFASTNESS: Under normal circumstances, being steadfast could be interpreted as a positive quality. It’s when one is firm in their belief or unwilling to see the other points of view, that being “steadfast” becomes an issue in business growth (a pitfall).
It doesn’t take much to imagine the loss of a deal because you are too critical of others or closed to the possibility that others may havecc’d constructive feedback.
PERSISTENCE: As a rule, being persistent is also a positive quality for successful entrepreneurs. It meets pitfall standards however, when “I’s” haven’t been dotted and “T’s” haven’t been crossed appropriately. As part of my LEADERSHIP LANDSCAPE, I talk about “living your value”. This is such a small statement, but it packs a HUGE punch. Living your value requires you to actually know what that value is AND be confident in it. The process of discovering/embracing your value is where you’ll begin to identify the “I’s” and “T’s” needing to be appropriately handled during your growth. In identifying them, you’ll establish, what I like to call, CIRCUMSTANCES FOR OPTIMAL SUCCESS. Once you’ve discovered your formula, your persistence will be well directed and you will see the results you’re looking for more often.
TENACITY: tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance. I really liked this definition and wanted to add it to the blog post because adhering or clinging to the WRONG idea or the wrong target audience isn’t going to get you what you want. It’s a valuable quality, tenacity. It’s just one of those qualities that, if read the wrong way, could come across aggressive, pushy, or overbearing. Not too many people want to do business with that guy. It’s what makes it a pitfall.. It’s important to check your personality and do what I call “Manage it’s volume”. I have an outgoing personality and I’ve been told I can be “like a dog with a bone”, but that’s not always good. Depending on the personalities I’m working with, I have to adjust my personality to ensure I’m not coming across in an unintended way. I’ve learned to listen more, absorb what I hear, process, then respond. I find I minimize the tendency to adhere or cling to the wrong things. As a rule, be sure to double and triple check what you’re clinging too and make sure you’re volume is adjusted to the appropriate level to avoid any blowback.
DETERMINATION: In order to succeed, we all have to be determined, right? We act definitively and firmly to achieve our goals. The pitfall here however, is doing so with blinders on. Being oblivious to what’s going on around you can create negative outcomes. Acting with no regard for how you will affect others can result in lost opportunities, being labeled selfish or hard to get along with. These outcomes don’t help you win friends and influence people.
Developing a brand identity through brand authenticity is a way to organize your business so your determination will reflect the true intentions of your actions and attract instead of repel.
Our final pitfall is DISCOURAGEMENT: Whew…. The road to a successful business can be long, hard and lonely at times. There will be days you feel like blowing a gasket, throwing in the towel, banging your head against a wall or ALL OF THE ABOVE, and that’s normal. The difference between those who make it and those who don’t is one gives up and the other gets up every time they fall. Discouragement is the deprivation of confidence. Don’t allow demons like self-doubt, comparing yourself to others, or TIME (feeling like you’re running out of it) to get you discouraged. Tap into your value and love yourself enough to be yourself so you can fuel your confidence. When you believe in the uniqueness of your value, no one compares to you and you’re pity parties won’t last as long as they once did.
Perseverance IS being steadfast, persistent, tenacious, and determined so don’t STOP. Do however, avoid the potential pitfalls described in this blog post AND become a VIP Member. You’ll receive all the goodness only shared with my VIP! Use the form below to get the goods.
REACH UP: A Conversation About Mentoring with Fashion Designer, Sarah Jones_BTBTV
This is a fantastic interview about mentoring where Sarah shares valuable information that answers the questions:
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Why is it important to have a mentor?
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What are some qualities to look for in a mentor?
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What should I be seeking to learn from a mentor?
Be sure to watch until the end because Sarah has a PEARL of a tip that will help make ASKING someone to be your mentor MUCH EASIER!
As always, become a VIP Member HERE to get our weekly Roundup emails. It’s where I share the downloadable materials from the weeks content, interviews and more. You’ll only have access if you’re a VIP Member…
Be sure to “LIKE” this episode, COMMENT with your own tips for finding a mentor, and SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube channel. I’m growing and I want you to grow with me!
YOUR REACH: 3 Directions of Mentoring
In my years of being a small business owner, I’ve realized the importance of my REACH. It has determined the height of my success, the depth of my relationships, and the resilience of my strength. My reach is what pushes me to my most extreme limits, but it’s also been what calms and soothes my fears and anxieties. In this post, I want to explore how your REACH can do the same for you.
Let’s start with UPWARD REACH:
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The first thing I will recommend is to look for someone who is doing what you want to do, the way you want to do it. Let them be your inspiration. I found it is easier to use the examples of others as a starting point, then interpret their style to fit my own. I truly believe in the saying, “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care”. This means it’s important to be yourself in all things (Hence, INSPIRATION. It should always take precedence over IMITATION.
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Mentoring – Finding a mentor is another way I’ve reached up. I have experts in my industry I look to for advice and encouragement. Having someone who has been there and done that to run ideas by, work out frustrations, and/or celebrate accomplishments is necessary to the ultimate goal of success.
In this article from Inc.com titled, 10 Reasons Why a Mentor is a Must, there are 10 solid reasons to consider the concept for yourself. My advice would be, don’t think too hard about where to find A mentor, the value comes from the knowledge they bring at just the right time. What I mean is, instead of actively seeking that ONE person to mentor you in all things business, keep your eyes and ears open to the opportunities that come in the MANY people you come across on a daily, weekly and/or monthly basis. Chances are, you’ll find mentors all around you, just allow yourself to be a sponge for their subtle lessons.
In this podcast, I’m chatting with my husband, who’s been both a mentee & a mentor in the past. I think you will enjoy both perspectives, so when you get a moment check it out.
Now let’s look at DOWNWARD REACH:
- “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God”. This quote from Leo Buscaglia really rings true for me. Whether you’re a spiritual/religious person or not, the truth is, when you give you get so much more in return. Use your talents for good. Don’t withhold information for fear of competition, share it and be encouraged because you’ve contributed to the success of another. Being a mentor is about transparency, honesty, and vision. You have to be open to share your experiences in failure as well as your accomplishments. You have to be authentic in how you provide information and you should be able to encourage and inspire the decisions of your mentee so they find value in what you share overall.
OUTWARD REACH is the final topic I want to cover in this week’s blog post.
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It’s near and dear to my heart because I’m a social person and I love seeing what motivates others and makes them tick. It’s hard enough being a “startup” OR a “start-over”. Doing it alone shouldn’t even be a consideration. Yes, I’m a social person but even if you’re not, it’s a good idea to ride along side of like-minded individuals who are moving in the same or similar direction at the same time as you. Having a partner(s) along your entrepreneurial journey adds fun to the mix, pushes you to your limits, and provides a built in accountability mechanism. Don’t settle on an island. Find others going in your direction and create a support group to tap into as you climb to success.
There you have it. REACH should be multi-directional. REACH up to get the help you need, REACH down to be a help to someone else, and REACH out to find your accountability and motivational push.
Now as a special gift for reading to the end, I used my research and these conversations to create a checklist for you. If you find this blog post and podcast valuable, be sure to join my VIP LIST TODAY! Each week I do a weekly round up and there’s always something special in it pertaining to that week’s content. This week I am sharing tips surrounding the topic of REACH. Learn from my experts how you can get better at REACHING Up, Down, and Out.
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Social Media w/ Jessica Hughes
In this episode of Be the Brand TV, Jessica shares nearly an hour of quality information to help you with your social media. If you;re confused about how to develop a strategy for your business, Jessica has some tips for you! THERE’S MORE…I’ve got a gift for you too, be sure to grab it before you go.
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Grab this check list to help you with your social media planning:
3 Key Areas of Business Where Intentions Matter_BTBTV
In today’s episode, I’m tackling 3 of the most important areas in your business to focus your intentions.
At the end of this video you’ll know exactly where to concentrate your efforts to lead with intention and purpose, but that’s not all. I’ve got a gift for you. I’m sharing a Cheat Sheet with you to help you stay on track with your brand intentions, so stay til the very end to learn more.
3 Areas Imperative to the Authenticity and Intentionality of Your Brand
The keys to a brand identity that converts and engages is transparency, accountability and authenticity. Consumer are no longer convinced by pretty logos and the letters “Inc.” or “LLC” behind the name of a company. They’re looking for connections. People need that special something that helps them justify the cost, the time, or the effort involved in doing business with you. You aren’t the only rodeo in town so you have to give them something they can hold on to, relate to, and/or be enthusiastic about. Do you have it? Are you being intentional about the way you share it?
Creating a brand message that reflects the identity of your brand is more about YOU than anything else. Yes, by creating one you are opening yourself up to some criticism, but you are also opening up to “know, like, trust factor that brings conversions. In an attempt to help you get started with the process of being more transparent, accountable and authentic, I want you to do an “internal Personal Branding audit“.
This audit consists of 3 areas imperative to the authenticity and intentionality of your brands identity and message:
- 1. PERSONAL DEPTH: The first area that must be covered is you. In order to present any level of transparency, you have to determine the depth of what you’re willing to share. You need to be authentic and allow yourself to connect organically with others. Learning how to manage the volume of your personality helps you determine the concentration of your personality shared. Here is where you use your passion and begin using that part of you that connects with others and helps you to solve their needs. What is your “WHY”?
- 2. PERSONAL GOALS: There are a variety of ways to have the “GOALS” conversation. We can talk “long term, short term”, we can discuss “S.M.A.R.T” goals, or we can challenge the whole “…a goal not written down is only a wish” thing. The point isn’t sway you one way or another, but what I will tell you is this, in order to be INTENTIONAL, you have to find your focus. What is YOUR POINT and HOW WILL YOU MAKE IT?
The last area of the personal branding internal audit is:
- 3. YOUR UNIQUENESS: As I said earlier, consumers want transparency, accountability and authenticity but they also want to justify doing business with you. You have to give them something to work with. You are the only one in the world like you. Here, you need to tap into what it is that makes you the ONLY choice your consumer can make. Often in coaching other entrepreneurs, I find a propensity to cast a “wide net”, so to speak, with regard to marketing efforts. Once you living your VALUE,you learn to devise strategies that include uniquely expressed brand messaging (your “WHY”), you be attracting those who truly want what you offer (regardless of who else is offering it) the way you’re giving.
Are you ready to begin building a brand around your VALUE? The authenticity and intentionality of your brand depends on you being able to tap into your confidence. Your confidence comes from comfort in knowing what you offer and the purpose of your passion. If you want to begin tapping into your own VALUE, grab this gift I created to help you build your ENTREPRENEURIAL CONFIDENCE.
3 Important Questions to Ask Yourself to Avoid the Fear of Competition
Leadership requires us to be intentional and influence. These 3 important questions will help you with both. They will help stop the fear of competition.
Blog Post: https://andreapatrick.com/no-competition-fear/
The Leadership Journey – 1st Stop VALUE: https://andreapatrick.com/podcast/pbstyle/leadership-journey-first-stop-value/
BE A VIP: https://andreapatrick.com/vip-list
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