Business “On the Real” On the Real
Life can be unpredictable as an entrepreneur.
Some days you spend your life on the road, juggling client expectations, rushing to meetings while maneuvering those sneaky time zone differences.
Other days you successfully power through your workday and three cups of coffee before you realize it’s 2pm and you’re still in your pajamas (Guilty as charged!)
While part of us instinctively wants to cover up the frayed, not-so-glamorous parts of our career, we’ve been there. It’s Business on the Real. Authenticity at its finest, potently powerful, rough edges and all.
Stressful schedules, workloads, clients, {insert your Authenticity here} can’t always be avoided. But here’s the secret: they don’t have to be.
As an Entrepreneur you have an impactful superpower, your own special magic that allows and gives you permission for embracing your authenticity, celebrating your passions and folding that inspiration into your brand.
With the right mindset, you can turn your stressing into stretching.
Stretching your comfort zone increases the value you offer to the world and in turn, your profitability.
With that in mind, here are 3 my tips to support your “Business on the Real”:
- Set Yourself up for Success. Because Your Excuses are Sex-ayyyyyy.
Any successful entrepreneur knows the value of planning. Having good communication, solid operational procedures and a delegated workload is crucial to a project or launch going smoothly.
Sometimes you need to put those no-nonsense-gotta-focus-go-getter blinders on because when you’re right in the thick of things going 100mph, those excuses can look extremely sexy. My excuses have bling on them. So sometimes I have to put on my shades so they don’t bling me to what I gotta get done.
“I’m not really a planner”
“I don’t have time to organize or prioritize right now. I’ll do it later when things settle down.” (Which we know they never quite do)
“I committed to x, y and z, but I think I can squeeze by with just one or two without anyone knowing.”
Sound familiar?
Of course I’m not saying flexibility is a bad thing. Entrepreneurship requires adaption while thinking on your feet. Just remember that giving in to the temptation to leave loose ends and ignore your priorities feels like a “quick fix” in the middle of chaos, but it becomes a profit-draining habit over time. And then you also create a domino effect of guilt and shame that you didn’t get it done, and get mad you have to stay up another late night. No bueno.
- Be Clear with Your Intentions. And Love on Your Team.
Going that extra mile to clarify expectations (on your end or your client’s), touch bases with your Team (and show them some appreciation especially when you’re running on empty a hundred miles an hour), or follow up on missing information can save you tons of time in the long run. Time is something you can’t get back, so be committed to do the hard part first. Because, nobody got time for that.
A Brand that prioritizes and capitalizes on all the “small stuff” generally avoids the risk of leaving money on the table.
So if you want to be successful, honor your commitments. If it’s unavoidable and you need to change your plans, do so graciously with consideration for those around you. Remember the Golden Rule applies (especially) to Entrepreneurs.
The key is to stay in integrity in everything you do. (As an added bonus, doing good feels good inside!)
- Let Your Brand Story Speak for Itself. Because It’s What’s Real.
The potent power of authenticity only comes to life when you engage its inherent goodness. Here’s how I explain it to some of my top clients:
A great Brand Story connects your Tribe and converts strategic plans into cash.
It identifies your essence. Your “Why”. The catalyst moment that defines your reasons and brings you to this space.
Your Brand Story recognizes and celebrates your “Phoenix Moves”, your impossibilities turned business genius.
It explains the who-what-when-where-how of your brand, digging into what you’re excellent at.
It allows you to Touch your audience with Truth, bringing real results that create a culture and company credo.
(Incidentally, people don’t buy what you do…they buy why you do it…a la Simon Sinek)
For over 17+ years I’ve helped businesses of all sizes to discover their brand stories and as a result, expand their profit and Tribe.
In 2 days, I’m launching (with YOU) The Brand Story Challenge with 10 days of prompts that will help you develop and release the potential of your Brand Story.
I hope you will join in and play full out, because one of you will be eligible to win a VIP Luxe day with me in Hawaii (yes, you heard right…think beaches and business). It’s FREE to join in, and we are not letting anyone play after Sept 9, so jump over and join us now so you can build a business on the real. And share it with a few of your business buddies – because playing with a group of folks that “get you” feels really good.
4 Comments
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This is a great opportunity for me to venture out of my comfort zone. I acknowledge that I need assistance in presenting the correct format of words to say to my clients, it has been a challenge for me. I look forward to this journey in my life with continuous success in every area of my life.
This is exactly what i needed. I have been writing a book but I took a break from it after 5 chapters because Im like “where is this going?” I have been reflecting on my business to start preparing for a brand makeover for the new year. My mind is already in 2016. Its only been day 1 and I know Im in the right place at the right time. I watched Simon Sinek video on TED talks only 2 weeks ago and for the last two weeks i have just been meditating on my business and on my why. It hit me so hard, watching Sinek’s video, and I realized I never even considered my why. Only my what and how. On the surface it was just to make money but through searching my heart, I felt my purpose was much bigger. On top of that, I’m getting into motivational speaking and becoming an author all while turning 30 this year and I finally feel like I’m knowing who I am through this brand challenge. Im searching my past. I reacquainting myself with myself. lol. Thank you so much for just sharing your gifts! This moment in time, will be a phoenix moment and it would not be happening without you. You are taking care of so many peoples dreams, I have so much faith that your children’s dreams will all be fulfilled with as much integrity and joy that you are imparting in your tribe. Im looking forward to meeting you for my one on one, lol.
So sorry I missed this. But I have signed up and am looking forward to the next one. Will check out Simon Sinek in the meantime.
Thanks so much for having the Brand Story Challenge #brandstorychallenge up and running again! Can’t wait to learn more!