Actually, I’ve only worn ‘the blue suit’ and heels a handful of times. I have done the high-tech Fortune 100 gig however—for 15 years. Blue suit to spurs and a blog is my metaphor for a shift in my strategy—a shift from the reserved, reticent, corporate persona to, well, me. The real me. Spurs (really), flaws, joys, fears, hopes, and the fisherman. He likes when I refer to him as ‘the fisherman’ in my writing.
I digress. Not really, just a little bit, maybe. Because what I’m sharing with you is that I’m thoughtfully deciding to ignore some advice I received when I first entered online land. With all good intention, a fellow colleague from my corporate days, advised me that my web site needed a more serious feel, a professional style . Feeling uncertain about how best to present the services I provide, I took her advice. For some time, I was all businesslike, austere, humorless.
Then, through the wonders of Twitter, I uncovered a quirky, compelling speaker; an award-winning, young, entrepreneur; a savvy business woman who push the limits; a strange, draw you in, cartoonist; a hysterical, spew coffee out your nose, web designer; a pioneer woman (and fellow lover of horses); a social media wonder girl; and a crafty one with an ittybiz and an edge (her Twitter profile reads, “Into helping solo-preneurs earn more and suck less”). Love it!
NOTE: All successful business people; professionals, with sass; entrepreneurs with value to provide. Real people with authentic personal brands that represent their true self. Yeah!
On this day, I pledge to be quirky, and young at heart. I’ll do my best at savvy; I’m already a bit strange, a consumer of coffee, and lover of horses (Mr. Pi is my equine superstar). I’ll even get crafty. Because that’s who I really am. Spurs, flaws, joys, fears, hopes, and the fisherman who reads my blog.
I’ll continue to write, consult, and speak about business topics, because I know a thing or two ’bout that . And, I’m going to change my strategy an itty bit—more real. I’d like to think that personal branding is a continual discovery. I wonder if Mr. Schawbel thinks so? I sure hope so.
Mr. Pi
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Thanks for the link and kind words!
Thanks for noticing Laura. Cheers to a great new year!
Melissa
Melissa, I think tweaking your approach will open up a whole new set of people who want to get to know you for you, and not the corporate image I know I molded for so many years. Starting my own business and being an entrepreneur dramatically changed me from being an all business, no personal life super achiever to someone who prioritizes things differently. Enjoy the journey…and Mr. Pi is gorgeous!
Thanks Lynn! Your words of encouragement are welcome! Mr. Pi is cool – he's full of the dickens right now though!