by Lola White At Executive Connections LLC
We are always creating new ways to streamline the personal branding process, not only for our clients but also for ourselves. One approach we’ve found that works really well for remaining “on brand” is to create an annual theme.
Towards the end of each year, we set aside time to reflect on what we need to take our business (and our own personal brands) to the next level in the following year. We make a list of “what’s in” and “what’s out” for our personal brands in the new year. One of the new best practices that’s in for us, is a one-sentence theme that helps keeps us focused on what we want to achieve in the coming year.
Why a single theme vs. goals or resolutions?
Since a theme is clear and concise, it is easier to keep top of mind than an overwhelming laundry list of goals or resolutions. Therefore, it can be a more powerful driver to achieving results. A theme should catalyze action toward keeping you on-brand! When you select the right theme for you, it will just penetrate into your life and inspire you from deep within to live it.
You may also see a theme as a one-sentence vision or statement. For example, Bill Gates — “Computer on Every Desk” or NASA — “Putting a Man on the Moon.”
Ramp It Up Theme
This year, the personal brand theme Jeff Gundersen has chosen is “Ramp It Up” (in fact, it is the title of our last newsletter) and is also the theme Executive Connections LLC has selected as our focus for 2012. This theme means approaching this fiscal year with the mindset of achieving profitable business and personal growth from a starting place of believing 2012 is a year filled with extraordinary opportunities. We are witnessing our CEO clients expanding their businesses, pushing ahead aggressively for profitable growth right from the start of 2012, compared to a more hesitant, “wait and see” attitude by CEOs just a year ago. To achieve Jeff’s “Ramp It Up” theme, we are mindful of ramping up all we do to provide greater value to our clients. We are ramping up our expectations and the effectiveness and efficiency of everything we deliver. We are also continuing to ramp up the visibility (marketing campaigns, speaking engagements, social media, board roles) and credibility of our brand.
Camera Ready Theme
Lola White’s 2012 theme is “Camera Ready.” After working behind the scenes as a successful brand manager to million-dollar top executive brands, Lola’s own personal brand is coming to the forefront in 2012—a natural outcome from her 2011 brand theme of “Brilliantly Bold.” Planning exciting business projects that will launch this year, she wants to be ready to step out and promote these new business initiatives with ease. For Lola, “Camera Ready” means being focused and prepared for interviews, presentations, producing a videoBIO, having on-brand head shots, image, etc. It also means thoughtfully choosing not to take on projects and volunteer activities that are off-theme so she can remain open for explosive growth in 2012 and beyond.
Where do you see your brand headed this year? What’s an inspiring personal brand theme for you in 2012? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments. We really want to know what you have decided!