Oscar Wilde once wrote, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” Why is it that we try so hard to fit in, to be liked, to be accepted, when we are truly at our best when we are our most unique, authentic selves? It’s what is different about you that makes you special and more memorable than most.
There’s such a tremendous amount of cultural and familial pressure to fit in that we don’t realize that we have been overtaken by the “sameness” tidal wave. We’ve been taught by our parents, teachers, friends, co-workers, religious and political leaders and the media that it’s more important to be liked and to fit in than it is to stand up and be who we really are. My husband has a brilliant name for those that blindly follow the direction and path of others: “sheeple.”
Doing anything remotely interesting or progressive will inevitably bring criticism. Elbert Hubbard once said, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing and be nothing.”
Be true to who you are. Know and honor your preferences. Your likes and dislikes. What is it that makes you jump out of bed in the morning and your heart go zing? It’s worth the time to find out. What do you really want in life? Hopefully not what others think is best for you. Yuck.
Here’s to those courageous, spirited souls who beat to their own drum.
Here lies the key to tapping into your personal brand power. You are a walking, talking, living and breathing brand, and the more real and authentic you are, the more you are going to attract the people and situations that will propel you to success.
Red’s your favorite color? Fantastic. Use it in your logo and marketing materials. Love to bake? Great. Give homemade treats to new clients. Wine connoisseur? Host intimate wine-tasting parties for friends and clients. You get the idea. Get known for who you really are, not someone else’s version of you.
And just because everyone else is wearing tie-dyed hats doesn’t mean that you have to succumb. Start your own trend. Ride your own wave. And for goodness sake, I hope the only altar you are bowing to is the fantastically original altar of YOU.
Amen.
©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009
Liz Dennery Sanders wants you to build your buzz and be successful beyond your wildest dreams. As the CEO of Dennery Marks Inc., a brand development and celebrity outreach firm, she founded SheBrand, to help female entrepreneurs, executives and small business owners build powerful personal brands with style, attract more clients and position themselves as experts in their industries. You can reach her directly at info@shebrand.com or https://www.shebrand.com.
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