Have you ever wondered what being “authentic” really means? These days, with the constant increase in social media presence in just about everyone’s life, it’s hard to know what is and isn’t. All that we can see of others is what they choose for us to see: their final show. They cut out all of the bad stuff and edit the things that need fixing, and what’s left is all of the seemingly perfect parts of their lives. People can choose what they share with us, but what’s important for us to remember is that we can’t compare our behind-the-scenes to their final show. All of the negative things we see about ourselves we compare to these “authentic” positives of others and that is a recipe for disaster.
Rather than trying to become this idea of authenticity we’ve created, learn instead to be consistent. You and your business should have a sort of brand; the things you value and stand for. Whether it’s making a tough financial decision or simply your latest Instagram post, always align with what those values are. Especially in these uncertain times where businesses are struggling to make ends meet, many will stray from this path and just start doing anything and everything to save face, even if that means completely abandoning what their brand is about. Without that consistency, our business and it’s message can sort of become lost.
A brand isn’t simply being a restaurant or a floral shop. It’s about how you want your customers to feel when they visit your establishment, and even after they leave as well. It’s projecting to your customers and community why it is you do what you do and what keeps you going. You always want to stay on that path, even in tough times. Not only will your customers recognize that but will more than likely reward you for it by patronizing your store more often. People appreciate when other people remain true to who they are.
When you do these things, you become an irreplaceable factor. There is no other business that people want to spend their money at because there is no other business like yours. It is unique, it is one-of-a-kind, and most importantly, it knows what it is. It’s not just a store, not just some company, but an entire brand built around whatever product or service that it supplies. Customers know what to expect when they walk in the front door and it keeps them coming back time and time again. They’re confident in whatever you bring to the table because they believe in that brand.
When our attention becomes focused solely on making a product or becoming famous or wealthy, we’ll eventually come to a plateau where growth seems to have stopped. This isn’t to say that we produce an inferior product or service, but we are simply out of alignment with what our brand is. And maybe that’s because we haven’t yet discovered what exactly that is. The people that work with me tend to have this exact problem and I explain to them the importance of knowing why it is you do what you do. It’s helped many of my clients to not only grow, but thrive, even in times of crisis. They know what is and isn’t in alignment and carry out their business accordingly. Once you find that deeper purpose, everything else seems to flow much easier and puts you one step closer to being that irreplaceable business.
Don’t forget to take advantage of my FREE download, 10 Tips Towards Massive Growth, to learn how to jump-start your business to get back on it’s track towards success.
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LINKS:
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Episode 61 – 3 Gifts That We Are Given
Episode 60 – Guiding Your Employees Through a Downturn
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