According to Dan Schawbel (World renowned branding expert and author of ME 2.0) the #1 competitor every business faces is – The Status Quo! Personal Branding is, I believe, the biggest lost opportunity for small businesses. Everyone is so focused on the ‘business’ persona (well, not all the time, but most of the time and even then not done so well) that they forget, in the world of SB, it is more important than ever to build your personal image, since, in most cases that’s WHO we are doing business with!

Cummon everyone, follow me!

Even if you have gone down the road of developing your brand, the question is ‘does it fit and does it really represent who you are what you stand for?’ – too many people trying to ‘conform’ to the corporate image versus being out there on the fringe!

I see this especially in my own industry whether business coaches, life coaches or whatever – they believe that they have to conform to this hyper professional image.  Now, I am not saying that we shouldn’t act in a professional manner, but if you have a wicked sense of humor then let it shine through!  If you have a radical side then show it and Zany people win almost every time!

In their book ‘Funky Business’ – Jonas Riderstral and Kjell Nordstrom are at pains to point out how the Surplus society has a surplus of ‘similar’ companies employing ‘similar’ people with a ‘similar’ education, ‘similar’ ideas, producing ‘similar’ things with ‘similar’ prices and ‘similar’ quality!

In a world of ‘hyper-competition’ and ‘over-communication’ the need to stand out has never been more important. Taking care of YOUR personal brand is the start.

Don’t be DULL, be FUN. Don’t be a CONFORMIST, be ZANY. Be who you are and attract the clients that share your passion, your ideals and your quirks…and most of all be yourself (unless you really are DULL!)