From Visualization to Realization: Secrets to Making your Brand come to Life
by Liz Pabon
Researchers agree that we each have our own unique “mental
vocabulary.” It is this vocabulary that
we use to communicate to
ourselves and to others. Over time, we create a mental library
complete with words and pictures that are directly tied to our
feelings about certain people, places and things. For example, if
you hear the word “mom,” what feelings or thoughts come to mind?
What about the word “gym,” what images or ideas do you conjure
up? How about the word “business?”
Each response you have - feelings, thoughts or mental images - comes
from programming that is stored inside of you and that drive your
response to specific words, places, people, etc. It gets real
interesting when you consider that your Personal Brand centers on
you and the programming you have about yourself.
What words or images come to mind when you say your name? Say it
aloud right now and write down what comes to mind be it feelings,
words, thoughts, etc. Now, take a look at what you’ve written and
ask yourself, “is this the brand image I wish to project to the
outside world?” If the answer is “no” then keep reading.
Develop a New Program If the sound of your name doesn’t conjure
up positive feelings, thoughts and visual images then you’ll need
to write a new program. And here’s why; if you don’t come up
with powerful brand imagery when you hear the sound of your name, it’s
likely that your target market won’t either. What you attract is
based on what you communicate. If you don’t think you’re the
cats meow, it’s likely that you are projecting that to others who
in turn agree with you, you’re NOT the cats meow.
Take a few moments and begin to write down a new program as it
relates to you. It’s perfectly fine to describe yourself as an
incredibly fascinating and fabulous being – more than likely, you
are! This way when you hear the sound of your name (isn’t your
name one of the first things you tell someone you first meet OR put
on your “hello my name is” tag at networking functions?), your
new programming will kick-in and enable you to communicate your
brand more confidently and accurately to your target audience.
Athletes use visualization regularly as part of their training.
Recently, I was overhearing a group of surfers interviewed and when
asked, “what do you do to prepare,” a young surfer shared that
he spent a lot of time visualizing his next wave. Not only how he
performed while riding the wave itself, but down to paddling towards
the breaking point of the wave, the sounds around him, the beating
of his heart, everything. No detail is left to chance but is instead
visualized in its entirety. This is the technique that helped propel
him to champion status.
As you write down your new program, visualize this persona (we’re
still talking about you by the way) as though it were already a part
of your life. Visualize the way you look, your gait, and the smell
of your hair. What are you wearing? How do you feel in this personas
body and whom are you attracting? Consider as many details as
possible remembering that you will attract what you think and talk
about.
What goes In must come Out Writing down your new programming
alone isn’t enough. You must commit to rehearsing your new program
so that it becomes the only program that is “switched on” when
you hear the sound of your name.
What we focus on becomes a part of our mental vocabulary. If we
focus on what is wrong with ourselves, or others, we will attract
more of that into our lives. This is known as the law of attraction.
So if you are not saying, thinking and feeling positive things about
yourself, your personal brand will feel the backlash because you
will attract the very thing you criticize.
If an image that comes up for you when you say your name is “I’m
too fat,” then your brain focuses on the negative “I’m too fat”
imagery and guess what, you will not be able to loose weight! On the
other hand, if you change your programming so that when you hear
your name “I am fit and agile” comes to mind, you will attract
and be attracted to activities that produce a fit and agile you.
Imagine the opportunities you will attract when you visualize
yourself in a way that draws to you exactly what you seek.
Now, take a deep breath, close your eyes and let the
visualization begin!
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