Who Are You?

Who Are You?

The Power of Personal Branding

Stop and think!

Who are you?  

What image are you presenting to the outside world?  

Are you working to be the best that you can be, personally?  

Or are you instead resting on your laurels, your past experiences, your past achievements?

We oftentimes define ourselves as what we have achieved or experienced in the past.  Is this a true definition of how you want people to perceive you?  Is your past good enough or are there things in your life that you are still trying to achieve, a brass ring that is still just out of your grasp?

You are constantly branding yourself through your values, your flaws and even your idols, those people that you look up to. 

In real life, branding is a powerful and effective approach to how people perceive you and can be an effectual way to beat out your competition in your professional or business world.  The things you do and say influence others, creating a “brand” that identifies you in their eyes.

Branding is physical as well as emotional.  Choices in appearance and music, reading materials, even the people you choose to associate with, all contribute to your personal brand, and the types of people that are drawn to you, whether in person or on social media sites.

Successful personal branding can be just as important to you personally as well as professionally.  Showing a strong personal brand is an important asset in the on-line atmosphere of today’s marketplace.  This can be seen with some of the most recognized personalities like Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, and Opra Winfry, to name just a few that currently come to mind.

You are developing concepts to build your image, sell, package and promote yourself, for whatever path life is taking you down, whatever journey you have embarked on, what the eventual destination will be.

Having stated that, you also need to be authentic in your personal branding.  Many times people try to make themselves out to be something it is impossible to keep up, because it just isn't them.  By being yourself, liking who you are, it is easier to make your dreams, goals and achievements happen to make you happy and at ease. Do it for yourself first.  Know who you are.

TED Talks addresses this idea of "Take Control of Your Personal Brand" through a speech by Jay Clouse, a student of Columbus University in 2013.

Second Chance Solutions is here to help you bring about a second chance to make a first impression, to overcome some past impressions you may have established, recreating yourself in a positive way that brings fulfillment into your life, whatever that means to you, both personally and professionally.

Join in the conversation.  Let us know how you are working on your own personal brand.

by Karen Boggs

Creating Mastery

Creating Mastery

First, you need to define what it truly means to be a master.  The challenge is learning from near wins, figuring out how to overcome the challenges of coming so close to something but never quite grasping the brass ring.

Sarah Lewis, a featured TED Talks speaker, tells us that "Mastery is in the reaching, not the arriving.  It is in constantly wanting to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be."

When you learn how to cherish the journey, perhaps missing the mark, but always keeping your eye on your target, you are one step closer to mastery of your goal.  Think of it as a journey to the top of a mountain. You see the mountain, you can visualize it, even if you have never been there.  You have ideas of what it takes to reach the summit and start your preparations.  It is all up to you where this journey takes you.  To master the climb, to achieve your goal of reaching the summit, you have to take the necessary steps.

The longest journey begins with the first step.  This is true whether you are trying to climb that mountain or climb the corporate ladder.  If you do not start somewhere, you will never reach the next rung, much less the summit.

In order to correct past mistakes, it is necessary to begin again, to start all over or at least from where you perceive you made your mistake.  That is the goal of Second Chance Solutions, to teach you that you are not stuck with anything if you have the drive and tenacity to make the necessary changes, always striving for that which is just out of your grasp, or as Ms. Lewis says, "pursuing a kind of excellence in obscurity."

If you find success in hitting your target, is that the only time you can achieve that?  Mastery is being able to achieve it over and over, again and again.  Master your first impression by always striving to make it the best you can.  Never settle for second best.

by Karen L. Boggs

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Simple, courtly gestures speak louder than words.

A courtly gesture, one that is a basic tradition of one culture sparked a debate at the recent Asian-Pacific Summit held in Beijing, according to a recent article by Reuters.  Noticing that the Chinese president's wife was chilled and their host was otherwise engaged, Vladimir Putin placed a shawl around the shoulders of the Host's wife.  

This is an example demonstrating cultural differences and what is considered acceptable behavior in public.

China suppressed all images of this courtly gesture.  In my opinion, it is an admirable gesture by the head of Russia that could have been seen in a more positive light by the head of China instead of in a derogatory light.  

Chinese officials try to portray President Xi and his wife as a loving couple with photos showing him shielding his wife from rain with an umbrella, or picking flowers for her, or a simple gesture like holding her hand.  I guess having another world leader attending to his wife's comfort did not look good for the host.

This can be true in personal impressions, when marketing yourself, or impressions of customer service for your company.  Culture can play a big role and it is important to respect the culture of others, as well as garnering their respect for your culture.  It is a difficult line to walk but it is also important to understand when marketing in our global oriented economy.

How would you suggest this situation be handled both on Mr. Putin's and Xi's behalf?  How can they take a second chance to make a first impression?  Your input is welcome.  Join the conversation.


by Karen Boggs

So You Think Science is Staid? Listen In.

Do you have a crazy invention?  You might be a candidate for an IgNobel Award.

The video below is quite amusing, demonstrating how sometimes ideas are born of necessity and the creative ideas people come up with to combat or alleviate the particular situation.  Human nature can be quite creative.  Listen then join the conversation.

This is a situation where people have taken a chance on creating a new invention; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it is usually ingenious and sometimes even deserves to be acknowledged.

 These people are not worried about the image they portray to the world and their fellow man.  They are not looking for a Second Chance to make a First Impression.  It is not always necessary.  They provide a couple of services to their fellow man, one is comic relief, and a second can be a truly unique solution to an existing problem.

Have you ever thought of an idea to combat a problem in society or for the potential betterment of your fellow humans?  If you would like to share with us, we welcome your comments.

Second Chance Solutions, ideas for getting a Second Chance to Make a First Impression.

by Karen Boggs