What To Do When You Don’t Know Where To Start – The Brain Dump

by | Jul 10, 2017 | Getting Started, Strategist

Recently a friend asked what I do to help my clients who are considering starting their own business.  This is what I told her.

So you want to start your own business, but you don’t know what you want to do.  All you really know is that you are done working for “the man” but you don’t know where to begin…

Start with a Brain Dump! It’s my go to exercise for de-cluttering thoughts, organizing my many ideas, and regaining clarity in order to re-focus.

The Brain-Dump:

Grab a few pieces of paper. Yes, you read it right… paper and pencil or a pen. Lined or blank…  just sneak a few sheets from the nearest printer ;-).  There is something quite different about the connection you make to your thoughts when you are actually writing by hand.  It stimulates the brain and helps with creativity and clarity.

Start with making 3 columns. Give each one a header. In the case of our first question, for example… let’s use the following:

 

Column 1 – Things I really hate doing.

 

Column 2 – Things I may not love, but I am very good at.

 

Column 3 – Things I Love to Do!!

 

Now, go to a quiet place or put on your headphones to block the outside world off for a bit… quiet your mind.

I always suggest starting with the things you hate, because these often the things we focus on. Time to let those go.  They say writing them down is a way of releasing them.  For example, I hate math… so for me, that and anything mathematically related, would automatically go in to the first column.

Give it a little time, and before you know it, you’ll be writing away. You don’t need to write sentences, just a word or two.  You can be specific if you like.

You might also find that you begin to move things… cross them off and put them under a different column. You might even start to break things down… micro-sort your thoughts. Whatever it takes, just go for it. There are no right or wrong ‘answers’… the important thing is get it all down on that paper.  Don’t over analyze.

* This is a terrific exercise to use whenever you are faced with unsettling questions or tough decisions.

 

Now, let’s get back to figuring out what you want to do when you grow up.

 

Next Steps:

1. Take the list of all the things you LOVE to do.

2. Now, make a list of what you guess that other people think you are good at?
If you don’t know, why don’t you run a poll. Nothing complicated. Call some of your former or current colleagues.  Let them know you are considering a career change…
Ask a group of friends out for coffee (* My favourite), or send a quick email… (and don’t forget to tell them to check their spam folder).   You get the point!

3. Ask the hard question.  Do you have the skills to support yourself in what you love? 
For example, you may love love love flying, but are you a licensed pilot?

4. Last, do you feel inspired when you do this ‘thing’? This is extremely important! If you are going to put your heart and soul into this endeavour, you need to feel passionate about it… you need to feel alive!  Nothing gives you greater energy than passion!

I’d love to hear from you. Is brain-dumping an exercise you’ve done before? If you have already developed your business, did you know what you wanted to do right away, or did you go through a similar process?

Stay tuned for the next steps…

Choosing Your Name. Why Create a Personal Brand?

by | Jun 29, 2017 | Branding

When you started your business did you consider creating a ‘personal’ brand? 

If your business is about selling dog toys, or perhaps you own a multi-person service business, you likely have a catchy or memorable name for your business.  For example, Playchewa Dog Toys, or The Intela Group (I totally made those up).  This makes a lot of sense.  You may be the creative brains behind the brand, but ultimately it’s not about you and most of us hope to create a brand that endures and maybe, just maybe, you will sell your business and retire to your mega mansion or private island retreat.  Fingers crossed!

That being said, if your new business is all about you… then perhaps make your new brand personal!  What do I mean?

I’m talking about using your name as the name of your business. 

When might you do this?

If you are your business, and it’s all about you, then this really works.  If you are selling your unique ideas, your expertise or even something tangible like your paintings… then why not use your name?

It’s yours, you already use it and it will be the easiest thing for people to remember.  

I know some of you might hate your name, and you don’t have to use it.  Maybe you think it is far too long and in this case, I might suggest you consider a version of your name, maybe shorten it. 

Your “brand voice” is how you, as a business owner or entrepreneur, express your business personality in your writing style, language, and tone. It is the distinct persona or identity of your brand that shines through in the words and phrases you use, and which allows you to stand out from other brands. If your brand voice is distinct enough, your followers should be able to recognize you in your writing even if there was no name or logo on it.

Your Brand Is Like Your House

by | Jun 22, 2017 | 7 DayBranding Challenge, Branding, Graphics, Website

When people are expecting company, they give their house an ‘extra’ cleaning. They make sure that the living room and kitchen, bathroom and front entrance look ‘perfect’.  They want the first impression to be welcoming and they want their guests to see the best version of the way they live.  Most people are not likely to take visitors down to the basement, out to garage, or show them their closets.

It’s the same with your branding and your website.

Your website is where your visitors will get to know your Brand. And just like the new visitors to your home, you want to make a great first impression! They won’t be staying long, unless you give them a compelling reason to stay.  Therefore, you need to have a plan.

I say start with a design (blueprint), next build your brand (foundation), then you can build a solid website (house). Another way of looking at it is to build the website, to house your brand. A beautiful place to show it off. Without the blueprint and the foundation though, the house will eventually fall down!

Here is another way to look at it is this: You don’t usually choose the paint colour until all the cabinets are installed, and furniture is in and floors are done.  There is a natural order to things and when you try to do things backwards, you make things more difficult for yourself and you simply end up doing them again.

You might have heard the phrase “building a brand”.

You need to understand what it is you want to do with your business.  Take time to consider who your clients really are, why they should choose you, what their pain points are and how YOU are going to help them.

Once you’ve established who they are and what they look like, you should find it easier to get clearer on what you think they will be attracted to. Building your brand is not often as simple as finding a font you like, picking your favourite colour and drawing a picture of a heart or a star… and calling it a day.

You may be the kind of person who really loves bright colours and busy designs, but will your ideal client be able to relate?  For example, if you own a meditation studio, most people will be looking for a Zen, calming vibe. They may not relate well to hectic and busy. If your brand doesn’t match your business… it may be memorable, but not in a positive way.

You need to think about style, textures, colours. Where will people find your logo? Will it be used in print, on giant painted signs. Or, will it be in the tiniest of places, like pens or matchbook covers? Do you need it for letterhead, or will it simply be on your website, social media posts and perhaps just a business card?

Consider all this when designing your logo, and your website will follow.

Next time, my top tips for logo design.

Jen