Archive for President's Message
How Are You Branding You?
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By Kathleen Hawkins
You know the old sayings………
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
“Your image can make or break you.”
We often think about how true those sayings are when we put on our best suit for a job interview or for an important business transaction or when we get dressed up for an awards banquet or even a first date. But what image are you portraying, when you don’t think anyone is looking?
It’s not about not being true to who you are…..it’s about being honest with who you want to be and accepting decisions you make today can prevent the person you want to become tomorrow.
I was talking to someone the other day about their business goals and objectives. I talked to them about how helpful my Business Consultant and CFO Consultant has been to me and to WOAMTEC and our growth. Helping us grow to see things, we might have been blind to seeing and sometimes it is important to have someone point out the obvious to you to help you grow past any obstacle. It could be that you aren’t dressing the part you are trying to play. It could be that you are making emotional decisions, that is stopping you from thinking with your brain, or responding out of stress or financial concerns instead of with compassion to your customers. It could be that you are letting your past, prevent you from getting what you want in the future.
It could also be that you are making quick short term decisions that affect your long term goals. For instance, if you spend money at a bar, a concert, a mall, when you really do need the new suit to play the “role” you desire, you create road blocks that prevent you from reaching your goals.
Big or Small. KNOW what you WANT. Also know, everything you do in life, every decision you make, will effect whether or not you get what you want!
But then I got to thinking about the things we need to hear that effect our business and our success. The things, we don’t want anyone to know about us. The things, you might be hesitant to share with a consultant or coach are often the ones that need to be said the most when determining your strengths or weaknesses and what is blocking you from reaching your goals. What kind of garbage do you have in your life that you need to purge?
A few years back, I had an idea for a reality show. I once joked about wanting to create a show called “Trash Talk.” It was a reality TV show concept about what garbage men can say about you! Think about it…..what would your garbage man or even your mail man be able to say about you, that your business plan or resume won’t? Have you ever written a bad resume? No, you would never say…reasons for leaving: “I missed too much work, I am irresponsible, I wasn’t talented enough to do the job?” Instead…it is always, room for advancement, time for a change, relocation. Your resume won’t stop you from your goals…but you might if you are creating the wrong “Brand” for your future.
Have you ever stopped to analyze how your postal worker or recycling man can size you up? They can identify what kind of person you are by your mail or your trash? Think about it….what could a postal service worker predict that you might be avoiding to acknowledge? Bills past due, credit counseling services, money coming into your company. They can size up your company’s success or failure in a matter of minutes. What about you personally? HS reunions notice, tell your age, the amount of credit card bills tells what kind of spender you are and late notices show financial hardships or irresponsibility.
Your garbage can be even WORSE! They will know, if you take care of your body, like to cook, purge on ice cream, drink too much alcohol, are smokers? Do you recycle and care about the earth…or is it just not worth your time and energy?
Why does this matter? Who really cares? Can’t people just accept you for you?
Yes, you can let people accept you for you….if you accept that might stop you from being the “You” you want to be. It matters because everything you do is a reflection of who you become. Your total being. You never know where you will be or when someone will see you and how that might affect your long term objective, their opinion of you, and what they share with others.
So whether they are posting it on Facebook, putting it in your trash, or even just going to the grocery store….. remember your image could make or break you…..can help you reach your goals or stop you from getting them. Your future is in your image….how are you Branding you?
By Kathleen Hawkins, President
One of our members said to me the other day…. “I bet you can spot a WOAMTEC woman a mile away! You know how they walk, how they talk, and what they look like!”
I thought to myself, sure…I meet women all the time and say, “She needs to be a WOAMTEC woman! She has the epitome of sass and class! Someone who you just want to know!” BUT… the next reflection I had was the number of members I can spot now, that I couldn’t spot a week, a month, a year ago. The number of members who have grown personally from being around other professional “Sassy/Classy WOAMTEC” women.
Think about the women who wants to be a bundle of sass and class………….Perhaps, they are on the inside, but are a completely frazzled, overworked, stressed, and a mess on the outside. Do you see them the same way? Do they even see themselves that way? Is it holding them back from reaching their goals?
I recall a conversation I had with my brother shortly before WOAMTEC and after 2 adoptions. I said “I can now see how Mom’s let themselves go.” His head swung around like I was speaking crazy talk and he exclaimed, “WHAT? That is ridiculous!”
I replied, “Well I can’t wear black any more cause of spit up, I can’t wear clothes needing dry cleaned because I have to change them 3 times a day, I can’t wear big earrings because they might rip them out of my ears, I can’t get my nails done because I might scratch them, I traded in my designer purse for a diaper bag, and I can’t wear heels because I might lose my balance carrying a baby carrier, a baby bag, and holding a 3 year old’s hand. I don’t have time to eat, sleep, or do my hair, so I have roots, dark circles, and I would eat anything, salad or not, just to move on to task number two!”
Now, not that I regret any of that….I would do it all again tomorrow. (Not really, Tia so don’t call saying you have another child you want us to adopt please! I have learned NO is a complete sentence.) What it taught me was the importance of not loosing who you are because of someone else in your life. How many women have given up “me time” completely, because they are spinning too many plates in life? How many women give up who they are or who they want to be because of what their husband wants, what their parent says they should be, or what they feel they are worth being.
What are you worth? Do you deserve any less than the best? NO! Is someone in your life making you feel like you should be less then you should be? If so….
- Realize you are Beautiful,
- You are destined for Greatness,
- and taking time out for yourself doesn’t make you a selfish MOM, WIFE, SISTER, or FRIEND it makes you a better one!
You will teach those you love the value of making “Me” a priority and you will be happier, healthier, sassier and classier because of it. That will just make them love you more!
So the next time you see a “Not so Obvious” WOAMTEC woman, stop….invite her to lunch and help bring out her inner beauty!
By Kathleen Hawkins, Proud WOAMTEC President
Ever wonder why some restaurants succeed and some fail?
I do often…but it is no different than the Photography industry that I have spent so much time in. You can be a fabulous portrait artist and struggle to pay bills or eat. Likewise, you can be brilliant at business and teach an $8.00 an hour employee how to click a button and make a profit in the photographic industry. See, it is not as much about the craft, food or product you are selling; it is more about the experience the clients are receiving.
Recently, I was at the Ale House Restaurant in Altamonte Springs ordering take out for my family.
They have this thing where they ask you your name and then see how many times they can use it. How nice it is to here your name! We went from strangers to instant friends, only because she referred to me by name.
I felt comfortable enough to say, “you know I tried to place the order on the phone and was put on hold for more than 5 minutes, so now I am here.” She apologizes, said it was a new phone system and immediately told the manager. He offered me a glass of wine while I was waiting and apologized profusely! Now, I looked horrible, spent the day cleaning, and he didn’t know me at all, but they treated me like I was a “SOMEBODY.”
It truly is the little things that make a difference. The simple touches. The nice gestures that make you feel important or appreciated for your business. Those are the things that keep you coming back again and again.
As I sipped my complimentary glass of Chardonnay, I recalled one of our past experiences with one of our other WOAMTEC venues and began typing this blog on my blackberry. We brought them consistent business 30-40 women every other week for over a year at $20 a pop! After a meeting, we were celebrating because we just got a 2 page feature article promoting our chapter in a local magazine and they took pictures of our women in front of the restaurant sign.
I jokingly said to the general manager…”We are getting you free publicity…you should bring us a celebration drink!” There were only 4 of us celebrating, what a great day it had been for the women of WOAMTEC. The general manager responded, “Oh we can’t do that. We can’t give anything away with out the owners permission.”
That response shocked me so much, because I was half joking, but he definitely was not making me feel like a “SOMEBODY.” So I responded, “Well it sounds like you need to go call the owner. ” He didn’t and we felt so deflated. He left us feeling so discouraged, we changed venues that week. We also cropped the photo removing the restaurants sign because we were at a new location.
Why would one restaurant see value in someone ordering take out and another not see value right in front of them. Isn’t your restaurant name in print in 30,000 magazines worth 4 glasses of Chardonnay? My guess is Ale House would think so!
Remember, always choose your battles with your customers and never forget that everyone deserves to be treated like a “SOMEBODY.”
The bottom line… if you are seeing life as the glass is half empty- fill it up!
It could cost you your customer!
Saturday, I watched my husband cut back our bushes, I questioned why he trimmed them back, so far. He said they were too big and needed to be trimmed. Being allergic to everything that grows, I have never had much of a green thumb, so didn’t understand the concept. All I knew was to me, it looked prettier when it was full and green then when it was trimmed back and all you could see was brown sticks and branches. I questioned him again, but he proceeded convincing me he knew what he was doing. I chose that battle and walked away. Read More→
Confession by Kathleen Hawkins,
I killed a squirrel today! Guilty as charged.
Now, before you send in hate mail or animal right’s letters- I promise it was a complete accident and I prayed for the little guy!
He just darted out in front of my car. As I looked in my rear view mirror, I thought to myself, “I wonder if he had a family?” After saying a silent prayer for that poor little fellow, I began thinking about how audacious he must have been to think he could cross the road and what was he going after? It wasn’t a busy road by any means and I wasn’t even going fast. His timing was just bad.
It actually reminded me of a recent time when a turtle was trying to cross all 4 lanes on State Road 434. There, he was moving as slow as can be. He didn’t have a chance. I wanted to stop my car and get out and help him but the traffic was so bad, I was afraid I was going to get hit! Faith was on his side because some how he made it across all four lanes!
What was it that those two animals were after that was so important they would risk their life? The turtles risk was so much greater why did he survive and the squirrel didn’t? Are you chasing something that would be worth risking your life for?
Do you ever feel like sometimes your running into 4 lanes of traffic darting everything that comes at you? In business, I think it is important to want something so bad, you are willing to risk it all but to acknowledge timing is everything. Moving forward with strategy, even if it means you have to move slower is better then seeing a goal and running for it full speed ahead! After all, if you don’t know where you are going, there is no way to get there. Having goals and direction is imperative in business, but take the time to think through your business and marketing strategy. Otherwise, you may just spend your life dodging obstacles and end up like the squirrel!
