Brandequity Coaching

One coaching client told me she’d never want to be charming. Another told me he wanted to be less honest. How can being charming and honest be bad? How can being rude and dishonest be good?

The one client defined charming as “being false and manipulative.” The other defined “being less honest” as being less blunt and more compassionate.

What’s the “BE” -- brand equity -- in this for you? Changing how you define your own “bad” traits can help you change them into “good” ones. I’ve put a free tool on my website to help you do this:

News and Resources - BrandEquity Coaching BE successful. BE satisfied. BE the change.

How we speak shapes who we become, so we should choose words intentionally. Example:

“I’m swamped” tells the story of lack of control: overwhelmed, not up to the task, trapped, falling behind. (POWERLESS)

“My day is so full” tells the story of control: I love my life. I’ve got it organized. I choose what I do. It’s satisfying. (POWERFUL)

Stay aware of how you’re telling your own story. When what you’re saying doesn’t align with who you are--or want to be, find a way to tell the same story using words that are true to your personal brand.

Wish you could be calm, patient, organized …...? Start the transformation immediately by telling yourself a new “story.”

For example, want to be a better problem-solver? Recognize where you’re already solving problems: untangle your dog’s leash (or the yarn from that scarf he just unraveled) and say to yourself, “Well, I solved that for you, didn’t I?” You replace a light bulb: “Solved!” Don’t focus on the size of the problem, focus on giving yourself credit for all the solving you already do all day long. The more you tell the story, the more problem-solving becomes a habit. And you get in the habit of becoming the problem-solver you’ve always wanted to be. This works with being calm, patient, organized—you name it!

If there’s a problem with your [life, job, relationship, you name it] you should buck up, DO something and change your situation, right? Maybe not. Maybe BEING should be your first step.

For example, a “doing” mindset might prompt you to cut off a relationship or quit your job. “Being” starts simply with asking yourself how you can BE comfortable in this job or relationship. This shifts your focus in two important ways: (1) From what you can’t control (the situation) to what you can control (yourself); and from (2) what you don’t want to what you do want. You may end up leaving your situation, but you’ll be moving toward something good vs. fleeing something bad.