| Friend,
Yesterday I discussed the "internal game" of improving your brand and image. If you missed it, the gist of it was that if you are your brand, then the first step to improving your brand is to improve you.
When I was first starting out I had to work on everything from how to talk, to how to dress, to how to interact with people, to becoming more reliable and trustworthy. In short, I was a mess, and it took a lot of work for me to improve my brand and image.
In your case, maybe you just need to polish up some rough edges. It could be dressing for professionally, or becoming more organized, or cleaning up your social media presence.
The Minimum Buy-In
Regardless of how much or how little work you need to do to improve your professional image, the bottom line is that this is basic stuff. These are not things that are only expected of high-level executives and public figures. Instead, they are the minimum buy-in for becoming a successful brand.
I know this is hard for a lot of people to accept, especially in today's society where we're told that everyone should be accepted for who and what they are. But reality dictates that people judge others based on many factors, including how they dress, speak, and act in public.*
The more attractive you are to others, the easier it is to attract them as clients. I'm not necessarily talking about physical attraction (although you should be in shape). Instead, I'm talking about how much your image appeals to the average local consumer.
Victim or Victor?
Many people who don't want to improve their image become bitter and adopt a victim mentality. They blame society at large for keeping them from achieving their goals, when in fact it's their own stubborn adherence to past patterns and habits that's keeping them from moving ahead in life.
Whether you want to accept it or not, society has accepted norms and ideals. And, when your image differs to greatly from the accepted societal norms, cognitive dissonance will prevent potential clients from choosing your business.
This is simply a fact of life, and resenting it won't change it. I learned this the hard way, because I grew up liking punk rock and proudly giving mainstream society and culture the middle finger. But I learned very quickly that a bad boy attitude and image only works for rock stars and MMA fighters.
And as much as I disliked it, I knew that wishing things were different wasn't going to help me reach my goals. So, I changed.
The Real Kicker
Now here's the real kicker about all this...
Staying stuck in old patterns and habits limits your ability to impact the lives of others, because the less that people trust you, the fewer people you can reach with what you have to offer.
You might be the most awesome instructor in the world. And you might have a heart of gold, and inside you might be a fine example for others to follow.
However, if your external image turns people off, you'll forever be limited in your ability to share that with the world. And, you'll forever be frustrated in your career as a martial arts instructor and business owner, because you'll always be fighting to attract people to your dojo.
This doesn't mean you can't have your own personal style. It just means that you need to pull your image closer to the center with regards to what society at large accepts... that is, if you want to have a successful business.
How Your Willingness to Change Impacts Others
Brand and image attract clients to your doorstep. And until people hit your front door, you have zero chance to show them what you have to offer.
So if you want to "wow" people with your programs... if you want to help people improve their health, confidence, and personal safety... if you want to change lives through sharing your martial art...
Then first you have to become a people magnet. And that starts with your image. Once you accept that the quality of your image and brand dictates how many lives you can impact, then it becomes quite easy to elevate your image.
It's a simple decision, really. You can be selfish and remain the same old "you" you've always been. Or, you can be selfless and evolve, so you can reach more people with what you have to offer.
It's your choice.
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When I come back on Monday I'll get into the nuts and bolts of developing a powerful brand. Stay tuned, because this info will transform your ability to attract new students.
Until next time,
Mike Massie MartialArtsBusinessDaily.com
Quick-start Guide to My Books and Resources: - Looking for a list of books and resources I've written? Click here! - Need business coaching to grow your dojo? Click here…
P.S. - *Yeah, I know it sucks that people judge other people based on their image. But you know what? They do so because of survival instincts that have allowed humankind to survive and flourish. People are tribal by nature, and it's only natural for them to be drawn to the strongest and most stable leaders. For the most part, it's a survival mechanism. So just accept it and make it work to your advantage.
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