Daisy Swan, now a contributor to
Find Bliss Magazine!

Read her article in the July 2013 issue, here…

The key to success could simply be showing up just as you are.

It’s all about branding when it comes to marketing ourselves for a new job, an online dating profile, or even in our current workplace. We want to present an intentionally consistent ‘brand message’ so that people (or consumers) know what they can expect from us. This is also known as a brand promise.

By Daisy Swan

When we buy a Coke, we expect it to taste like a Coke and not a Pepsi. If we taste the latter, we feel duped and confused. As individuals, our brand message is supported by the language used to describe us on LinkedIn or Facebook. Similarly our resume is representative of our professional skills and accomplishments. The information we share on social media should present a consistent view while weaving a bit of our uniqueness depending on the marketing platform. No matter if you’re looking for a new job, a potential mate, or simply being aware and strategic at work, you need to be clear and intentional about how your customers, boss, and others perceive you.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest achievement. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I find these words of Ralph Waldo Emerson inspiring; I have them framed in our family bathroom because I like my son and I to see these words every day- they’re a reminder that staying true to oneself is not only essential to authentic happiness, but also personal and professional success. You may be thinking: Easy to say, not so easy to do.

Most of us want to feel a sense of belonging . Without it, we can feel a bit edgy and insecure. When I worked as a graphic designer at a magazine in my 20s, I worked with a team of highly creative people who liked to come in late and work late. I, on the other hand, wanted to come in early, do my work, and leave so I could attend classes, concerts, and dinners with friends. Initially I wanted to fit in because I loved the creative energy of the people and place, and liked that I was doing something “creative.” To be honest, I didn’t really fit in. By leaving that job, I was being true to myself. Making this sort of decision can feel risky; but finding our true fit makes it worthwhile.

Be honest. Are you working to fit in with your work? Are you trying to be someone else for someone else?

Do you notice you keep more than a professional distance from those you work with? Do you feel like you can’t shine amongst your peers because you don’t want to be known or seen? Is someone casting a shadow over you? Showing up genuinely brings us satisfaction and often the reward of recognition of our true gifts. If you’re not bringing all of you to your work, you won’t know just how much of a fit you can have where you are. And really, isn’t that the truth about being who we are in any area of our lives? Be you. Market yourself genuinely, and then show up that way. Be your brand promise for you and everyone else.

Daisy Swan, founder of Daisy Swan & Associates and author of Making Work Work: Secrets from a Career Coach’s Office works with clients of all ages who are motivated to find the lifestyle that authentically works for them: daisyswan.com.