Stand Out From The Crowd

We've all heard about figuring out what makes our businesses unique, but what about the person behind the business? Whether you are self-employed, an employee of a large company, or an independent contractor hired to represent a company, it's YOU that the prospect is really sizing up. Whatever your business is, you have competition. And there's always someone out there that can provide your service or product better, faster, cheaper than you.

But there's one thing your competition doesn't have: You.
So what makes you, as a person, unique? What talent do you possess that makes you good at what you do. What is it about you are people constantly complimenting? Whatever trait just came to mind, go with it! Make it the shining focal point of any meeting you have, whether with long-time clients or brand new prospects. Differentiate yourself from your competition by building on your personality traits.

People don't want to do business with companies. They want to do business with relationships. So give them the side of you that makes you a desirable person to be in a relationship with. Let yourself shine, and people WILL respond.

Using Self-Awareness to make it through Tough Times

We all go through things in our lives that are Character-Building. Some people call these character building experiences "tough times." But it's not until you are faced with challenges that you are given the opportunity to rise above and show what you are made of. And while we go through these experiences in life, it is important to be self aware.

But what does that really mean?

It means that you need to remember that even though you FEEL like the world is conspiring against you, trying to hold you down, and you can't get a break...that's not necessarily true. Because you are going through the fire, you feel the heat. Therefore, everything that happens seems to have greater intensity because of it.

So take a deep breath and stand back for a minute. When something happens that makes the world seem as if it is conspiring against you, evaluate it with self awareness. Because little things that aren't pleasant, but are truly not catastrophes, are likely to be magnified. They become that proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back.

Think of how you would view the same situation when life is rolling along just fine. Would it even be a big issue? Is whatever event that happened truly something that needs action, or are you just hyper-sensitive due to other circumstances in your life? If it's the latter, you would be wise to focus the situation into perspective, talk about it with a trusted confidant, then move on and forget about it! Otherwise you will create a spiraling, self-fulfilled prophecy effect that WILL make that event even worse.

If you maintain the ability to focus on what is going on inside of you, you can control which circumstances you allow to shape your life: for better or for worse!

Jacki Semerau © Copyright 2008