One of my favorite people, voice coach Arthur Joseph, has worked with an amazing line-up of celebrities, sports stars and ordinary folks in addition to his work with singers. His message, quite simply, is your voice is the window to your heart and soul. In his world, your voice is your Real You. The ability to speak clearly, to be heard, to voice your opinion is essential today, probably more than ever. Because even with technology and instant communication, when you have a chance to face one person or a room full of people, it’s your voice, your words and their power that will either make them hear you or not.
And there is nothing like voice to convey emotion. (I’m saying that and I’m a writer!) Case in point: just spoke with my 15 year old on the telephone. He’s at camp in Maine. We’ve been writing, secretly texting, but still the moment I heard his voice meant the world to me.
Do you use your voice to its full power? Are you saying what you mean, meaning what you say and standing in your power. When you have a chance to communicate directly – person to person – are you doing so powerfully? Think about it. It matters.
Posts Tagged ‘Real You’
Real You: The power of your voice
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Real You: A summer to celebrate
Thursday, July 1st, 2010 With all the celebrations you’re planning for the July 4th weekend and more, don’t forget to celebrate all you’ve accomplished so far this year. Take a moment – you deserve it – and realize all you’ve done. And, if you’re feeling stuck, or rudderless, take this time to figure out why. This book can help!
Summer gives us a break in routine. A reason to go outside more, to smile, to share. But if you’re not taking advantage of all that summer offers – if you’re overscheduled, overwhelmed – figure out why and change it now!
Summer is here. It’s time to celebrate. And it’s a great time to be sure the Real You enjoys every moment!
Real You: It’s tough out there, but stay true to you
Thursday, February 4th, 2010I just watched the Personal Branding segment on The Today Show and while I respect anybody who goes on national television and helps motivate folks to articulate their personal brands, I did worry about his message.
On the segment, an author and branding expert seemed to encouraged people to figure out a gimmick – wearing black, like he does – or changing yourself to help people remember you. I’m all for the five senses of branding, but to make yourself memorable, it must start with the real you. Have you taken the time to reflect? When’s the last time you wrote your story?
For many of us today, personal branding is falling by the wayside as we scramble for another job, another consulting gig or the like. Personal branding isn’t about gimmicks. Personal branding is understanding and articulating your unique personal brand and then conveying it as your unique competitive advantage.
It all starts with you. I’ve created an 8-step process, accompanied by The Real You Chart. It works. It can work for you, too. You need to decide today is the day to invest the time in the real you. When you do, you won’t need gimmicks. All you’ll need is the Real You.
For more, check out my book: Real You Incorporated
Real You: Are you marching forward on your purpose and vision?
Friday, August 28th, 2009
If you are, you are stepping into your power. You are shining bright, sharing your vision with others and moving forward. You know who you are—The Real You—and you know where you are going. Your passions are defined (step 2 of the Real You process), and your personal brand is fully formed. You truly have found it within.
When you are following your purpose in life—and applying that purpose and passion to your business—your competitive advantage crystallizes. You are able to use your fully formed Real You competitive advantage to delight your customers. And when you’re in business, that’s the end game. Truly.
Whether you are a full-time entrepreneur, considering becoming one, or somewhere in between, your personal brand and your business brand are unstoppable as long as they are aligned with purpose and vision.
Remember the strength found in conviction, in confidence. Remember, you aren’t alone. You are the only one who can define your dream and go for it. So, as the summer begins to wind down, the only question that remains is: Why aren’t you moving forward?
“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves, they have the first secret of success.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale
