THE ANSWER IS YES, YOU ARE READY.
Ever heard of Stephanie Germanotta? Maybe.
Ever heard of Lady Gaga? Definitely!
Guess what…they are one and the same. Lady Gaga’s wild success story is not just the result of her incredible song and dance talent, but also a tale of branding. She leveraged her character from the stage to social media (and many channels in between) to create a feeling and a bond with her community that can’t be recreated.
THAT is the power of a “brand.”
So, what do we mean; what is a brand? Let’s start with what it’s not – just a logo and website. A brand is the distilled essence of your company. Anything from your brand voice, to cohesive visuals and a clear understanding of your ideal client comes together to form your unique offering.
Example: if you’re a photographer, what’s your artistic strength; a wedding planner, how do you visually showcase your skill set; a floral designer, who exactly is your clientele?
You may feel lost and kind of nervous…"Is my business ready to become a brand? Am I ready to take that leap?” We’re here to help with…
7 Signs to Know You're Ready to
Take it to the Next Level
1. YOU’VE BEEN HUSTLING FOR 5-10 YEARS
This ain’t your first rodeo, you have seen some sh*t. And from that you’ve made changes, established some processes and have a general workflow in place (even if that means color-coded post-its on your desk).
2. YOUR BUSINESS IS PLATEAUING
At the beginning it was ups and downs, then there was the growth stage (which was the best!) and now it’s still all good but it’s also all the same. If you’re feeling a little bored, it’s a good sign it’s time to light the fire.
3. YOU L-O-V-E YOUR CLIENTS
And you want to spend more time with them (read: sell clients more services.) And honestly, they keep asking you to do more stuff for them anyway so why not make it a win-win situation?
4. YOU’RE O-V-E-R YOUR CLIENTS
It’s been a blast (or, maybe not) and you’re grateful...but you’re ready to find new clients. Like the kind that recognize your amazing talents and make you feel good.
5. YOU'RE READY TO MAKE BANK
It’s not all about the money but you did some math and in this case, it’s about the money. In actuality its all about your perceived worth with potential clients and that’s about to change $$
6. YOU'RE READY TO WORK “ON” YOUR BUSINESS NOT JUST “IN” YOUR BUSINESS
You’re the boss/the brains/the creative and you’re finally at a place where you can really embrace that. Your team is awesome, your systems flow (mostly) and now you can take a step back, look at the bigger picture and do the top-level dreaming & decision–making to get there.
7. YOU ARE SICK OF BEING UNDERCUT BY THE UP & COMERS
It’s bullshit. You’re wiser, better and not going anywhere. You’ve got a killer business (proven), established clout (people KNOW and LIKE you) and you’re in it to win it. It’s time to take it to the EDGE!
Scored high on the list and
considering crossing over?
Get in touch
NERD ALERTS:
Get pumped by real-life stories from the world’s greatest entrepreneurs with NPR's “How I Built This.” It’s a guaranteed inspired listen every damn time.
Need a laugh? Check out 19 year old, soon to be, Lady Gaga’s first photo shoot in her parents Upper East Side apartment….and you thought your first headshots were bad?!