People say I’m a good storyteller, which is really nice, since it’s my career. My passion. My purpose. Stories have the power to inspire, delight, provoke, impact, ignite, and make us think. Whether it’s a play, book, movie, documentary….or brand story…there is a human desire to connect through story. Stories are often the only thing that can move … [Read more...]
Why Do We Need a Brand Story?
Why do you need a brand story? It’s quite simple. The market is competitive and customers have choices. Too many, actually. We are bombarded by 1000's of advertising messages every single day. But for those of you skeptical about how a brand story can help you close deals this quarter, pull up a chair. We are HUMANS. We have emotions and they … [Read more...]
How to Get Your Team to Align On and Live Out Your Mission
Your mission statement is meant to be a brand tool that informs your decisions on a daily basis. It describes what you do on a daily basis as an organization in pursuit of your larger vision. But as a leader, how do you ensure your team is aligned on mission? And most importantly, how can you ensure they are living it out on a daily basis? The first challenge requires … [Read more...]
How Do I Use My Mission Statement in My Brand?
Mission statements are cute, aren’t they? Clients get all tangled up in using words they’d never actually say and lofty statements that sound amazing but have nothing to do with their product or service. “Our mission is to empower women to be their best selves.” Um, you sell hosiery. Or they make it so generic: “Our mission is to help people.” Help them do what? Yes, … [Read more...]
Attract Business to You the Way The Royals Do
Time for something completely different! Ready to arrange your space to attract more clients, revenue, and success? Today's guest post is from Linda Rubright, founder of happyhousefengshui.com. Linda has been practicing feng shui for over a decade. She puts a modern, easy to understand spin on an ancient practice to help people quickly and simply attract more love, wealth, health and … [Read more...]
5 Ways Empathy Benefits Your Business
Empathy is not just good for society, it is good for your organization’s performance. (Yes, if I have to speak to selfish motives to make the world more empathetic, I will!) Empathy has been shown to have a direct impact on everything from customer loyalty to innovation to profits. When embraced with genuine intent and not simply as a glossy PR veneer, empathy … [Read more...]
Don’t compromise your story
Sometimes, we are so confident and passionate about the story we have to tell. We know that we can offer tremendous value, whether through our own brand story for customers or a creative story that leads to art, music, poetry or dance. Commerce and art are similar. When the story inspires you and resonates for others, things just seem to flow. Which is what was happening for me as I began … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Show More Empathy to Your Customers and Clients
Empathy is not just a woo woo concept. My new book, The Empathy Edge, explores the very practical, bottom-line impacts of having an empathy mindset. The book is for big organizations...and, yes, for solopreneurs. My research found that this ripple effect and the associated benefits achieved by adopting an empathy mindset as part of your business strategy are not just for brands that have a lot … [Read more...]
Are you giving too much away?
Recently, someone wrote to me and asked: “Maria, how can I differentiate my services without actually ‘giving it all away’ in the marketing and sales process? It's literally like pulling people out of The Matrix: unfortunately "no one can be told what the Matrix is - you have to see it for yourself." So I spend all this time ‘explaining the … [Read more...]
How Your Money Story Impacts your Business Success
Did you know? By the time you are 7 1/2, your money story has already been imprinted on you. And it’s either fueling or hindering your business success. What is your money story? It’s your relationship with money. It’s how you view it as a tool or a weapon. As scarce or abundant. How well you budget, plan, save and invest. All … [Read more...]
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