What are you building, an Image or an Identity?
What do you intend to create for yourself, an image or an identity? If you have already created, then what have you created for yourself, an image or an identity?
Image is something that you create as an as-if made up picture, representation of yourself.
An identity is what you represent, your mannerism demonstrate that, your actions show that, your language speaks about it, your intentions show that, your name elicits that, your values speak about that, an identity invokes positive feelings, it enables trust.
An image can be shattered, but an identity can’t be.
If you are an entrepreneur, business leader, working in any profession, student or a home maker, what are you aspiring to become, an image or an identity?
An image is what is portrayed by advertisement, sales pitches, media etc., they can influence people for sometime, but eventually fall flat.
Identities don’t need any of that. They are being chased, looked up to, felt, and serve as a reminder that there is something worthwhile to be accomplished. They promote passion, desirability, motivation, relatability, core transformation.
If you are a Coach, Consultant, Trainer, or Speaker, what do you desire for yourself an image or an identity?
Focus on building an identity that your clients can look upto, feel, relate, aspire to replicate, and in long run you will have steady clients who want to work with you, collaborate with you, be like you, spread the word about what you do, want to become your brand ambassadors.
Building an image is a short term temporary solution towards what you do, and building an identity is a long term process about who you want to become after being on the journey, and for the rest of your life.
Here are some more reflections for you to think through, and chalk out a plan.
So if you are wondering what to do, turn your attention inwards and feel what you truly represent?
- What do you want to represent for the rest of your life?
- What is the identity that you want to wake up with, and go to bed with on a daily basis?
- What resonates so so much with you, that you can’t sleep until you turn into that, and live it every single day?
- Who are the people that have the identity that you want to have? See what they have done? What are their values, ethics, mannerisms, beliefs, gather as much information as you can.
Spend time alone to reflect on who you are as a person, what unique gifts you have, what do you represent, what would you like to represent, what do you stand for, and what you can’t stand?
