There is a quote I love by Matshona Dhliwayo that sums the importance of why we all need to standout “The world accommodates you for fitting in, but only rewards you for standing out.” It is only when you dare to be different that you get scale to your full potential; realms that you perhaps never thought were possible.
In business, entrepreneurs will hire strategy experts to help explore and identify the Blue Ocean for their business; the zone where the business ought to operate away from its competition. When in the blue ocean, the business is ‘swimming’ on its own terms, creating its own demand based on the value it’s bringing to the table thus making the competition irrelevant.
As an individual, standing out is just as necessary, if not more important. Why? Because before people interact with the organization you represent, they will first interact with you, the person. They will not only look at your outward appearance but your behaviors, your attitude, your personality, and your expertise. How you bring out these traits to those around you determines how they perceive you.
For you or your business to leave a lasting impression, you must stand out from the crowd. And branding is one of the best and greatest pillars of standing out as it allows you to be more noticeable when compared to your peers or competitors. Brands that have excelled in their branding techniques have managed to stand the test of time. The same applies to individuals who have managed to positively shape other people’s perception about them through what we now term as ‘Personal Branding’.
Do you have the right brand that will get you to standout from the crowd?
This newsletter series is about learning what it takes to #Standout4Growth. Only when you get yourself out of the crowd, out of your comfort zone, will you grow. As Gina Milicia once said, “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.”
Learn Brand with Standout 4 Growth!
Have a great read in our previous article about Marketing and Branding: And the Dating Game