Branding Tips for WoW

In Tuesday's post I mentioned that so much of who we are and how we are perceived comes from the importance we place on leveraging our personal brand value.

After all, isn't life often reduced to a few paragraphs in an obituary or maybe an article if we are worthy enough to have one written posthumously!

How will your story be told? Who will read your social biography and come away with a true sense of who you were and why you mattered?

The often overused term "first impressions matter" is actually fairly accurate. Some statistics I have read claim that first impressions are made in the first 20 seconds, and a bad first impression takes 20 additional contacts to rectify that bad first impression.

Maybe that is why many cultures place such an emphasis on the use of customs such as gifting and the sharing of business cards.

What does your first impression say about you? One of my dearest friends and esteemed colleagues (and a terrific guest blogger!), Evie, presents a business card that was designed and printed by the prestigious Alpine Creative Group. Her logo is pictured above, and her card is printed on fine card stock, and nestled in a small envelope - very impressive.

Evie is an international spokes-model and cultural exchange diplomat and no doubt these cards come in handy when meeting dignitaries, celebrities, and Heads of State.

Maybe that is why Sean "p-diddy" Combs and LeBron James are listed as clients on the Alpine website along with numerous corporations, and the US Government.

Next week we will cover gifting and how wrapping a certain way can go a long way to a great first impression.

Until then, remember to Believe, Achieve, Receive. SDG, JBHIV

Wednesday's Woman of Courage - Lillian Lincoln Lambert

I had the pleasure of meeting Lillian through my connection with the Harvard Business School Club here in CT.

Although I was unable to attend the meeting at which she spoke, one of my former colleagues at UBS was kind enough to bring to me an autographed copy of her incredible book.

My colleague was so impressed with Lillian's message that she invited her to speak at a UBS Diversity Event. The picture you see displayed is of Lillian, Cecelia Holloway, UBS MD, Diversity and Inclusion, and me.

Lillian's story is one of courage and commitment. Her motto is “If I can succeed, so can you.”
Born on a farm in the segregated South, Lillian sensed in her bones that a better life awaited her. At the age of 18, she journeyed to New York City and Washington, DC, to seek her fortune. After gutting out menial jobs as a maid and typist for a few years, Lillian came to the realization that her journey was internal and that education would be her ticket to a new world. With loans and scholarships in hand, she obtained a BA degree from Howard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. It was at Harvard that Lillian achieved a historical milestone as the first African American woman to receive a Harvard MBA. The year was 1969, an era forever linked with the civil rights and burgeoning women’s rights movements.
After Harvard, Lillian became a barrier-breaking entrepreneur. From 1976 to 2001, she was President and CEO of Centennial One, Inc., a building maintenance company she founded in her garage on a few thousand dollars. She grew the company to $20 million in sales with more than 1,200 employees. Lillian sold the company in 2001, eager to pursue other entrepreneurial opportunities, such as speaking and writing.
In 2003, Harvard Business School awarded Lillian the Alumni Achievement Award, the highest award bestowed on its alumni. The award recognizes recipients for "their contributions they made to their companies and communities, while upholding the highest standards and values in everything they do."
This brief post cannot begin to provide the depth of her incredible spirit. I urge you to get a copy of her book and read it cover to cover.
We will continue to highlight courageous women each Wednesday, so check back with us next week. Or better yet, keep tuned to this blog daily. We wouldn't want you to miss a thing!
Until then, remember to believe, achieve, receive. SDG, JBHIV

Expanding Your Brand

Many of you are very successful at what you do. Whether through hard work, circumstance, or sheer luck, you have arrived at a place many only dream of.

You are a Woman of Wealth. You have already been placed in a position of power. Your social biography is being written and read by many.

And you are your own Brand.

Very few are aware of the magnitude by which we control, and yes, can leverage ME, Inc. There is constant competition for your mental mindshare - brands looking to get your attention so as to generate new business or consumption.

How is your brand perceived? What is it's value to you and those around you? How can you bring more value to your brand and create a meaningful social biography in the process?

I will have some information for you in this Thursday's post, so check back. And please look for Wednesday's Women of Courage post tomorrow. It will feature a woman who has created her own personal brand by breaking a lot of glass - ceiling, that is!

Until then, remember to believe, achieve, receive. SDG, JBHIV

Special Guest Blogger - Evie on Revealing Yourself

JBHIV: I am pleased that Evie has agreed to fill my shoes today. Last Saturday's Lifestyle Lifter column featured her and the response was literally off-the-charts. Evie will be guest blogging every Saturday so tune in again next week!

As a model/spokesperson for beauty companies, my photographs were featured in several magazines published to provide women with information about beauty, well-being and lifestyle through editorial content imbued with sensuality, glamour, passion, romance, fashion and all the deep wishes and emotions that women carry within their hearts. It was then that I met a very talented and creative writer/photographer/filmmaker/all around…………….amazingly artistic woman. Her name is Amber Roniger. She listened to my thoughts, my desires, my inner voice speaking and was inspired to write the poem/story “ Reveal Yourself “ to accompany my images in Dare Magazine a publication distributed to mainly women beauty executives/professionals. Amber in now partner and creative director of EvieVision. Stay tuned for more PASSION ROMANCE FASHION COMING SOON… till then…. Enjoy Life and Reveal the “ Je ne sais quoi” within you for all to see !!!!! Evie

Your inner voice whispers, reveal yourself...


Disrobe, unclothe, wash away enmity
Create blissful reality
Scrub your soul shiny clean
Dig in, find true meaning

Strip down to your primal core
And build yourself up again
Unblock, unclog, unfetter, unwind
Sublime
Boundless, borderless, without time

Be a sassy, brassy broad
Strut your stuff
Get noticed
Be bold, be proud, walk tall
Be a woman

Embrace inner adventure
Exfoliate your essence
Exude blinding courage
Elevate your confidence
Announce your presence

Renew
Refresh
Regenerate
Rebirth
Reveal

Revel in forgotten dreams
Unearth buried treasures
Retrieve mystic knowledge of ages
Buried deep in the enclaves of your breathless, restless soul

Dust off your creativity
Unveil your unique-y freaky self

Nurture your nature
Love your faults
Flaunt your flaws
Face yourself
Surprise the world
Challenge perceptions
Shine intelligence

Visualize
Vocalize
Magnetize
Materialize

Be righteous, strong, serene
Discover your complexity
Re-negotiate your identity
Emanate harmony

Suck the marrow
Close your eyes
Be the sunrise

Flourish and nourish the genius within
Which is all knowing
Zen

Follow your guide
Through your third eye
Aye and Aye, Adonai
Exude life

Be your own goddess, Shekinah, Shiva
Dreamer becomes believer
Lifelong journey, spirit guides
Take you in your dreams and fly
Now open your eyes

Electron rider
Soul searcher
Spirit quest
Your very best

Seize the day
Hallelujah, amen

Born again

Deep flavor, soulful behavior
Outrageous
Bodacious
Precocious
Own it
Know it
Show it
Womanish and lovin' it!

Will yourself into being
Becoming
True
You
Lucid dreaming
Loving, being

Lavish thyself
Learn thyself
Love thyself

Reveal Yourself

© 2009 Dare, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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TGIF - Memorial Day Weekend Plan

This weekend ushers in the "unofficial" beginning of the Summer Season.

And although a growing number of our followers reside outside the US (4 continents, 13 countries at last count), there are still a fair number of you who are preparing for what I hope will be a restful, and safe Holiday weekend.

Amid all the Picnics, Beach outings, Family BBQ's, and other traditional Memorial Day weekend activities, please take an opportunity to honor the women and men of our Armed Forces throughout the World as they serve our countries.

Without their sacrifice, and those that came before them, our future and our children's future would be much different.

Check in tomorrow for a very special Guest Blogger -Evie- who I introduced in last Saturday's Lifestyle Lifter's post.

Until then, remember to Believe, Achieve, Receive. SDG, JBHIV

Wednesday's Woman of Courage - 85 Broads Founder, Janet Hanson

In my post last Wednesday announcing the re-launch of the WWRG blogsite I mentioned my affiliation with the 85 Broads organization, a global and exclusive women's network, and my honorary membership as one of the first "Guys Who Rock".

I also promised to bring back the Wednesday's Woman of Courage post that spotlights the efforts of one or more courageous and visionary women from across the globe.

Since my loyal followers now come from 13 countries and 4 continents, it is only fitting that I honor today a woman whose efforts through 85 Broads have resulted in a membership of over 22,000 women (and a handful of men) in 82 countries.

I am speaking of Janet Hanson - Wall Street legend, Author, Entrepreneur, Cancer Survivor, Mother, and Friend.

Her accomplishments are too numerous for me to give to you so I encourage you to read a recent interview of Janet by another 85 Broads member, Ana Lueneburger.

In her book, More Than 85 Broads, Janet delivers a powerful message - "Partnership is everything in life".

I couldn't agree with her more.

I encourage you to join the 85 Broads network and participate in your local chapter's events. I hope to see you at one of them.

Until then, remember to believe, achieve, receive. SDG JBHIV

We are the World, You are the World, I am the World

Small world. How we often use this term when we are reminded of someone we have in common with a stranger we have just met.

Or a friend of a friend we never suspected were acquainted.

Facebook and the other Social Media have brought us all together into a small space bounded by a screen, keyboard, and a mouse. Sometimes the choices and method of contact are mind-numbing.

That is why I created a very special, and yes, very exclusive social network just for Women of Wealth. It was called Womenlight.ning.com. It has been shuttered for over a year now, but due to the overwhelming response I have received since I began blogging again recently, I think it is time to bring it back.

Only this time, it will be a sanctuary, not just a one-dimensional portal. There will be areas of refuge as well as excitement. It will allow freedom, but also privacy.

And it will again be by invitation only.

The women that will form the initial group are some of the most influential on the planet. From this core group, we will build a network unlike any other. And if you are reading this post, you will almost assuredly receive an invitation at some point.

Because you are a woman of wealth, and you are a small world!

Until then, remember to believe, achieve, receive. SDG JBHIV