THE NERVE OF MISS SUSAN BOYLE

As I listen to Miss Susan Boyle's spine tingling interpretation of "I dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Miserables for the twentieth time,

I realize that it isn't she that is transformed rather it is we that are being transformed.

Her raw talent wrapped in a middle aged disguise brings back feelings of innocence, naivety, and a heart without hurt.

We are all standing on our feet cheering for the person who was brave enough to endure the tough times while at the same time not forgetting what was important.

She was prepared for success and she knew it! She had us right where she wanted us.

In a matter of minutes she taught us a lesson about preconceived ideas and reminded us of who we are and who we should be.

Miss Boyle has become an "instant success" not because of her amazing voice but because she had the nerve and the determination to believe in her dream while others dismissively told her it was impossible.

She broke the "rules," she doesn't match the "formula" so...

Why did she try?

Why did she keep going?

Why was she successful?

How could this happen within seven minutes?

Which ingredients caused this historic viral chemical reaction? '60.000,000' and counting.

As Managers, Partners, Entrepreneurs, and CEO's what can we learn from Miss Susan Boyle? PLENTY!

In my opinion she never forgot what her passion was and she knew what was truly important to her. She also knew what she had!

Without a doubt she has a remarkable voice but it is her story which is getting all the press.

Finding your voice is vital to feeling fulfilled and evolving and that's something unique to all of us.

No matter who you are the pursuit of excellence is driven by a desire to create meaning and to do what is right for the common good.

There really isn't any difference for example between Miss Boyle and President Obama they have both found their positions or their voices if you like.

In both cases they have shown courage to be themselves and to trust their instincts.

Miss Boyle does not seem intimidated by what others think and or should you.

When we choose to follow the crowd we lose, it is only when we choose our own path that we start to feel energized and centered.

If you are going to make a mistake make sure it is your mistake.

The best we can do from following the crowd is realizing it isn't for us.

TRUST YOURSELF AND BE TRUE TO YOURSELF!

So the questions we must ask are.......

Have I found my voice?

What do I have to offer?

What is unique about my story?

What do I want?

Do I have the courage to lead?

Have I discovered myself?

Do I trust myself?

What is holding me back from going my own way?

What raw talent is uniquely mine?

How can I add meaning to what I do?

Knowing who you are and what you have to offer is a powerful force.

You owe it to yourself to invest in your success and pursue your best with Passion, Determination, and Conviction.

Defining and refining yourself adds meaning to all you do and you should never settle for anything less.

No Compromises! No Holding back!

If Miss Boyle has taught us anything it is to never give up your dream, be true to yourself, and be prepared for success because in the next seven minutes you could be discovered.

Thank you Miss Boyle for inspiring me. I would wish you good luck but I can see you have taken care of that.

INVEST IN YOUR SUCCESS!

RON TAYLOR IS A COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER BASED IN TOKYO.

KNOW YOUR "INNER BRAND"

If you were planning on introducing a new product the first questions you might ask are.

Why would someone be interested in buying my product?

What is special or different about my product?

Am I offering a high quality service?

Does my product "stand out" from other products?

How can I improve my product? Is it the best it can be?

How will I market it?

How will I promote it?

How will I develop it?

The great news is you have an amazing product to offer and that product is YOU.

YOU ARE THE PRODUCT! YOU ARE THE BRAND!

The bad news is you do not know your own "product" so you do not know what you are selling.

You are too busy to STOP and examine who you are and this is slowing your advancement personally and professionally.

KNOW YOURSELF! KNOW YOUR BRAND!

Successful companies know their products and services "inside and out" and so should you.

Most of us make the same mistake and focus only on "Hard skills" and not on "Soft skills"

Many of us become too complacent and stop reinventing ourselves.

We do very little to market, promote, or develop our ourselves.

So let us start over and ask ...

What is my specialty?

What makes me unique?

What is my image or reputation?

How do I make people feel?

What do I offer?

What is my niche?

What actions would increase my value?

WHAT IS MY BRAND? WHO AM I?

Great brands have earned our trust by specializing and offering us predictable excellence in a patient and consistent manner.

You have to define and refine your brand just as Toyota, Google, and Coke does.

You have to know the quality of your product before you can effectively sell it.

What do you project when you enter a room?

How do you want your colleagues, clients, and friends to think of you?

What do you need to change? Do you stand out?

What is your vision?

What is your personal mission statement?

What do you want to be famous for?

To understand yourself you need to take an honest look at who you are and what changes you need to make.

In other words you have to "Audit" yourself regularly to understand your brand and direction.

You also need to consult with someone you trust to give you a frank assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.

Successful companies and people use Focus Groups or Advisers and so should you.

Like all great companies you must evaluate and refine yourself on a quarterly basis.

The more you know about yourself the more you will understand what you want and what you do not want.

Everything you say and do reflects your brand from the way you dress to the business card you give out.

Everything should match the image you want to project.

You are a "walking advertisement" for all to see and judge.

What are you selling?

Marketing and Promoting ourselves is our way of becoming "VISIBLE."

The more visible you become the more refined you have to be.

You as a brand have to embrace the same strategies and tactics as global companies do.

Most of us are too busy reacting to life's challenges, but discovering yourself and who you are pays huge "dividends" personally and professionally.

Now is the time to STOP and evaluate who you are, where you are, and where you are going.

INVEST IN YOUR SUCCESS !

RON TAYLOR IS A COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR BASED IN TOKYO.