Your Beliefs Affect Your Brand

In 2005, as a novice in the world of public speaking and writing, I faced a common challenge while negotiating prices for my services. Despite two years of growth and success in my business, I found myself repeatedly confronted with this issue. I often felt uncertain and hesitant when presenting my figures to potential clients, fearing rejection. This insecurity led me to underprice my services on several occasions.

Realizing that the root of the problem was my lack of confidence and self-belief, I knew that I needed to address this issue to align my beliefs with my brand, which included truly owning my value to command fair pricing for my work.

Michael Bernard Beckwith said, "You can hide your secret thoughts because they show up as your life." My experience nearly 20 years ago taught me this: your beliefs, behaviors, and the responses you get from others have a great influence on your brand. A part of your brand is the energy you give off to the world. But what determines your energy??

What you believe about yourself, others, and the world around you. What you think about this trio--you, the person in front of you, and what's happening at the moment--determines your behavior. It is not just about what you say, it’s how you act which is based on what’s going on deep down inside. People sense what is going on and it influences their response to you.

This cycle of belief, behavior, and response is based on self-perception. Particularly, your clarity of what you bring to the conversation and relationship. This powerful force can either propel you forward or hold you back. What is it doing for you?

To build a strong brand, it is essential to align your beliefs with your actions and responses. This requires self-reflection. It seems everyone is talking about being authentic, but what does that mean to you? When you exude courage, confidence, and competence, people will be drawn to you. ?

What steps can be taken to align beliefs with actions and responses? By completing the following statements, you can begin the journey towards greater self-awareness and understanding of the barriers preventing you from fully embracing your potential.

• I believe I am...
• The evidence that confirms this fact is...
• The responses I get from others reflect this truth because…

Remember, your brand reveals what is at the core of who you think you are. It is your job to do the work to become who are really are.

By identifying your beliefs and challenging those beliefs that don’t serve you, you can build a strong, authentic brand. And the results will speak for themselves.

Copyright ? 2024 All rights reserved. S. Renee Smith is a bestselling author and CEO of Leaders Career Accelerator , an online development hub for mid-career leaders.