We’re all special, unique and one-of-a-kind…then again,we’re…not. I saw a post on Twitter this week that said to be successful, we’ve got to do something no one has ever done before. True. In the realm of business, every now and then we get a ground-breaking idea, something new and innovative that sets us apart. That is until everyone else notices and starts to innovate, improve, change and re-package your “new” thing, and it’s now the “old” thing. We all have unique gifts, talents, appearances, skills, abilities and voices. I believe that we’ve each been put here do make a special contribution to the world. We are each SPECIAL…but, then again, we’re not. We are not the only Marketers, Architects, Social Media Consultants, Coaches, Experts, Boutiques, Singers, Musicians, Actors, Car Salesman, Trainers , Speakers and Widget Salesmen in the world. There is truly nothing new under the sun. So, what DOES make one memorable, unique and irresistible as a person, company or brand? It’s Presence, Presents, Positioning and Presentation. Special is as special DOES. Your unique presence and voice, how you leverage your talents and skills, positioning yourself in the right places and how you present yourself and your brand are the keys to long term success.

Presence

Presence is more than what you wear, your hairstyle, your car. It’s not your outer appearance, although appearance does play a part. Presence is what you radiate outward. It’s personality, style and communication wrapped in a nice package. It’s part of your overall brand strategy that needs attention and development. Presence is how you are perceived by others and the statement you make when you appear on the scene, be it in person or in print. I like to call it the “E.F. Hutton Effect”. In the 80′s there was a commercial with the tagline “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen”. Presence is what makes people listen when you speak, act when you ask and remember you long after you’re gone. The components of a great presence are knowing who you are, what you value and confidence in yourself and your abilities. Develop presence by developing yourself personally, knowing and accepting yourself, and honing your craft, as well as your communications.

Presents

Presents are those skills, abilities and way of doing things that make us unique and set us apart. They are what make us different and valuable to others. Take inventory of everything you do well and that you love to do. These are the skills for you to leverage and build a presence around.  They also help point you towards your purpose. Focus your efforts in the direction of the these skills, whether it is building a business or finding employement. You’ll not only excel at what you’re doing, you’ll enjoy doing it as well.

Positioning

My friend Jaineen, reminds me all the time to  “Take inventory of your resources, dear”. She’s speaking about everyone in my network who I know and those relationships that I can better leverage for potential and growth. Those people I can be helped by as well as help. What people and industries make up your network? Are you getting to know people who can potentially benefit from what you do? Where and with whom do you spend your time? Interact with people within and across niches with whom you can share, learn and grow. Have you marketed yourself to your target demographic? Expand your network by interacting with and engaging the people you want to know. Go to networking events, talk to people, have conversations, let people get to know you and what you do. Twitter is BY FAR the most effective networking and tool I’ve found to do this. Twitter allows you to interact with people with whom you would never have been able to communicate. Twitter puts you squarely in the midst of people making decisions and has no time or geographical boundaries. If you engage and connect well, you can build relationships all over the globe! Using Twitter, I’ve built friendships and business partnerships, gotten speaking engagements and new clients. Twitter can used for marketing, learning new trends, data mining, and much more!

Presentation

How you present and market yourself makes a difference. Develop your brand and know what you want to be known for and the effect you want to have on people before you strike out. It’s not just about business cards and power suits. It’s taking time to pay attention to details and making sure you take pride in what you do and how you do it. Your communications, materials and interactions should be excellent. Take time and pay attention to details. Does your site look like every other site? Is it sloppy or professional? Do you show up to meetings prepared? How do you speak to people? Are you a good listener? What impression do people have of you once they’ve engaged? My experts in interior design and staging know all about this. How a home is presented can make the difference between sitting on the market for months and months, or getting an offer after the first showing. I attended a talk once where the speaker talked about the power of presentation. He presented two images. A beautifully cooked meal presented on a gorgeous place setting and table. The next image was the same meal, presented on an aluminum garbage can lid. I’ll never forget it. It does not matter how wonderful your service, skill or personality is, if you don’t present it in a way that’s appealing to people. Focus on these 4 P’s of success and you’ll quickly separate yourself as special and memorable. You may not be doing what has never been done, but you’ll certainly make a great impression!

Looking for energy, inspiration, great insight and help growing your business and brand? Have Staci J. Shelton as your keynote speaker or consultant! Let Staci teach your company to ENGAGE powerfully and be irresistible to customers.