Being True to Yourself

I adore fashion magazines. I consume Vogue on a monthly basis and whet my appetite in between with hits of Grazia. I also love movies full of fashion and glamour like the Devil Wears Prada, Breakfast at Tiffanys and the September Issue. It’s probably also why I fell in love with the Sex and the City Series.

I love getting glammed up and going out to dinner, or the races, or brunch. Like the stylist Rachel Zoe, I am an advocate for dressing up or wearing your favourite outfit whenever the mood takes you. So, four inch heels for brunch down at my local cafe on a Sunday morning – sure! A wristful of bangles and a jumpsuit to a function down the South Coast – why not! A faux fur shrug and skinny jeans to the movies or to pick tiles for a renovation – absolutely! Maybe it’s a reaction against wearing conservative business clothes on a daily basis but I love breaking out on the weekend.

I haven’t always been this way. Particularly in my 20’s it was easier to wear the ‘unofficial uniform’ of my friends and don ‘jeans and a pretty top’ when I went out. However with age (and hopefully wisdom) I began to feel comfortable in my own skin and experiment with what I wanted to wear. Sure sometimes I was overdressed and still at times my husband or a girlfriend will cock an eyebrow at what I’ve chosen. But if I’m confident and own my choice then does it really matter?

In business it is also important to be your authentic self. This means feeling comfortable in who you are and what you are doing. Not simply trying to follow the herd.

I am an accountant & business coach and if I tried to portray the stereotypical image of an accountant both personally and in the branding of my business it just wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t be me. Besides, with my accounting firm and my coaching business it is the differences that set me apart. Why would I want to try to emulate the myriad of other accountants and coaching businesses out there? Why not stamp my own style and personality on the business and really make it a great representation of who I am?!

This blog is about building (or rebuilding) your business. Like a wardrobe rebuild you need to start with a cull, make a list and then you can start to determine the bones of what you have and what you need. But you can’t start building your wardrobe if you don’t understand your own personal style - who you are and what you are all about.

If you hate glamour, heels and dressing up then you don’t need a wardrobe full of stilettos and party dresses! Similarly there is a reason why I still don’t own a tracksuit – I would simply never wear it.

The same applies to your business. It is important to understand your own style and personality and how that may influence what your business is and can be. There is a sea of ordinary businesses out there. As we start your business rebuild, make a decision to be extraordinary by embracing your uniqueness and starting to think about how you might apply your own personal style to your business.