Monday, March 29, 2010

What Teachers Make

If you haven't seen this your should.  Watch it.  Listen. Watch it again and then pass it along. You want to see someone who is brave enough to not only be his own brand but to stand up for it? Taylor Mali delivers!
Enjoy. Be inspired. Be Intetional. Be your brand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuFnP5N2uA&feature=player_embedded

Friday, March 26, 2010

Environmental Color Theory

Most of my clients are either corporate teams or individuals that fall into the linear thinker category.  So when I say the words "color theory" to either of these audiences it evokes one of two emotions; anxiety or boredom.  Hence the creation of Environmental Color Theory.

Designed to disect this anxiety inducing topic into 3 sections this view of color and how they relate to each other uses influences that we can all relate to.  Not just the gifted arty type but the analytical, the emotive, and visual. 

Having studied color theory, dabbled in cognitive learning, and spent many hours behind two-way glass eating bowls full of M&M's watching the reactions of anonymous individuals while they explore the practical application of consumer goods to their life (a.k.a. a focus group) I came up with Environmental Color Theory.  I use this when developing a color palette for a client to give them a functioning wardrobe but also when teaching a workshop to corporate teams to give them the tools to express themselves to thier intended audience, but also support how they feel and ultimately not fade into the background or the "black-ground" as I call it.

In a nutshell:
  • Color effects emotion.  We have 5 basic emotions from which on a daily basis we would like to call upon to support us; calming, clearing, grounded, powerful and expressive.
  • These emotions are also reflective of our environment and the elments found in it; water, wind, earth, sun and energy.
  • Visually they relate to colors that fall within each of these emotional and environmental categories such as:
    • calming = water = blues, aqua & water tones
    • clearing = wind = greys, greens (leaves) & elements of the wind
    • grounded = earth = browns & earth tones (sorry no brown available in Blogger)
    • powerful = sun = reds, yellows, orange & warmth tones
    • expressive = energy = balanced colors such as purple that combines the calm of blue and the power of red
Once you've established the 5 colors that will support you they can be used to become more strategic in your approach to your personal brand style.  It will also make getting dressed easier because each of these colors go together, shopping more strategic, and greater longevity in your personal brand recognition.  And, yes, all of those colors do go together, and you can wear purple as man.  But I'll talk more about that later.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Is Green the New Black In Branding?

I love William Arruda (its OK, I'm pretty sure he already knows).  He is the Personal Branding Guru!  He is an outstanding compliment to what PBTA (Personal Branding Through Appearance) aims to create.  With his background he has a terrific stage and video presence and his message is quite powerful. Be Your Brand.  To take that a step further, if you are your own brand then your wardrobe is your logo. That's what Personal Branding Through Appearance is all about.

A large part of creating a brand is color.  Color effects emotion not only in the wearer but in the viewer.  The colors you see in logos, commercial interiors and packaging is very intentional.  So when you are dressing your brand remember the impact that color can have. 

This video by William Arruda is a clever exploration into the color green. Stay tuned as I share more with you on color and the effect it can have both visually and emotionally.

"Is Green The Color Of Your Brand" by William Arruda; Personal Branding TV

A Rant, A Rave and A Request

The good news is, I have invented a concept that challenges people's perception of what they think they know. A true entrepreneurial moment!
The bad news is, I have invented a concept that challenges people's perception of what they think they know.  The scratching and clawing my way out of the box that people want to immediately put me in never ends.

Here's how it usually goes:
Party Goer I: "So what do you do?"
Me: "I created a process called 'Personal Branding Through Appearance' designed to give specific tools to entrepreneurs, consultants and service professionals to help them bridge the gap between how the feel and how they look by supporting personal style development and strategic wardrobe management."
Party Goer II: "Oh so are you like those people on 'What Not To Wear'?!"
Party Goer I: "Yeah, I love that show. They are so mean."
Me: "Um, no.  I actually provide tools to create ownership in an empowering setting like individual consultations or corporate workshops that drive motivation through brand talent."
Party Goer II: "So do you do personal shopping?"
Party Goer I: "Did you go to Fashion Week? Oh my gosh, are you judging what I'm wearing now?"
Party Goer II: "Yeah, or like that show 'The Rachel Zoe Project'. She's so mean"
Party Goer I: "I know. I love that show".
Me: Sigh. "Cocktail anyone?"

The Rant. I'm a Branding Expert that after 17 years of doing it for the apparel and gourmet food industry I invented a  concept for identifying your personal brand and creating a strategic approach to supporting it visually.  If you are your own brand your wardrobe is your logo.

The Rave. I'm not an advocate of following trends and I honestly don't categorize myself as fashion obsessed.  Meaning, I don't care who's got what on which runway, and I certainly don't associate myself with the Fashionista world. 

My target audience is the Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur magazine reader. My goal is to be featured in one of those magazines and speak at the companies that value having empowering their employees to embrace their personal brand and authenticity because they know the benefit is a team of people that relate to their brand they work for and take more ownership in it.

The Request. Please don't ask me to judge how you look.  I can't and won't. You are hard enough on yourself without me doing that. Please don't call me an "Image Consultant" (its just such a negative word). I'm a Persoal Brand Style Consultant. And finally, please don't ask if I'm like "What Not To Wear".  That makes for entertaining TV (if you're in to public humiliation), but it is not a positive life experience. 

Give people rules and they'll break them.  Give them tools and they'll take ownership.

Listen Up Service Professionals, Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Consultants! Brand Yourself Through Your Appearance

Brand Yourself Through Your Appearance - Teleseminar
Date: April 05, 2010
Time: 10:00am EST (9:00am CST, 8:00am MST, and 7:00am PST)
Sponsored by: A Red Bench
Description:

“Tired. Worn out. Out of date. Drab. Does this sound like your wardrobe? Whether you are dressing for a new consultation, a networking event, a date or taking your kids to the park, many days we stand in front of our closets and say, I’ve got nothing to wear!” To create great style, and make the right choices for you, there has to be a connection between identity and image. Attend our next live teleclass with Personal Style Expert, Darcey Howard, owner of LifeStyled and founder of "Personal Branding Through Appearance" and we'll help you bridge the gap between how you feel and how you look. Don't worry. This isn't about bright orange suits, $3,000 hand bags or dresses that require tape to stay on. LifeStyled is about you, your own personal style, the life you want to lead and how you want to wear it. The facts are you have about 6 seconds to make an impression so from calm and casual, to slick and stylish, to professional and powerful, we'll teach you how to identify the personal style that plays to your strengths, increase your self confidence and make you feel like the person you've always wanted to be. Darcey says, "If you are your own brand then your wardrobe is your logo."

On the call, we will talk about how to develop your own style, how to create a fantastic capsule wardrobe you can grow from and share some do and don’t of the pros. Best part, as an organizer, many of us work with clients on closet organizing project so you can share what you learn on our call with your clients. How many clients have held up a sweater with shoulder pads and said, “Is this out of style?” Using what you learn on this call you can help them project the image they want to portray and use this class as a CEU.

Register: REGISTER NOW FOR BRAND YOURSELF THROUGH YOUR APPEARANCE!

Black Is Not A Color and Its Not Your Brand

"Our society wants you to fit in so it can ignore you" - Seth Godin
Ever wonder what it takes to create a personal brand that speaks to your intended audience,attracts your ideal customers and gets you noticed?

Having a brand doesn't just apply to copiers and breakfast cereal.
As a consultant, coach or service based business you are more than a business owner.

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You are your brand.
Own your personal brand and refuse to be ignored!
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As experts in building brand integrity for businesses and individuals, Margaret Prusan, Professional Business Consultant & Darcey Howard, Personal Branding & Style Consultant, will provide the tools, tips and guidelines you can put into place immediately to make sure you stand out in a crowd versus just fitting in.

Come away with...
• Clarity of how your personal brand is conveyed and perceived both visually and professionally.
• Tools for bridging the gap between how you feel, how you look and how you sell.
• Knowledge on how to leverage your USP (Unique "Style" Proposition) to attract ideal customers
• Guidelines to identify, build and maintain your personal brand and leverage it in your business.

Don't miss this opportunity to get what your personal brand needs to not be ignored.
Cost is just $37.00

Simply click here to pay.


Join Margaret Prusan, founder of Illumin LLC, and Darcey Howard, founder of Personal Branding Through Appearance & LifeStyled, Ltd., on April 20th at 12:00. See complete details below.
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"Black is Not a Color "
Workshop

April 20th, 2010
12:00 - 2:30p.m.
In Good Company Workplaces
16 W. 23rd St., 4th Flr.
New York City
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To sign up or for more information, please contact Darcey at darcey@getlifestyled.com or Margaret at margaret@illumin.biz

We look forward to seeing you soon!