To read the article I wrote about Tony Blair's Brand for Business and Politics, please click on the link: http://www.businessandpolitics.org/?p=1645

THE POWER OF ONE’S PERSONAL BRAND

Self Presentation - The 10 all-important components of how you ‘package’ your Brand -


1. Excellent grooming – what a person sees first…
2. Upbeat body language – standing tall…
3. Good eye contact – steady & ‘alive’...
4. Attire that is appropriate to the business culture and that says something personal about you – professional polish…
5. Smiling – it’s contagious…
6. A firm handshake – certainty… If it’s an interview situation, it sets the tone…
7. Excellent manners – always…
8. A healthy appearance – taking care of ourselves…
9. Communication in person, email or by phone that’s congruent – one message one communication style…
10.Being engaging – fake it to make it… Do it often enough and it’ll naturally imbed itself within your brand

Your Reputation - The 10 all-important components of your Brand Promise -

1. Energy – mental rehearsal…
2. Optimism – it’s a choice…
3. Passion & Enthusiasm – key to all in-person communication…
4. Reliability – not the same as consistency…
5. Empathy/E.Q – the psychological glue that creates meaningful relationships in business and in our personal lives…
6. Humility – ego-less – life is not about one-upmanship…
7. Humour – lighten up…
8. Listening skills – listen with all your heart…
9. Focus – one thing at a time done well…
10.Integrity – be known for this vital quality…

With these 20 attributes in place, your personal brand will be given a significant upgrade. Moreover, whether you’re a CEO, spouse, parent or entrepreneur, your value and collateral as a human being will increase exponentially. You’ll also be considered by others as being ‘authentic’. Moreover, some of you will discover who you really are; perhaps for the first time.

'Tis the season … for giving…

In the spirit of giving, this Christmas I’ve made a donation to PLAN, an organization that promotes child rights and lifts millions of children out of poverty. http://plan-international.org/ I'm doing this instead of sending Christmas cards to friends, relatives and clients. Given the huge challenges that affect children around the globe, it feels like the right thing to do.

I wish you all a peaceful, happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Best wishes,

Malcolm

Your Outer Brand is a Reflection of Your Inner Brand

There’s a lot of media attention being paid to the new wave of being ‘nice’. In fact, The Sunday Times Style section tells us "It’s Cool To Be Kind Right Now.” You may be asking ‘what’s that got to do with my Brand?’ Well, just about everything.

When I read that Victoria Beckham is doing “charity work in Kentucky”, I realised that, like the New Black is Colour and 50 is the New 40, All About Us is the New All About Me. Hooray! It’s fashionable to be kind, generous and nice. I like that. And one part of me is delighted that common decency, thoughtfulness and kindness is now considered fashionable. However, having spent years in the fashion business, I’m wondering how enduring this new trend will be.

Following the hottest trends can be mildly addictive. I know, because, when I was in the fashion business, much to my chagrin, I fell into that trap on more than one occasion. After pitching up at a handful of fashion shows, ranging from New York to Barcelona, one can get carried away with the fashion cognoscenti swooning over a designer’s, often un-wearable collection. Think Christian Lacroix’s failed, loss-making, couture-fashion business. The top fashion buyers bought it and loved it. However, that was it, customers didn’t. Sadly, his brand didn’t have any commercial recognition or appeal. In part, that’s because it was hugely expensive, beyond exclusive and out of reach for mere mortals. In addition, the brand was too ephemeral.

Any brand, even a personal brand, cannot afford to be known as ephemeral. And in order for your Personal Brand to be strong, impactful and lasting, it has to be able to tell and sell a good story. Here, I’m referring to the ‘inside story’, or your Inner Brand. An Inner Brand that tells a good story needs to be congruent, authentic and credible. And achieving that wiil largely depend on who you are on the inside: what your Inner Brand stands for. Think about it, the people we most admire or warm to, aren’t always the most beautiful on the outside. Think Mother Theresa, Susan Boyle, Ugly Betty, the character of the title, Vera Lynne. What about Madeleine Albright, the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State?

So, in order to create a Personal Brand that’s authentic, congruent, impactful and sustainable, follow these 9 Tips:

1. Reject quick fixes and replace them with patience

2. Be generous to others, both in word and deed

3. Think positive thoughts, even when you feel less than positive

4. Be grateful for what you have, rather than focusing on what you don’t have

5. Be prepared to make sacrifices in order to have the life you want

6. Remove prejudices and replace them with openness & learning

7. Offer unconditional compassion and empathy to others

8. Be a good listener

9. Remember, giving is the new getting

As Dr Robert Holden, Director/Founder of The Happiness Project, said recently in The Sunday Times: "I think of kindness like an antidepressant”

Out Of Fashion – In Style





The title of this Blog stands as a testament to the way I’ve always felt and continue to feel about the fashion industry. More importantly, why I’m of the strong opinion that Style transcends fashion; always has and always will.

Although I spent a large part of my working life in the retail fashion business, I never really felt a part of it. In fact, during the heady 80s when logos and designer labels were becoming more important than the clothes they adorned, I made a stand. I only bought a line of designer clothing if the manufacturer would agree to leave off or remove the designer’s name or logo from the garment. My customers were not prepared to wear any clothing item or accessory that visually advertised a designer or their logo for the world to see, moreover, nor was I.

Like me, my clients were focused on buying clothes that worked for them, not for the designer or manufacturer. In those days, the fashion coterie thought I was mad. At a time when most fashion retailers were going loco for logos, I was denying them their (often) unearned place of pride. The buying public had been brainwashed into believing that if a designer, their label or logo was deemed de rigueur, the purchase, almost irrespective of what the item was, its quality, design or price, would be money well spent. I did not subscribe to that false belief. At that time, my views, by industry insiders were considered as being out of sync. I guess I was out of fashion!

First Impressions Count (to 10)

With the minimum of effort, just a few brush strokes conveys the identity of the person above. Now that's what I call a powerful, iconic Personal Brand...

Although there are differing opinions about how much time we have to make a positive first impression, in my considered opinion it’s about 10-seconds. This brings me to my Webinar on Personal Branding, hosted by former Dragons’ Den panellist, Rachel Elnaugh. The event was a success because the subject is very important right now. I believe that’s a symptom of our times and people’s need and desire to distinguish themselves. It’s a kind of riposte to the sameness we seem to experience in the world; whether that homogenization appears in fashion, use of language, physical attractiveness, behaviours or attitudes. Or, even in the way we communicate with each other.

It seems to me that in order to stand out from the crowd, we need to develop a strong, positive personal brand. We all have a Personal Brand, whether we know it or not. Our personal brand is what people say about us, not what we say about ourselves.

In case you missed the Webinar, here are the main points I covered. These are the all-important components for a congruent Inner and Outer Personal Brand.

Your Outer Brand is the way you ‘package’ yourself. Here’s how to convey unquestionable professional polish:

Excellent grooming
Upbeat body language
Good steady eye contact
Attire that is appropriate to the business culture and says something about you
Smiling – it’s contagious
A firm handshake – it sets the tone
Excellent manners - treating others as you would like to be treated
Communication – in-person, by phone or email, one congruent communication style
Be engaging and know how to build rapport

Your Inner Brand, in essence, is your Reputation. Here are the attributes that will contribute greatly to your Inner ‘brand promise.’

Energy
Optimism
Passion & Enthusiasm
Reliability
Empathy/EQ
Humility
Humour
Excellent listening skills
Integrity

With these attributes in place, your Personal Brand will be given a significant upgrade. Moreover, whether you’re a CEO, a spouse or entrepreneur, your value and collateral as a human being will increase exponentially. You’ll also be considered by others as being someone who’s authentic. Moreover, some of you will know who really are, perhaps for the first time.

Men Only - Outer Brand - Grooming Tip in London: a great haircut at a good price is to be had by Carmelo @ Melogy. He's very talented and also a really nice guy. Here's his website: www.melogy.com

Women Only - Outer Brand - Makeup Tip: Several of my female clients are thrilled with the products from the CHROMA makeup studio in the heart of Beverly Hills. Their high quality,well-priced products can't be found on the high street. For a unique experience, now you can order easily online: http://www.chromamakeupstudio.com/chromamakeupstudio/Chroma.html

Personal Branding Webinar

Instead of my regular Blog, I'd like to invite you to a Webinar, hosted by Rachel Elnaugh, former panellist on BBC 2's Dragons' Den, when I'll be talking about Personal Branding. The date for this event is August 20. The time is 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Anyone can join the webinar, and what's more it's FREE. It's an interactive event, so the Q&A segment is likely to be interesting.

I do hope you'll be able to join me. Here's the information and link to join for FREE:

Rachel Live with Malcolm Levene, Personal Branding Guru and Business Coach

Join us for a Webinar on August 20

Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at:https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/352273682

I look forward to speaking to some of you on Thursday!