Note from Laurie: This post is a Daily LaunchTip from Victoria Colligan, Founder of Ladies Who Launch. She understands the power of your image and that we are all our own walking business cards.  Be sure you are sending the message that you intend!

You have two business cards. There’s the impressive, pocket-sized work of graphic art that you proudly proffer at every opportunity, and then there’s you. The most successful entrepreneurs I know literally look the part of the brand they are building. Most importantly, they understand their brand which informs their “look”. This may be easier said than done. For us time-starved, harried entrepreneurs, “looking the brand” may seem like another thing we have to do, among all the other things on our “to do” lists. Yet representing our brand from the inside out can make all the difference. It lends credibility to what we are doing and conveys passion around our venture. At the end of the day, passion and credibility are key components of closing any sale or entering into any negotiation. You are a walking business card. You represent a brand. Whether you’re detail oriented, creative, artistic or a strong communicator, customers are only human and they will subconsciously judge your inside by what they see on the outside. It’s worth it to spend a little extra time to look clean, crisp and put-together. Whether you choose cotton or cashmere, it’s all marketing material. And as you keep clarifying and evolving your business brand, the nuances of how to best represent it on the outside will continue to become more clear as well.

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I recently asked a good friend and talented interior designer to help me start changing the look of my home after an “aha” moment in which I realized how much my home environment impacts my life and work. I work from my home, and on days that I am not meeting with clients I spend  a lot of time in my home office.  I have been saying for quite some time now that my home does not reflect my personality or my essence. It is stuck in the past, and it really bothers me. I kept waiting to invest in my surroundings until I had that “perfect” home. But what I have come to realize is this: make the best of where you are right now, and embrace what you have even if you aspire to have something different at some point.

I didn’t realize how much this parallels what I teach my clients about their personal image and appearance. (more…)

Did you watch the 2010 Winter games?  I find it fascinating to watch these accomplished athletes pushing the limit every single day to become the BEST at what they do.  It is admirable to see the dedication to their sport, and how that trickles down into all areas of their life.  They start with the passion that makes them want to get out there each and every day to practice.  They often have a grueling schedule to get their practice in very early in the morning before they head off to school and then when they get home they need to study and do homework, then they get up and do the same routine again day after day.  They start competing and with each step they move a little closer to their dream of becoming an Olympic athlete!  They often have to give up doing the things that most kids their age are doing and they do so because of their commitment to their goal.

My favorite event is figure skating — Men’s, Women’s, Pairs and Ice Dancing.  I love the costumes, the creativity and the amazing routines they are able to execute on the ice with such elegance and grace.  I would be lucky to stand on skates!  They also are often performing while overcoming injury or difficult circumstances as we saw this year for Canadian skater Joannie Rochette.  Her mom passed away just days before her performance and she decided to skate anyway, because she knew that her mom would have wanted her to. She won a bronze medal.

How does all this relate to what you do? What I’ve noticed is that many of us are doing work we love and are dedicated to.  We put in many years getting to the point of being known as an expert. That transformation does not happen overnight.  We take baby steps and keep moving in the direction of our dream.

This is the same process we use in perfecting your image.  First, we begin to shift your mindset, make small changes to start honoring who you’ve become.  Just like an athlete, it takes time to perfect.  We are always evolving and changing.  We are always a work in progress. Enjoy the journey in getting to know yourself!  Savor the experience of trying new colors or styles of clothing that might push you outside your comfort zone a bit to see how it feels.  As you take these steps you will notice that your mindset will shift and you will feel more confidence in trying new things.  You may begin to notice shifts and changes in other areas too – maybe the weight that was so hard to lose is all of a sudden coming off easier or that new book project you’ve struggled with seems to flow more easily. It’s all because you have started to care for yourself in a new way with new eyes – one little step at a time.

So what will your baby step be today?