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When you see my "JB" logo, are you able to recognize it's me? I am constantly thinking about branding and brand identity because I realize how important to a company it is. After all, if you don't know who I am do I really even exist? I have a running engine of a a creative mind that just thinks constantly. I like to think about J. Benjamin a lot. While I took a few months off to try to rebuild the brand I tried to think of a way to be more visible. Believe it or not, being invisible after being on the scenes for a while, made people know about me more. Whether or not people like what I am doing or not, they were wondering if I was still working on my brand. I told them I had a few things in store but time is what I need at the moment.
While I was rebuilding, I wanted to figure out ways to enhance the customer experience. I wanted people to really enjoy everything about J. Benjamin Clothing Co. I thought and wrote about so many ideas. One idea that I was previously hesitant on was stickers. It seems like every indie clothing company has stickers so I was thinking why would I want to do what everyone else has already done? While away, I realized how influential a simple sticker can be. I was perusing the internet one day and came across a person sitting down with their laptop and on the backside of the screen was a sticker of another company. I am sure they put it on their computer because it was cool looking and they probably received it free of charge but for the company who gave it away it was a simple advertising technique. This person was sitting in some Wi-fi'd area where many customers pass by. Now if there was someone else in this same establishment on a computer, without even asking the person about the sticker, they could themselves look up the name and surely be brought to a website of the company.
So why in the world would I not want to use stickers? I began to look on the internet for stickers and came across an awesome company that makes extremely fantastic, vibrant looking stickers. Standout Stickers (www.standoutstickers.com), just by the name itself, lets me know that these are the people I want to give a try and get some stickers from. Who wouldn't want to stand out and be noticed when identifying your brand? Well, here's to a simple way to standing out and creating a lasting brand identity. Maybe next time you're in your local coffee shop you will see my logo on someone's computer.
You're invited to the party! So come on in! Well, not a real party. Sorry if I got your hopes up. I am referring to the party of goals. In this case the party is the ultimate goal and the person hosting the party is the goal-getter. Still confused? Allow me to explain.
I do a lot of things in the kitchen. I cook, bake, clean, sweep, wash dishes, etc. You know, all the things one does in a kitchen. I came to the realization today that I do a lot of my thinking while in the kitchen. I especially do it a lot while washing dishes. Usually no one is talking to me so as the water is running my mind begins to wander and I start to think about things. Anyways, today one of my friends mentioned how he felt as if he was in a rut. I didn't comment on the situation at the time but I suppose this is my comment to his dilemma. I too, recently stressed to a couple of people that I talk to on a regular basis that I felt as if I was stuck or in a rut. Why was I feeling stuck though? What was I stuck on? Well in this particular situation I felt that I was just "spinning my wheels" when it came to my clothing company. After talking it out with these two people, I came to the realization that I wasn't really stuck. I actually had the answers right inside of me but my problem was taking action. So what does this have to do with a party? I'll tell you.
I wanted to start a clothing line since forever. I knew that I needed to JUST DO IT but back then, before I started anything, I felt like I was stuck. Once I got the ball rolling my momentum began to build. I was now "invited" to the party. I was given an invitation but I still had to decide whether to go or not. As momentum began to build, I began planning and executing what I would do to start a clothing line. I decided the best way for me to start was to design one t-shirt and market it to people I think would find it interesting. The only way to get one of the shirts was to pre-order it. So in a sense, I was now in the car and on my way to the party. I set a deadline and orders came in until the deadline. I made a connection with a printer and ordered some tee's and away we went. Over the next couple of months this is how I orchestrated my business. I offered a shirt and people had to pre-order it and it was then shipped to them when it was finished. Now if I was at the party I would be considered just a spectator. I'm not socializing much. Basically just being a wallflower.
Now in my mind my ultimate goal is to be the hostess of the party. I want to be the one who invites others to come over. I want to be the one who organizes the event. At the moment though, I just feel like one of the people mingling. I am socializing a bit but I am just part of the crowd. Now how do I go from just being part of the party to being the party? That's is where planning comes in as well as executing. I planned, although not the best, but was able to execute my moves in order to get the ball rolling. If there are steps to take then I should never really feel stuck. If at anytime I feel stuck I think it's because I am failing to execute plans or I have no plans to be directed by. Opportunity occurs when you take the necessary steps to set up the chance of embracing what you are after. I believe people only feel stuck because they want to achieve something. Whether they know it or not the feeling of "wheels spinning" happens because you want to achieve something more. Isn't that what a part of living life is about? Setting goals and reaching them only to strive to want more. Life would be pretty boring if we weren't looking for better, don't you think?
Many people that I am inspired by would be the hosts of the parties I want to attend. I am enjoying the company at their party but I want to be more than just the socializer. I'm really trying to have them at my party and inviting new people to my party. While being at others parties I take notes. I take notes on how to have a successful party. I take notes on what kind of work goes into putting on a well put together gathering. This is my planning. This is where I learn while I patiently execute my brand to be one of better known, sought-after companies.
So where are you at the party? Have you been invited yet? Are you still wishing you were invited to the party? Where do you fit in at the party? Are you the life of the party? Are you blending in with the crowd?
As Will Smith said in the movie Pursuit of Happyness, "If you got a dream, you gotta protect it. When people can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. If you want something, GO GET IT! Period!"
