Self Branding

Well it is about time that I write about the very topic that had me begin this blog. Self branding: What is it? Who should do it and what is the purpose of it? Wikipedia defines Self Branding as: the process in which consumers match their own self-concept with the images of a certain brand.

At a time when places at uni are very competitive and jobs are harder to come by, the buzz word seems to be self branding and diversity and having revenue streams and portfolio careers. Simon Midgley (The Times) talks about selling your skills and Birmingham University even has a course designed to help graduates to manage a portfolio career.

I think it is fantastic. I used to worry about when I would know what I wanted to be when I grew up and when I went back to uni at the age of 28 as a mature student I still wasn’t sure. Now I happily muse about my portfolio career. I am an entrepreneur and a chiropractor and I don’t make myself wrong for desiring change and excitement in my work. I live by one rule and that is: There Are No Rules!!

So get out there and create your own brand! Start with your own blog. Talk about what inspires you. Ask people what you are good at. One book that helped me discover what I wanted to do with my life is a very participatory book by Nick Williams: The Work We Were Born To Do

Enjoy being you; sell you and be your own self brand! Get out there.

Paula Moore

The Artist’s Way-A Review

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron:

It is a bit early to say but I think this book has real value for anyone, not just ‘artists’. I began the Artist’s Way years ago but there was always some reason that it was going to be an inconvenience to start the course. At the time I was single and thought ‘but what if I am dating and I pull out the artist’s pages to write at 8am?’ Not very romantic!

Anyway I am in week two and have written my morning pages each morning. I have to say, currently my pages read more like a diary of thoughts. Cameron reminds us not to judge our pages and not to worry if they are being done ‘the right way.’

So in essence the Artist’s Way is a 12 week course to jump start ones creativity be you an artist or just someone who relishes personal growth (that’s me). Each week you get up and hand write 3 pages into a chosen note book. This doesn’t sound very glamorous and it isn’t really but I am trusting the process.

There are also weekly assignments to chose from and Cameron recommends doing those that attract you and those that feel less exciting. So this week one of the assignments that I chose was to make a list of 10 things ‘I would like to….’ (change). So my list included I would like to fall in love, I would like to have a baby, I would like to frame a  painting for my kitchen, I would like to find a finacial planner. So you get the idea…big and little things. Then we are to choose one thing from the list and take it on as a goal for the week.

So, yesterday I took two paintings and a poster that I have and went to a lovely framing shop called Naked Eye:

 http://www.nakedeyebrighton.com 

and the lovely gay man chose some wonderful frames and designs for my pictures.

Each week you also take yourself on an artist’s date. Week one I took myself to Camber Sands beach in Rye to look for driftwood.        Camber Sands:

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/coast/cambersands/default.htm

I highly recommend this as a day out. I took the train into Rye and then if you walk out the train station with it directly behind you and walk toward the town you follow the road left and then swing right with a petrol station on your right until you see the sign for Camber Sands and follow a lovely path the whole way (3 mile walk) to the lovely dunes of Camber Sands. Then after your picnic (I brought food) and beach combing (head away from all the people to find the best pieces) walk back into Rye and check out the lovely galleries and have an ice cream! A great artist’s date.

Julia Cameron writes that you may notice the universe unfolding in mysterious ways as you work through The Artist’s Way and I have to say that this is very possible. Week one I met a woman who makes driftwood sculpture (this is one of the reasons I was combing the beach for drift wood). And I have just met an artist on a dating website and this is not the sort of person I usually meet or date but liked the picture, went onto the profile and there it was….’Artist.’

So there you have it. If you are contemplating reading this book, I recommend it’s pages. Enjoy the journey and share your stories with me!!

Paula