What does it mean to be the Star of your Business and why would anyone want to do this?
Join Allison (that’s me!) in this video where I explore the concept of being the “Star of your Business,” with practical tips on how you can embrace your starring role.
Here’s a summary of my key points:
Introduction
I start by exploring the idea of being the “Star of your Business,” and what it means to step into the starring role.
Who is the Star of the Business?
Next, I take a look at who would be considered the Star of the business by default.
For example, the business owner is usually the main Star, particularly in small businesses or those where the business name is the owner’s name. This is especially true for coaches, consultants, and experts who are central to their business’s identity.
Whoever is the author of the business’s email newsletters, if not the owner, is playing the Star in some capacity as she or he is representing the business and creating media in their voice, tone and personality. Along the same lines, whoever is representing the business in video, like in conducting interviews or product tutorials, or even someone at the counter serving customers in the case of local businesses, is being the face of the business.
The Role of the Star
Here are some requirements of the business star and some primary areas of key impact.
- The star of the business is the public face and often the voice of the business, shaping its personality and brand.
- Being the star means having a strong point of view (POV), offering advice, and standing by your decisions.
- It’s an opportunity to differentiate the business, as no one else can replicate the owner’s unique personality.
This does mean, however, that you will be attracting your ideal clients and repelling others. This is difficult for those of us who want to be liked by everyone.
Challenges & Fears
Some business owners may shy away from being the star due to fears of judgment or making mistakes. I see some business owners hiding behind their business name and pretending other employees work there in order to avoid the spotlight.
Additionally, society often discourages standing out, pushing individuals toward safe, conventional roles. Indeed, there are few career choices out there that require Star Material. We are trained to fit in, blend in, follow instructions, and adjust our personalities to boring roles and stagnant positions.
Some businesses have no star what-so-ever and they are designed this way. There’s no about-page founder to get to know. There’s no contact information or identifying information with an actual person. This can lead to a lack of personal branding and a more generic business presence.
I don’t know about you, but I gravitate to businesses with an actual person as the representative.
Embracing the Star Role
In the video above, Allison emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing moments where you feel confident and valued in your business role.
Take a moment to acknowledge positive experiences where you were shining in your business. This helps to build comfort and confidence in the starring role, and begins to build muscle memory to the positives where you can more easily step into it.
Start to expand your thinking and potentials. Being the star opens up new business opportunities, such as partnerships and speaking engagements. Make a list of how being the confident star could benefit you.
Practical Steps
There are lots of tangible ways to define what being the star means. Consider the following ideas:
- Creative Brief: Write or rewrite your creative brief with the mindset of being the star. Define your personality, voice, tone, and goals clearly.
- Rewrite Your Story: Allison encourages rewriting your personal and business story to reflect a positive, confident narrative that aligns with your star persona.
- Share with Your Team: Sharing your creative brief and story with staff and subcontractors can help them align with your vision and enhance the overall business identity.
This doesn’t have to be some abstract, passive exercise. The more deliberate and conscious you can be about creating your business’s personality and how you represent it and need to show up, the more clear and easy it becomes.
Infusing Personality into the Business
To really stand out and open up for bigger and better business opportunities, infuse your business with your personality in every way.
- Incorporate your star personality into all aspects of your business, from website content to social media and newsletters.
- Have fun with this process, especially in writing, by exaggerating expressions and ensuring your unique voice shines through.
Conclusion
For small business owners, a large component of personal and business branding entails being yourself and allowing yourself to shine. Instead of fighting it, why not embrace your star role and have fun with it. This approach opens up more opportunities, gives others a chance to know a deeper and more intimate or personal part of yourself. This attracts more of your perfect-fit clients and customers and makes your business stand out and thrive.
