When you have a positive experience with a brand, it’s not just the products or service, it’s every step along the journey - from start to finish. 

Maia’s story of transformation and new beginnings is an inspiring one. Today I’m sharing her story and the power of branding in shaping not just a business, but a life.

We are so overwhelmed with social media, emails, text messages and task switching that the window to make a lasting impression is incredibly brief – we're talking less than 7 seconds.

What happens when you – as a multifaceted entrepreneur – have passions and pursuits that span beyond your primary venture?  How do you talk about all the amazing things you are up to if you can’t make sense of how they are tied together?

As an entrepreneur, finding your true niche can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Here’s the story of a client who had the needle in her hand the whole time…she just couldn’t see it!

My parents told me that if I ever wanted a car to drive, I'd have to learn to drive a stick shift.

I had to adapt or not drive. I chose adapt.

In periods of reset, there are always great opportunities, and now is no different. Let’s shape the trends rather than follow them. Here are 5 key business trends I see being important this year and beyond. 

Legacy and revolution are powerful words, and I am using them with great intention as we enter 2023. Over the past year I started to dig even deeper into who I am and the impact I want to make on the world.

To the outside world a brand looks like one thing. Like a beautifully decorated cake. From the outside it looks and smells delicious, but when you cut into the cake and see beyond the sprinkles and icing, it’s actually made up of many layers.

There is SO much noise. Everyday we are inundated with words, images and sounds. And we are overwhelmed with choice. And your business is lost in that mix - but it doesn’t have to be.

When I first started my business in 2004 I didn’t know the term Brand Architecture and to be honest, it wasn’t really relevant at that time. Not just for me, but for many other solo entrepreneurs. I had my business brand (which was me) and that was basically it.

I'll be honest, writing a book was never something I thought I would do. It wasn't something I dreamed of doing as a kid and in fact, up until a few years ago, I wouldn't have even described myself as a writer.

December is always a time of reflection. It’s a time to see if I did what I set out to achieve this year. It reminds me of what I’ve accomplished…And it’s a reminder of the things that didn’t go well.

I’ve been paying attention to why some entrepreneurs seem to be killing it and others are struggling – and I have noticed a pattern emerging.

Have you ever been in a position where you were on the phone with someone or on their website and you felt so overwhelmed with the options being presented that you found yourself shutting down?

If your brand is what people believe about you, then your reputation truly IS your brand. It's how you make people feel, the impression you leave them with and the trust you build.

As I reflect on my year, I took a look to see which of my blog posts resonated most with my readers (aka you!) I've compiled a list of the top 5.

I believe that life is what you make of it. It's not what happens to you – it's how you react and what you learn that matters. It's what you make happen.