Are you standing out as a leader, or are you a follower? The latter often comes from a scarcity mindset, and trying to please everyone. When this happens, I see entrepreneurs attracting all the wrong clients, not having the business they truly want, and ultimately...becoming exhausted and burnt out.

I didn't always have a strong brand. In fact, there was a time in 2015 when I was ready to throw it all out the window! At the time I was still working in my previous business "Laura K Design" creating custom wedding and event invitations and stationery. One evening I was feeling seriously DONE with it all, I looked at the clock and realised that exactly 20 years ago…

Recently I’ve spoken with several entrepreneurs struggling with their business and feeling the pressure to go in a new direction or choose a niche that deep down doesn’t feel aligned with them. They wonder why they aren’t getting the right clients, why they feel so conflicted and why their business is stagnant or even shrinking.

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.

Lauren Bennett is a naturopath specializing in fertility who came to us in need of clarity in her messaging. She reached out in the early days of Covid-19 this year because knew that she needed to use the time to work on her brand. 

As entrepreneurs, we are wired differently. We are driven to do something bigger, to change the status quo, to share our gifts with the world, and to have a lasting impact.

We recently worked with a trial lawyer based in Chicago who specializes in medical malpractice and personal injury. I know what you're thinking...and it's probably not good. When I looked up branding for personal injury lawyers these are some of the images came up...

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.

You need to create a heart to heart connection with the people you want to work with. When you can connect with them on an emotional level, you have a greater chance of creating that connection.

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’m very generous with my time and energy, and with gift-giving – when I find something perfect and meaningful for the person I’m buying for.

At the time I write this post – our entire country awaits game 6 of the NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors and the Warriors.

So basically Canada is closed. Don’t call, don’t text…because we won’t answer. We have a game to watch.

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?

Nothing makes me happier than going back through our projects and seeing the difference we've made to our client’s businesses.