Hi Reader,
Last week we talked about how saying “no” more often leads to a more focused, differentiated, and discerning brand.
But there’s another aspect of saying “no” that matters to your branding, and it has to do with your values.
What you say “no” to is a HUGE indicator of where your values lie in your brand and what you truly care about.
And when your “no”s are the same as your ideal client’s, you have a powerful point of connection and trust that will naturally attract the right people and differentiate you from the competition.
In my own business, that looks like saying no to:
- Big corporate clients
- Running a large team or agency
- Working evenings and weekends
- Marketing on social media
- Pushy sales tactics and launches
- Copy or design without setting a strategic foundation first
- Cutting corners and taking shortcuts
My challenge to you: grab a pen or your notes app right now and jot down the things you say “no” to in your business. What does this say about what you believe in, your operating principles, and how or why you serve your clients?
If you’re struggling, here are a few questions I ask during discovery sessions with my Brand Strategy Blueprint clients:
- What won't you compromise on, even if it costs you business?
- Tell me about a time you said "no" to a client or opportunity. What made it a "no"?
- What frustrates you about how others in your industry operate? What do you do differently?
Once you have your list, think about how you can incorporate your “no’s” into your messaging and marketing to build those points of connection and trust with potential clients who feel the same way.
Want some help talking this through in person? A Brand Strategy Session is perfect for this. Book yours here, or hit reply to get the ball rolling :)
Have a great weekend,
Kristen
What I'm loving lately
A more personal peek into the things I'm reading / listening to / watching / cooking... basically whatever's making life fun right now!
This Wired article on how writers are creating an anti-AI literary counterculture. Read this in the waiting room at the vet's a couple of days ago and it was fascinating. If you're a writer like me — or if you just are interested in not sounding like the robots — this was a great look at how language changes and where the future of writing could be headed. (Also, I still write with em dashes — my nerdy version of shaking my fist into the wind I guess.)
The Lord of the Rings audiobooks, narrated by Andy Serkis. LOTR is my comfort watch anytime I need to destress (orcs = calming apparently?) but it had been years since I read the books. This was the first time I'd ever listened to them and Andy Serkis does a wonderful job. Somehow when the whole world feels like a dumpster fire, there's a timeless hope to the books that makes them worth picking up again (and again and again).
This stir fry sauce won the week at dinnertime a few nights ago (and again for lunches, yesssss). Perfect for clearing out the fridge and very customizable depending on your palate and pantry. I used the large fresh Shanghai noodles from our local Asian grocery and that was amaaaazing, 10/10 recommend.
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