For our online group we were tasked with creating something with our name. Yesterday I was cleaning off my work area in my studio, as I usually do about once a week. Somehow I always end up creating within a twelve inch space because of all the tools I bring out…anyway! I wrote my name over and over again with a sumi ink brush, then wrote my initials with an ink brush pen, and finished by writing my name and this quote from William Shakespeare in .05 ink:
What's in a name?
That which we call a rose
by any other name
would smell as sweet.
Romeo & Juliet
- William Shakespeare 1616
As I wrote my own name over and over again, I wondered what my name meant. I don’t mean the literal meaning of ‘Ann’, more what people think and feel when they see or hear my name. Do they smile? “Hooray, Ann is coming?” Or do they feel a sense of dread, “Oh, Ann is coming?” I have no doubt there are people in my life who feel both ways. I am wise enough to now that not everyone will like me, and I’m okay with that.
Whether we like it or not we all have an experience associated with our name, and that experience has been built by our attitude, words, actions and the way we make people feel when we interact with them. In the corporate world this is called personal brand. And it is one of the things we have and often do not even realize what it is. As an Executive Coach, I talk to people a great deal about their brand. The good news is that it is not set in stone. You have the power to change people’s experience, and yes it does take effort and consistency. I talk to artists about this as well, as their brand is often intertwined with their creations and their habits.
And yes, you too have a personal brand. You might be friendly, funny, tough, lazy, mean, sarcastic, indecisive, ill prepared or maybe simply be bland. Time, words, attitude, events and even the way we dress has an impact on how people ‘see’ and ‘feel’ us. If you always have the counterpoint to anyone else’s comment, you may be seen as a contrarian. If you always make people feel better about themselves by your words and giving them a hug, your brand may be all about kindness and light. If you argue until people see you are right, well you may have some serious control issues…hence a definite brand. If you think about the people you like being around and had to describe them to someone else, the words you would use are what makes up that person’s brand. It is what you feel when you hear their name.
So in essence, Shakespeare is right. What’s in a name? Everything! We have created over our lifetime what people think and feel when they hear our name. Want to change your brand? Change your words, attitude and how you leave people. I was always taught to leave a space better than I found it, which is stunning advice for relationships as well. There is enough garbage, cruelty, severity and criticism out there. Why not make today the day you leave someone better than you found them – encouraged, smiling, laughing and happy. The world needs more people with brands like that, leave the criticism and righteousness to someone else.
Ann Art Gallery Blog 