How to live your brand to grow your business? We often hear that you must live your brand, right? Sometimes the words don’t land. I mean, I have always known this logically but, it has sometimes been a challenge to put it into action.

It wasn’t up until I had a conversation with my sister about the notion of living your brand. She did not explain it as this, at first, she asked, “How is what you want to do in your business translating in your home and how you take your tea, etc?” Basically, how you live your life?

Run An Authentic Brand

To run truly authentic brand, you are going to have to be yourself. Your business cannot stand for one thing while you stand for something completely different. This is especially true if you make yourself the face of the brand. You are going to have to live your brand or have your brand live you. And this will inform how you show up.

Live Your Brand Like Bonang Matheba

If you are a South African, heck even if you are not, the name Bonang conjures up images for you. And that is what living your brand is. Bonang is synonymous with style, bold, epic, forever it girl, professional- she never lets us see her sweat- and that is because her brand is all about all that glitters! And what glitters cannot be sweating and validating all the noise made to tarnish her brand. She is the it girl who has transitioned into the businesswoman seamlessly. With Bonang you see what she wants you to see. And she will blatantly ignore what she doesn’t want you to know.

How to Live Your Brand?

Now, how to live your brand? What are some of the ways you can bring more of you to your business and your life?

• What are your values?
• Do you know your aesthetic?
• Which hobbies do you engage in?
• How do you solve problems?
• Does your home reflect how you operate your business?

What Are Your Values?

Your values are an integral part of your business and the best way to live your brand. Take for example, if one of your values is integrity in all you do. When you are able to display that with everyone you meet, whether it is on or offline, then it makes it easy for people to believe you run your business in the same way. Potential clients are less likely to think you are a scammer because you have created a brand and live a life that displays integrity. Check out this post if you want to figure out what your current values are. And yes, current because values evolve.

Do You Know Your Aesthetic?

Generally, people scramble when it comes to creating their brand aesthetic. I know I have been there too. And I know it is because we want to appear more put together and professional. There is of course nothing wrong with this. But have you ever thought about looking at your current aesthetic or at the very least the aesthetic you are working towards in your life, because it feels genuine to you, first? And then browsing the colour psychology theory pages to see how the aesthetic that resonates with you can be adapted in a way that is authentic to you and your brand?

Which Hobbies do You Engage with to Live Your Brand?

Your brand is a multi-dimensional, living, breathing entity as are you. It is important to show this whenever you get a chance. Think about the hobbies you engage in; how do they tie into your brand? How do they showcase any part of the values you talk about in your brand? For example, if you talk about being a brand that is God centred, do you participate in your church activities? Like a fun day for the kids, are you there helping out? If you sell active wear, do take part in any hobbies that require you to move? And if you sell candles and room diffusers because you believe in relaxation, are you lighting candles in your home?

How Do You Solve Problems?

Whether it is in your private life or in your business, how do you solve your problems? There is a saying, “Wherever you go, there you are,”-Jon Kabat -Zinn. It means you cannot escape yourself. The behaviours that exist in one setting will inevitably creep up in other settings of your life. Therefore, it is important to understand how you solve problems, does your way resonate with the brand you are building? Do you yell at your staff or clients when problems crop up? No? What about at home? Do you lose your temper with your children? If yes, how are you living your brand in that moment?

Does Your Home Reflect How You Operate Your Business?

Again, to run an authentic brand you have to live your brand. How my sister put is this, ” You see the packaging you are thinking of, what does it feel like? And what in your home makes you feel that way? Or what can you do to bring that feeling into your home? For example, if you want to use floral packaging, how do you bring that into home? Maybe you make it a standard to always have fresh flowers.” And then you can set up a flower delivery system for your business, every week you have fresh flowers at your office. If your home is your sanctuary, how can you extend this to your business as well?

Conclusion

Living your brand needs you to be authentically you. Yes, there are nuances but the core of it must be you. Your brand or parts of it must exist in all you do and be. This helps you intimately know your business and the clients who interact with your brands. It also helps with knowing how to navigate the obstacles that come with running a business. Be you and trust that the people who resonate will find you.

Until next time, I wish you the courage to live the life of your dreams!

Bye, Mama Xx