Path Of Least Resistance?

I’m recently married and finishing up a massive remodeling project in my new home. The laundry room came together after three shopping trips. We chose ready-made cabinets and a composite countertop we could cut to fit. It looks great and is also the least costly solution. In my corporate consulting, I often ask my clients to back up and consider the simplest, most obvious, most cost-effective option. Why?

It’s easier to swim with the current. Consider that whatever action is most obvious might just be the one your intuition has selected, and the one that will please you long-term. We struggle too much in life. We talk ourselves into complexity and difficulty because we have been raised with the notion that life is HARD. It’s all meant to be easier. Give yourself permission to do the obvious. One client of mine has an engineering firm that is fully bi-lingual. When choosing their point of differentiation, we started with this important fact.

Simple solutions are quick to implement. The universe loves speed. When you get an idea, act on it. Don’t overcomplicate it. Find a simple way to make it happen and get to it. Three people told me they loved the family prayer we used in our wedding ceremony. I logged on to Vista Print and 20 minutes later had created a New Year’s Day card with the prayer. In three days, it appeared on my doorstep. (email me if you would like a copy.)

Simple solutions are more powerful. In design, the simple solution often makes the biggest statement. People react to bold, decisive actions. By keeping your idea simple, you increase the chances that the message will be understood and received. There’s a great new auto dealership in Austin for the Hummer brand. The front door is surrounded by large gray panels that create a giant “H.” I notice this powerful signal every time I drive by.

It’s easier to add on than to change. As you progress in your business or career, remember that you are always moving forward and evolving. You can easily build onto a simple expression. Many national advertisers will evolve from one theme to another, adding an idea to an already established identity.

Completion is a powerful satisfier. How satisfied are you when you complete your tax return at the 11th hour? How does it feel to walk past a home project that has your life “torn up” for months on end? Completion makes you feel effective, capable and powerful. The simpler the solution, the more likely you are to complete it in a short time. The incomplete drags us down; completion gives us energy.

So, how might you apply this to your business branding?
• Ask your Clients what descriptors they would use for you. Then, incorporate those into your marketing messages.
• Act NOW on that Mission, Vision or Values statement you created. Publish it on your website. Distribute it to your employees on a laminated card. Send a mailing to your Clients.
• Quit waiting for the “perfect” staff to show up. Promote your staff’s talents and unique qualities to your clients now.
• Finish that capabilities presentation you’ve been working on and go out and deliver it. Invite a client to preview it for you and make suggestions. Get it complete so you feel ready for the next opportunity.

How might you apply this to your personal branding?
• Try to describe yourself in three positive words. (Example: imaginative, hard-working, persevering) Use those words consistently in speaking to your clients, on cover letters, in your company biography, in your resume, etc.
• Complete a new, powerful biography that you can use for your next speaking engagement, or in the next company presentation.
• Send an email to all your friends in Plaxo Pulse, and similar networking groups, asking for their input on an important idea. Then, consider the input and act on it.
• Find a simple home task and complete it. You will gain confidence and feel more powerful.

You don’t have to swim upstream. Get in the water, paddle gently, and watch for your next opportunity.