Boring is out.

Quirky is in.

People don’t go into business for themselves because they want to be confined and constrained. They go into business because they are fueled by passion and the urge to freely follow that passion. In fact, a 2007 study by American Express listed “passion” as the number one reason why people become entrepreneurs. Turning a profit came in significantly lower.

So with this natural inclination towards passion and freedom, why oh why do so many business owners cling to unremarkable strategies in their branding and marketing? Folks, it’s time to dump the boring and usher in the Age of Quirkiness.

Yes, quirky.

And I must go on to defend this poor word, because most people don’t want to go down in history for being quirky. It’s a focus on that which is peculiar, out of the ordinary, out of the box.
In a negative light, it brings back all those horrible high school memories of awkwardness or not fitting in. But in a positive light, it is the celebration of that which is. It’s a celebration of our natural traits, talents, habits, and behaviors. Now, we’re playing them up to our advantage.

One of the first things I ask clients to do is list their quirks, idiosyncrasies, and even their defining physical characteristics. Often, people downplay them or are embarrassed to talk about them.

The dorky laugh, the gap in the teeth, the crazy hair… it can be anything. But guess what? When you can claim those things you see as odd or different about yourself, then you are taking the first steps to creating a powerful, sizzling way to stand out from your competitors.

I spent my life feeling self-conscious about my height and my looks. People could never define my ethnicity but they knew I wasn’t 100% of anything. I didn’t fit in: I was either too tall, too light, too dark, too ethnic, or too Americanized.

So the day I announced to the world, “I’m a 5 foot 10 inch tall Mexican-Aztec-German-Austrian-American-Cultural Hybrid!”, I felt liberated. And isn’t being an entrepreneur all about freedom?

Is there something you’re hiding behind that can be your stand-out trait? Do an honest inventory and love what makes you stand out. Look within and ask loved ones what makes you stand out, what endearing quirks make you YOU.

When you claim your quirks and turn them towards your business, you are taking the first steps to creating a truly memorable brand.

Author's Bio: 

Nancy Marmolejo is an award winning business owner and recognized expert in business and creativity. Her specialty is raising the visibility level of entrepreneurs so they can market themselves as recognized, credible experts.