An individual officially becomes a celebrity when people know you and you don’t know them. You are a personal brand. There really isn’t much of a difference between people and business. In fact, personal brands often last longer than companies do.
As internet sales of Senorita Limonita began, I was leveraging myself straight into the spotlight at networking events every night of the week. Other days were filled with product tastings at Arizona Farmer’s Markets along with a variety of special events throughout the Phoenix Valley. I started being featured in radio shows and publications while my internet presence continue to grow.
In order to propel a brand to success, It’s important to partner with successful people. I had teamed up with Catherine Cross and Bob Anderson of Ujena Swimwear with the intention of creating a long-term business legacy along with Senorita Limonita. I noticed that an internet search of the word Limonita Bikini netted pages and pages of models in sunshine yellow bikinis.
Needing to capitalize on this phenomenon, something needed to change in the nature of my personal appearances. I placed a phone call to Catherine to bounce some ideas off of her. I told her I needed something appropriate to wear at the events I was attending, and that it needed to be created in the sunshine yellow color that I had branded. A popular Ujena catalog item at the time was a very sleek and sexy little number called the Red Carpet Dress. When Catherine made the suggestion that Ujena produce that same dress for me in the same sunshine yellow color and material as Senorita’s bikini, the decision was made. After all, I wanted my personal brand to be professional and polished. I was on a mission and willing to do things in an unconventional way, unaware that I was indigenously turning myself into a celebrity.
Two weeks later, I received that amazing dress in the mail. I wear it to every single personal appearance I attend. Believe me when I say that bold color makes me stand out in a room!
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
~George Bernhard Shaw
Define your brand and don’t be afraid to set the trends. Be prepared that what you start out with doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where you will end up. Remain true to yourself and remember that your unique selling proposition separates you from the crowd. Being confident and owning what you do, no matter the opinion of others, is a character of leadership which will lead to business success. Having a unique selling proposition can bring your status up from from regular person to celebrity. Senorita Limonita and I became our own unique selling proposition and brand definition, and we continue to have FUN doing it!
