How are you showing up?

What's your brand? 

If you're thinking to yourself, "Huh? I don't have a brand. I'm not selling anything. What?" then let me try putting it this way: How are you showing up? 

Whether you're aware of it or not, you are actually selling something - YOU. Your appearance matters. It forms impressions, lends credibility, enables opportunities and perhaps most important of all, it affects how you feel about yourself. There's nothing more frustrating for someone like me, who can sniff out when something is off from a mile away, than to see someone who is showing up in a way that doesn't represent who they are, match what they say they want to accomplish in life, is dressing okay but looks a mess in the hair department, does it all up but then doesn't swipe on some lip gloss and apply a little mascara, for Pete's sake...the list goes on. 

Perhaps you think it's shallow to put weight on the matter of appearance. But let's think about how this impacts your life. If you work for yourself, whether you are an entrepreneur,  real estate agent, service provider, direct seller - YOU are the magic sparkle that people are buying, choosing to work with, buy from, etc. Consumers have hundreds of options when it comes to making a choice about who to work with. If it comes down to it, they are going to choose someone who inspires their trust and confidence. No matter how much of a badass you are at something, if you show up a hot mess, people won't see or trust that you're the person for them. 

What if you work for someone else? Who do you think will get promoted if it comes down to a tight race and one is showing up like "meh" and the other is showing up like "yeaaahhhh"? It's a no-brainer. And if your first inclination is to say it's not fair, I have to call you out. It IS fair that the person who is investing the time and money in their appearance gets taken more seriously. It signals to those around them that they believe in their worthiness and it inspires confidence in the people around them. 

Showing up in a way that's congruent with who you are is important to your success. It's part of the overall mindset game you need to win in order to live a truly empowered life in which you show up energized and ready to contribute to your well-being and that of others.