Let’s talk about image.

I regularly share advice on how to build your personal brand and your personal style, but this time let’s talk about the ‘superficial’ stuff- image.

Image is all about perception. How you are perceived by your peers, by your colleagues, or by a random person on the street. In the instant they see you, whether it’s for the first time or for the thousandth time, they form an opinion based on how you look. We all know that, that’s not new.

What people don’t realize is the power of your image. Because image is superficial in nature, you can change it. Don’t be afraid to add more depth. You are not only what you are wearing or what you look like.

Sometimes you don’t know where to start, how to change your image. That’s okay!

Here’s the great thing- you aren’t alone in that feeling of insecurity.

Watch this.  It’s a couple years old and certainly worth it (all 9 minutes).

… yeah, you heard it. Even this accomplished model is insecure. Pretty amazing that Cameron Russell stood up and shared this publicly. “I am insecure. I am insecure because I have to think about what I look like everyday.”

Despite her insecurities, she’s completely right.  Image is NOT everything.

(you’re furrowing your brows thinking “where is Lazina going with this?”)

Well here’s why I say that…

How you present yourself each day IS important- yes, but that’s not all. Your image and presentation needs to be grounded in a solid personal strategy.  Without this, image does seem superficial.

Your personal strategy starts by taking some time for introspection. I often get clients to answer these types of questions:

• What do you value most in life?
• What motivates and inspires you?
• What do you want to be known for?
• What are you the absolute best at?
• What brings you joy and makes you smile?

Take some time to answer these questions…. you won’t be sorry you did.

Answering these questions bring clarity to who you are and want you’re about. Knowing what you want will help you embody the image of the person you want to be. Once you know YOU, you’ll be able to better understand and define how you want to share your greatness with those around you. You can walk tall and feel comfortable no matter how others see you.

“If there’s a takeaway from this talk, I hope it’s that we all feel more comfortable acknowledging the power of image in our perceived successes and our perceived failures.” – Cameron Russell