The Obsession That Comes With Building A Brand

I’m Lauren, more popularly known to some as LaurenOLauren. I worked in Jamaican media for ten years. I had my own tv show, did public relations for two different event based businesses, and hosted a few parties before I migrated to the US. Many people ask me for help from time to time in promoting themselves, an idea, or a product. The truth is, to build anything you have to be obsessed with it, not just the outcome, but every single part of it. True success comes with Obsession.

Let’s say you want to do something, pretend you’re building a house. The house here will be the metaphor for “The Brand.” The first obsession for building this house must start with, gathering the supplies, man power, and permits. Anyone who wants to build a house knows, to finish a house you must go through a series of steps. Building a brand is just like that, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

All the Resources You Need To Get Started Are Already Out There.

The resources are there, we are living in the Information Age. Everything you want is a Google search and a YouTube video click away. I got the opportunity to work on building a brand identity for a night club a couple years ago. I knew nothing about branding at the time. The only thing I had was that people recognized me and I knew a lot of people. That in itself was like having a box of tools I didn’t know how to use. You can’t build a house if you don’t know how to use the tools in your tool box. I researched, bought a really good marketing book and started really paying attention to what was happening around me. The book became the blue print for how I operated in the coming months, leading up to launch night.

I signed up for marketing news letters, and most importantly I paid attention and made notes of what the businesses that were similar were doing. I made note of what was working and what wasn’t. When I approached brand managers, they said opening another nightclub would be pointless, there were already enough. But once they saw that we meant business and we were going to open anyway, and all the right people were being seen there. They knew they had to get on board. Opening night was a success, the club’s name was known by everyone, and we got great media coverage through out my time there. Other clubs took notice and saw what we were doing. People started to take me serious, but I had to have a player in the game first.

Constantly Evolve in Your Field

There is always a new way to do something. I consider myself to be somewhat of a brand. I never allow myself to get lazy and I am constantly looking for new ways to make myself better. One summer instead of going to a huge party weekend, I stayed home and took a certificate course in event planning. That’s where it started, after getting that certificate I wanted more, I got hungry for it. I took a body language class next, when I relocated to the US I knew I had to go back to school. I also did an online Interior Design course and when I started wearing makeup, I became a certified makeup artist. I don’t just like things, I become obsessed with them. I never wanted to be on the sidelines, I needed to be in the game always.

Now that you have your tools and you know how to use them, you can start hammering away at that foundation.

Make People Come To You

Nobody cares who you are, or what you can do. People care about what you can do for them, how can you help me. If they are seen in your company will it make them look better or will it ruin their reputation. Whenever I wanted something from someone, in business or everyday life. I made sure the other person never felt cheated. Time is very valuable and people don’t have a lot of it, especially important people. I made sure that whenever I reached out, I had something in my hand for them to take.

How Obsessed Are You With What you’re Building?

I get a thirty minute lunch everyday and two 15 minute breaks, completely worthless when they are broken up like that. I go an entire day without really eating because I spend a lot of those breaks doing LaurenOLauren. I’m either editing a video for YouTube, working on a project for someone else, or like right now when I’m literally writing this on my lunch break. It’s an obsession to push myself and to keep going even though my numbers aren’t as glorious as many over night sensations on Social media. If you focus on the score board, you forget to play the game. The numbers and comparison will kill your love for the game. Your love for the game is what will keep you going when it gets tough.

Tiny Steps Everyday Can lead to a Year of MAJOR Change

Building a brand doesn’t just apply to starting a company, being a YouTuber or a social media influencer. It means self worth, believing in yourself so much that you are willing to put the hours in, and make the sacrifices. Changes don’t have to be big or dramatic. It doesn’t mean you quit your job today and start a billion dollar tech company in 30 days. Sometimes it means you work two jobs and go to night school for 7 years before getting your degree and finally leveling up. It’s showing your kids that you can do what you tell them to do everyday. Put your back into it, work hard, keep your head low and get it. I want you to focus on small changes, we get carried away with big growths that happen too quick. It’s not enough to have a great idea, you have to have them back to back to stay afloat. A hit song can put you in the spotlight, but 1 hit song is not enough to keep you there. Stamina and consistency is what makes up a life of success.

I hope you guys have a great week and whatever you’re working on, don’t stop you got this.

xoxo Lauren