At the start of every client project, we sit down for an initial Understand Your Brand Workshop. This time together is important in unpacking the past and present, but most importantly, looking ahead to the aspirational future, and how the brand development work we do will help support being where you are, to where you want to be. The real value is looking ahead, and figuring out – together – how to get there.
I’ve always loved this quote from Seth Godin:
“The thing is, like it or not, the future happens. Sure, tomorrow is risky, frightening, and in some way represents one step closer to the end. But it also brings with it the possibility of better and the chance to do something that matters.”
There’s an intentional, and incredibly freeing moment, where we let go of what was, and start building what will be. Our lives, our careers, our businesses, and our brands all benefit from this turning point. Not forgetting where you’ve come from, but also not lingering on what perhaps once was long ago.
At this stage of our conversation with clients, there’s a ‘release’ and a shift in approach where we allow and encourage everyone in the room to dream big and lay all the chips on the table.
As we build our ideas – our brands – our dreams, recognizing where we’ve come from and where we are is, of course, an important step. But even more important is allowing ourselves to plan and dream for doing something even better tomorrow.
- Tomorrow may be introducing a new line of products to consumers.
- Tomorrow may be finally taking that big step from ‘idea’ to ‘reality’.
- Tomorrow may be a more dramatic shift because, now is the time.
Whatever the case for you is, be it revenue driven, focused on process, and/or driven by purpose, each present day brings with it the potential to make a better tomorrow – to try and experiment with new things – and to boldly go toward a new place where maybe you haven’t been before.
