For a long time, I resisted calling myself a marketing expert, despite the fact that I am. It’s not all that I am, but I am an expert in marketing nonetheless.

The reality is that marketing chose me; I didn’t choose it.

I was 16 years old when it happened. I was sitting in my grade 11 business class (an elective I chose in high school) and we were learning about the psychology of human beings. I instantly fell in love with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and my life changed forevermore. This led to many years of studies, training, work experience and entrepreneurship in the field of marketing and business; 24 years to be exact.

Despite all this, in my own mind I wasn’t a “marketing expert”. I didn’t feel like that title represented who I truly was at the core of my being. Those words “marketing expert” conjured up a negative feeling in the pit of my stomach. A feeling that was an imprint from the old paradigm of doing business. It conjured up feelings of manipulation and the idea of selling people what they don’t want. Which was not what I was about whatsoever.

The thing is that I didn’t see myself as a marketer.

Sometimes I wonder if I would ever have been comfortable with that label if I hadn’t had the wake up call that I did. It happened one day out of the blue. I was reading the program guide for a Conference that I sponsored and in it were printed the words; “Networking lunch facilitated by a marketing expert.” And I thought to myself… Oh, who’s that? And then it hit me… it’s ME! And then it happened… a jolt that reverberated throughout my whole body. I received the words, without the negative connotation I had previously so fiercely attached to them, and I accepted them as truth. My truth. And in that instant, my confidence shot through the roof and I grew an inch taller.

Have you ever resisted taking on a role because you haven’t quite believed that it fully applies to you? You couldn’t possibly give yourself a particular identity because you kind of feel like an imposter even just thinking about it? Maybe you’ve even said at some point: “that’s not me.”

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter what other people think of you, because their view is simply their story of who they think you are, not who you truly are. It really boils down to what YOU think of YOU. Because the belief you hold about yourself influences your thoughts, behaviours and actions.

Here are three questions for reflection:

• What is your intention for your clients?
• Who are you being when you are living with that intention each day?
• Why is this meaningful for you?

Only when you know, accept and love who you are can you live in your authenticity and operate from your true essence. Your true essence is your attraction factor. It’s the energy you give off that attracts opportunities and clients.

I’m curious about who you are being, and how that is serving you?

You know very well that being a business owner is not just about making money and creating a lifestyle. It’s also about contributing to the world and being yourself while you do it. It’s about bringing out the best and fullest version of YOU, so that you can fulfill your mission and live out your purpose on this planet.

If you’ve been struggling for way too long and you’re feeling grounded-less, misaligned or scattered in your quest to build your business authentically based on your values and strengths, I invite you to reach out to me for a 45-minute telephone consultation. I would love to learn more about you and your big vision. You may feel disheartened and frustrated now, but once we get off the call you will feel ignited, motivated and ready to step into the next best version of yourself. Are you ready?