Re-branding: Meet the New You!
I Remember back in high school, before I started writing poetry and novels; Before I began practicing various forms of religions, researched folklore stories, True African history and conspiracy theories; Before I studied the ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, Socrates and Anaximenes of Miletus; Back when I used to tell my friends tales about how the impact velocity of a mosquito can stop a moving train for a split millisecond (they used to laugh, I was telling bullshit, but it was totally worth it).
My process
Back then, I remember how I would wake up every morning on the first day of each term after a holiday and tell myself that “from this day on I’m going to be different from what I previously was.” I always told myself “I’m going to look different, I’m going to think different, I’m going to talk different, I’m going to dress different”.
Every single thing that I didn’t find fitting about myself I made it a priority to change. Every single term, I’d look at a brand new me at the mirror. It was a bad idea because as much as I was shaping myself to be the perfect version of whom I want to be, I had no vision in mind. All I knew was that I needed to be different and the repercussions of my actions I relive as constant horrors embedded at the back of my mind. I made stupid mistakes when I was kid. I made decisions that I wish I could take back.
What I have learned over the years is that if I knew what I know now back then, I would have done things a lot differently. I wouldn’t be where I am right now. I would have avoided so much pain, pressure and heartache and became a better person, perhaps, even a better man. Such things I think about, especially when I am alone.
Unfortunately our day-to-day journey does not provide us with the luxury of do-overs. We can not scrap a chapter of our lives away like we do with a script or erase it and continue from the point before everything fell apart. Most of the time, we find ourselves looking at a stranger upon the reflection of a mirror and thinking to ourselves “what happened to us, how did we turn out this way, how could we have allowed certain things to happen.”
“It’s Never too Late to Start Over…!”
At this point most people would tell you that it’s not too late to start over. They are lying to you, it is. The truth is that the way you are feeling right now, where you are right now, is part of the process of developing you to towards the purpose of your existence. You are an underwritten script, a continuous cursive signature with no tail end. Instead of starting over, you rather reinvent, rebrand and rebuild from what was already there and structured.
In order to successfully rebrand and rebuild yourself you will need to have the knowledge and experience of what you’re building from so that you don’t make the same mistakes again. You also need to know what you are building towards so that you do not lose yourself in the process.
6 Phases of Re-branding
There are 6 phases that one undergoes in order to successfully do this. Each phase is important because it changes how others perceive you but most importantly, how you perceive yourself.
1. The Reason — Introspection and Self-criticism
We spoke of self-preservation on the previous article and how important it is to maintain it. This ties up in more ways than you may think. When you look at things from an introspective point of view you identify what it is that is going great in your life and what it is that is disastrous. You identify what you like about yourself, what you dislike about yourself, what you wish to change and what version do you foresee of yourself. Most importantly, you realize why you are not what you want to be, why you are not where you want to be and what is holding you back.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with judging yourself and being hard on yourself. Usually, the most successful and innovative people who ever lived are their own biggest critics. While the world appreciated their Godlike actions, they themselves felt dissatisfied. Deep in their hearts they know they have the potential to do better.
2. Research
The self-deprivation we make in this generation by limiting the amount of knowledge we have in a world which has an abundance of information is appalling. An even more self-depreciation is how we render the mind useless when countered with conflicting information meant to broaden our perspectives from that what we have always known and believed in. What good is a mind that can not be changed?
When you start rebranding yourself you need to know what you are doing and where you are going. I discuss this in Chapter 1&2 of the Roadtrip:A Self-guide to Success. You may follow the link to redirect to the store for a copy.
Research entails your identification of the path that you are going to take from now on. It is the mental process that you undergo to prepare you mind and body along with all your senses to the forthcoming transition from your old self, into your new better version. This takes time and a lot of patience. The importancs of this form of research is understanding so that when you start implementing, it appears natural.
3. Execution
The execution process is when you carefully begin changing certain things about yourself according to your research and introspection. You maybe start waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual. Maybe you decide to distance yourself from a certain crowd with habits you do not want to be associated with anymore. Perhaps you start experimenting with various beauty treatments that bring a natural glow to your skin. Whatever your goal is, once you start, you will feel the difference.
4. Resilience & Consistency
You need resilience because change is difficult to deal with. Some people won’t like what you have become, some people will judge you and resent you but all you need to understand is that you did not do the change for them. Remember you are doing this for you and only you. You’re making yourself a better version of yourself. You are rebranding and rebuilding yourself. Your own thoughts haunt you at the end of the day before you sleep at night.
5. Dress as how you want to appear.
Nothing says a lot about you than the clothes you wear and how you wear the clothes that you have. I am not talking about expensive pieces of fabric because of the brand or label. If you can afford it, I mean really afford it, then by all means go for it, but quite frankly, nothing than a double breast pinstripe three-piece suit and a tie with a gold wristwatch, cufflinks and neat lace-up shoes as you walk through the grocery store doing your every day shopping commands more respect.
“Look the Part – Fake It til You Make It”
This is not to say that is the style that you must go for but the secret is to have the general idea of what message each item brings across to those around you. Most importantly, how you feel when you wear it. The confidence you have in how you wear an item is what will rebrand and redefine you and people around you will be able to tell your personality and character.
Look the part, fake it until you make it. Remember, women can tell a lot about a man just by looking at his shoes and a man can tell a lot about a woman by the amount and type of jewelry she wears.
6. Do not forget where you come from — Check your Ego
Humble beginnings serve as a reminder of not to forget your mistakes and repeat them after all your hard work. The same attitude that you had on phase one should be the same attitude you should have when you start flourishing. Egotistical people are an annoyance. No one enjoys being treated inhumane, condescended on and being around assholes. Don’t be an asshole. Also, don’t hurt people with your words and regard yourself as a straight talker.
Positioning is important. Being a better version of yourself comes with the responsibility of being a good person towards other people and being more effective and efficient in your duties. It’s about progressed. It’s about self development.
You may check out The Rules of Self-development on Chapter 17 of The Roadtrip:A Self-guide to Success to get yourself started.
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Feel free to share your experiences on the comment section below on what happened when you began to rebrand yourself, the challenges that you faced and how you overcame them.
