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How to Improve Your Business Image

As individuals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners we are faced with schedules that allow very little time for self. Each day that we spend on our jobs, building businesses, caring for families, and serving our communities provides us with the opportunity for self examination and self enhancement. This is a time in which we can reflect on who we are and what type of image we are portraying.

Our image is a powerful, influential tool that is projected wherever we go. In all situations and circumstances we represent ourselves and are viewed as a package - a combination of our internal and external being: our intellect, our attitude, our dreams, our talents, our mental and physical state.

Our image is reflective of the total us - mind, body, and spirit. During the time that we are completing our daily tasks we must take an assessment of what our images are saying about who we are: Are we displaying our confidence as we initiate conversations ? Our energy and concern for our body with a healthy physique? Our commitment with timely, kept appointments? Our friendliness and customer service relations with a pleasing smile? Our zest for life and love for what we do with laughter? Our intellect with good conversation?

Regardless of how hectic our lives may get we must maintain a positive image because our images mirror everything else we do: how we run our businesses, how we relate to our co-workers, and how we react with our family and friends. If our image is not positive both inside and out it begins to show in the things that we do.

In order to begin improving our images we must first take an assessment of who we are. We must begin to define ourselves and ask these questions: What are our talents, abilities, gifts? We all have strengths and they were given to us to be used and to be shared with the world, to be a benefit to our everyday life. Once this is determined we must then begin to acknowledge and take stock of our goals. Again we must ask ourselves questions: What are our aspirations and dreams ? We must remember that we will only go as far as we allow our mind to think that we can go. Benjamin E. Mays said it best: It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching our goals. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin. We must dream and we must reach for all the things that are available to us and for us.

Once we are in tune with self, our growth and development begins from there. We must build our minds, our bodies, and our spirit. To begin building our minds we must obtain knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of information. Wisdom is the ability to use our knowledge effectively. In an effort to build our minds we must continually seek information and knowledge and take the perspective of learning something new each and everyday. In all situations we have the opportunity to develop ourselves mentally. Reading a book, engaging in conversation, listening to educational or informative programs are just a few examples of how we can accomplish this. Our goal should be to continue to learn and research and use our intellect to build self, then others.

Not only should we begin to build our mind, but we must build our bodies as well. A healthy body reduces stress and the potential for illness. Exercise and proper nutrition makes us feel and look better which has a great effect on our interaction with others. We can begin to balance this aspect of our life by taking in more nutritional foods and beginning a simple exercise regimen. The results will be astounding.

Understanding who we are and what we want and developing our mind and body, naturally uplifts the spirit. Attitudes begin to change and we find ourselves wanting to do more and be more. The key to unlocking the depth of our spirit is to reach within and allow ourselves to take hold of the power we have as individuals. Understanding that we are limitless in our abilities to believe, to dream, to hope, and love allows us to build ourselves and then transfer this energy from self to others.

Our mind is a vehicle for our hope, desires, and dreams. Our body is the tool we use to carry these things out. Our spirit is the manner in which we do so. Together they make up our image ---all encompassing, collective, all self, all us.

Sheronde Glover, M.Ed. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced or copied with this copyright notice and the complete contact information regarding the author.

Sheronde Glover is the CEO of Glover Enterprise, a comprehensive image enhancement and consulting company.