The speaker was clearly following the standard business workshop template.  First he asked who’s in the room, how many of you came from far away, asked a compelling question, (although it was so compelling I cannot recall it), then launched into telling his personal story (which is designed to draw the audience into feeling they are like him – he worked for Tony Robbins, went to New Zealand with his girlfriend and I cannot remember anything else – not like me at all).  I sit there identifying each transition and wondering when the meat of the subject was going to kick in.  Oh this curse of mine, having trained and spoken on stage 1,000 of times, my toastmaster training whispering in the background counting ums and ahs, wondering if there is a gem of information that might land in the next few moments and being disappointed as the minutes tick away.   The speaker has lost my attention and my mind begins to wander.

But oh wait here comes the entertainment, a woman dressed in an almost see through white skirt, crop top, belly showing telling me how to engage with millionaires.  I guess dressing provocatively would do it, but not my idea of my authentic relationship building.   How could it get better from here?  It does.

Ahhh the obligatory engagement exercise where we get to connect with other individuals.  Finally, this is what I came for, to connect with other participants and be of service.    Of course the first person I meet is a “life coach”.  Well, she’s a life, coach, an author, a speaker and of course a “serial” workshop attendee.   I’m sure you’ve met this person; they attend more workshops that actually build their business.   It seems like all the real estate agents hard hit in this recent economic down turn became life coaches and started going to seminars full time.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being a life coach, it just doesn’t say much of who you are.  It doesn’t set you apart from anyone.  What kind of life coach are you, what is the big result you get for your clients.  Is your answer “I help people through a “transition” in their life? “ So often I hear this or something like it and I want to run screaming out of the room.  Who the hell isn’t going through a transition every minute of every day?    This is what we as humans do, go from transition to transition.  You help what people?  All people?  You help ALL people! Really everyone?   Now if you tell me you coach women who have just had a baby, move through mental blocks to feel their sexiness again and lose 20 pounds in 10 days.  I can feel that, see it and know if you have what I need.

Here’s an idea.  There are lots of business event speakers, lots of real estate agents, lots of life coaches, lots of hair stylists and lots of other professions which attract a specific person who become these things because they believe they “should”.  Maybe they think they can make money doing it, maybe someone told them it would be a good idea, maybe they saw someone do it and said hey I can do that, maybe they just didn’t have anything else to do that day.  It seems that doing something “just because” misses the mark and dilutes the impact you can make on the world.

There is this magic inside you that is dying to get out.  It is the authentic you and it can only show up if you tap into it from your biggest challenge which happens to be your biggest gift.  If you are not tapping into that, you may decide that you want to sell organic soap and have a big down line or you might think becoming a life coach will allow you to help others through a business that draws the same thinking into becoming a real estate agent.  Don’t fool yourself.  You have to give your gift to get the gift of wealth and abundance.

I am over the generic “titles” that people don in order to feel remarkable or marketable.  Marketable is your authentic you.  Your true self.  That thing you do better and more uniquely than anyone on the planet because you are you.

Today, sit with yourself, think of your big wow result you get for people and design a brand around it.  Make it yours.  Stop diminishing yourself by “just” being, a life coach, a real estate agent, a health specialist and shine your light brightly into the world.  Be specific, clear and distinguishable.  Your tribes will thank you, the world will thank you and the authentic you will thank you.