I was recently asked to audition for the ABC TV show Gruen, which is all about advertising.
If you haven’t seen the show, it’s pretty bloke heavy, and they are looking for women to join the panel. (I love that the ABC recognise this and are actively recruiting for women to join the show).
I had a few phone conversations with them, and then agreed to go in for an audition. Mainstream TV would be amazing for my profile and the Gruen has great credentials. Pretty exciting stuff.
Then I thought seriously about it. And I said no.
Crazy, hey? Why say no to something so high profile when it could do amazing things for my personal brand?
That’s the thing – advertising is not my personal brand. PR and social media is. I’m very clear about my niche and have worked very hard to not deviate from it.
Also, I’m not an expert in advertising. I know some stuff, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert and I’m certainly not a thought leader in this area. I want to make sure whatever I do publicly adds value and builds my reputation.
I had to think really seriously about it. Going on TV still scares me, so I had to make sure I wasn’t saying no out of fear, because, as you know, I’m all about saying yes to opportunities and experiences.
So there are times when you have to say no, even when they seem so amazing.
Here are three things to think about when deciding to say yes or no.
1. Think about who you really are. What makes you unique? Think about who you are and what you stand for. What sets you apart from your competitors?
2. Find your niche. It’s important to think about your area of expertise, define your niche, and stick to it. Don’t be vague when defining your niche as it will dilute your brand and confuse your audience.
3. Get your brand out there. It’s one thing to have a strong brand, but it’s not much use if no one knows about it. Start networking with the right audience, publish articles, get up on stage and start a blog on your niche.
Saying no for the right reasons is OK, but saying yes to opportunities even if they scare you is also important for your brand and personal development.