The Fresh Start Effect & Cutting Your Professional Bangs
The life of an entrepreneur. It can be overwhelming, you can feel far from where you want to be, and you sometimes question yourself and compare yourself to everyone else. The life of the self-employed isn’t for the weak. When things aren’t moving as fast as we’d like, or when we encounter a difficult moment in our businesses, it’s easy to want a fresh start. This is the silent battle of building a brand.
You have a strategy for your business, a marketing plan laid out, posts you should be making, and blogs you should be writing. One thing leads to another and you get off-track, experience writer’s block, or fall behind on your posts. You never fully implement your strategy the way you planned (or your strategy wasn’t realistic to begin with). Or, maybe something unexpected came up: a huge change, a costly repair, or a contract falls through. There’s a moment when the fear seeps in; after all, it’s your business, and it all comes down to you. Often, these situations can make us feel like we’ve failed and leave us exhausted and down on ourselves. You want a fresh start.
The “fresh start effect” comes from the idea that a new beginning can help distance you from past shortcomings. This clean slate is the equivalent of a reset button, giving you renewed motivation and personal growth. This feeling tends to make people more receptive to change. This acceptance of change can make you impulsive, leaving you with the urge to cut your professional bangs. When you want a fresh start after a breakup, you cut your bangs. When you want a fresh start professionally, you get a new logo (or update the old one).
…if it feels like you’re going through it professionally, you’re allowed to be sad, you’re allowed to take a break, but don’t cut your bangs.
So…if it feels like you’re going through it professionally, you’re allowed to be sad, you’re allowed to take a break, but don’t cut your bangs. Unlike bangs that grows out in six months (no harm done), an impulsive rebrand rarely leads to the business conversions you’re looking for. The problem almost always resides elsewhere. You’ll figure it out, but only if you keep going.
What’s the fix? The fix will always vary from business to business and project to project. Take a step back and look at your strategy (or find a designer you can talk strategy with). A successful and clear strategy can help you convey a message that resonates with your customers and builds trust. If you have a sound strategy, maybe the problem lies elsewhere. Identify tasks you’re already doing and tasks you haven’t done yet.
Still think you need a logo? Maybe you do. Let’s talk! But remember a logo is just one piece of your brand’s identity, and should be accompanied strategically with other elements to build favorability with your customers and potential customers.
