Brand Sidibe: Confident and Consistent

Follow her example by using bold authenticity to stand out in the marketplace

Gabourey Sidibe is using brand consistency to make the most of her big break.

This game of life requires you to be confident and consistent. If you say you are the best—then bring it. Show your successful projects, letters of recommendations, and praises from your (former) employers and colleagues.

The competition to secure an opportunity can be challenging—entrepreneurs must deliver a consistent and confident brand each time. Branding—as mentioned in earlier posts is—a consistent feeling, image and experience desired from a product conveyed to the general public. Basically, you the entrepreneur are the brand.

Enter brand Gabourey Sidibe, the NAACP Image Award recipient and Academy Award nominee. She is the unlikely next big star, her debut role as Claireece “Precious” Jones in Precious: Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, she has been working consistently in Hollywood. Brand Sidibe has allowed her personality to take center stage and foment demand simply by being herself.

We get it that Sidibe isn’t the “standard beauty” that Hollywood seems to crave, and she isn’t being raved about as much as uber-waif and fellow Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan, but Brand Sidibe is a one-woman show oozing with determination, talent, and girl next-door appeal. Her brand is unconventional, confident, consistent, powerful, authentic and well liked. What could have been easily 15-minutes of fame, is still a precious moment developing for the star.

As entrepreneurs and women we must learn from Brand Sidibe to love the skin we are in to attract the big break. How many of us miss the mark because we don’t believe in our gifts? Is it because we are busy worrying about the competition, or is because we lack confidence as it relates to our talent? All you need to succeed is within you.

When shock jock Howard Stern made his crass comment, “…Everyone’s pretending she’s a part of show business and she’s never going to be in another movie. She should have gotten the Best Actress award because she’s never going to have another shot.” Sidibe made Stern eat his words when she recently hosted Saturday Night Live, and announced that she’ll have a recurring role on Showtime’s new comedy “The Big C,” along with the upcoming film “Yelling to the Sky” and co-hosting "The View" next month. Not bad for an actress who had never acted before.

Start your campaign of brand confidence and consistency today. Trusting that you have what it takes to win; showcase your character and knowledge to standout; deliver to your client what you pitch; and display the confidence to make it happen. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Define yourself and love the skin you are in by your standards (warts and all).
2. Do your research as it relates to the marketplace. What can you bring differently to the job/contract?
3. Show up to win, it’s all an attitude and mind-set
4. Have fun and enjoy each moment of life.

What are your strategies for winning? Let me know your thoughts.

Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert, provides entrepreneurs, corporations, and mompreneurs with essential branding, marketing, and public relations coaching; www.karentaylorbass.com and www.taylormademediapr.com. Follow Karen's tips and Caviar & Chitlins moments at Twitter, twitter.com/prexpert.

Are You Getting Ready For 2010? Things That I am Loving As I Transform

I don't know about you, but, 2009 was truly my year of growth. Challenges, more growth and definitely more and more challenges. There were times when I kept hoping did I master the lesson as of yet? Well, as of writing this post ... still learning much needed lessons before ushering a 'brand new me. ' That's okay.

What I am re-learning which I had forgotten, is just how resilient, patient, talented and super sexy I am. Don't take that the wrong way, however, being a mom of 2, ages under 11, it is easy to get enveloped into their world. I forgot I was Karen Taylor aka Karen Taylor Bass (wife/mother).

Simply put, I had forgotten all the tools I used in the past when I felt on top of my game.

Is my lesson this year-- to become the person I have yet to become? I think so.

With growth comes great loss and tons of clarity.

Somehow, the past 11 months have really made me appreciate the little joys of life and not put so much pressure on career/business.

Here are some random thoughts of mine this week.


1) Are they trying to kill us? Could not believe the heated and controversial mammogram report this week, glad it was shut down by the government. Ridiculous. As a woman over 40, I want to know that I am doing everything in my power to save my life. And yes, I need to have my breast checked once a year via screening and do self exams. I guess next is a study saying that broccoli is not good for us?? Don't you think this is crazy?
Read the report on CNN.com here: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/empowered.patient/

2) The Game (BET)
I did not watch this show when it was on the CW network, however, I am loving each episode for its sauce, wittiness, intelligent writing and eye candy (Pooch, Hosea, Colby). BET please renew the show and bring the noise. Let me know if you are also a Game-head?

3) I learned how to put makeup on this fall.
Oh my gosh, how much fun is it to play with colors and bring out my inner sexiness. Attended a makeover for moms with "Mocha Moms" and made the investment to purchase makeup. Yum.

4) Precious- The Movie.
I am so happy that Black folks are telling a universal story. When I read the book, Push by Sapphire, I cried like a baby -- that was 15 years ago. Can't wait to see the movie this weekend and chat with executive producer Lisa Cortes. Check out my radio show on December 2nd, see details here. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/prexpert

Go see the movie this week, let me know your thoughts. Is it worth the buzz?

5) Working out, changing my life.
I have a confession, need to update my photos when I get some balls. I weighed on April 10, and was 167 pounds, 45 pounds overweight. Can't tell you when -- but it was real. My knees, joints and everything was aching. Went to the doctor, was told my blood pressure was high, and all that other good stuff that comes with extra weight. A sister had to really take stock of life and eating habits. I am pleased to let you know that I have lost 22 pounds thus far -- will post "new" picture when I reach goal. Here is a photo of me at 167. Doing this the right way, one day at a time.


Did you see my son's brilliant commercial? Here it is again.
http://www.taylormademediapr.com/home.html

Let me know your thoughts, would love to hear from you.