Making your personal image deliciously irresistible is similar to what goes into serving up a delicious plate of authentic Mexican food.
This past weekend while in Hawaii, I met Hector and Helena Sol, two well-known Silicon Valley restaurateurs who own and run Palo Alto Sol and Viva Sol in Mountain View, and who really love running these thriving hot spots. The more we talked, the more we both became clear about some pretty big things that I think you’d really appreciate reading.
At a restaurant, it’s mainly all about the food. It’s got to be made right using the freshest ingredients and the leanest meats. The kitchen staff has to really have a passion for cooking and really knowing the cuisine so whatever you order is prepared to meet or exceed your expectations, and so that what you eat tastes great. But what guides all of this behind-the-scenes orchestration comes from the owners’ soul.
As we enjoyed each others’ company, I suggested to Hector and Helena that people actually show up in droves to their Silicon Valley restaurants for more than food. Having eaten at both of their places numerous times with mutual close friends, I am familiar with the boisterous atmosphere you can count on experiencing. This enterprising couple has this same fun loving, generous of spirit, presence of being in person. Even if they aren’t at their restaurants when you eat there, they have filled them with their energy.
This is an awesome example of how to serve up your personal image for success.
The economy is still dicey and unemployment figures are unimpressively flat. The word on the street is out that companies don’t want to hire employees because they don’t want to pay to train people to do the work, and that people looking for work are not qualified.
But if you think like my restaurateur friends, you may be able to come up with a fresh way to serve your personal image up to the public, no matter what your position, no matter whether you’re a CEO or you’re trying to get back in the game. Many people, from President Obama and his competitors on down, seek ways to showcase competence to their audience. The point is to be convincing that you could be capable of performing the job.
If you’re in a competitive field, or if your stance on an issue is being highly scrutinized, your personal image is the first line of offense. People are looking to see how well you carry and conduct yourself. It’s about how well you fit into the culture of the country, the company, or the club.
It may be ironic to think of restaurateurs Hector and Helena as “hungry” when they can prepare all the food they can possibly eat! But what they really hunger for is to please their customers time and again. What are you really “hungry” to accomplish?
When it comes to your personal brand and your personal image, are you hungry enough to develop them? Do you realize that all that soul in you is not getting out like it should and do you have a hunger to share it? This is what it takes to create a recipe for success today.
Joseph Rosenfeld helps high-profile individuals revitalize, manage, and be secure in their personal visual brand. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.
