I've seen too many amazing brands fall into what I like to call the Brand Identity Crisis—uncertain of themselves and lacking the confidence to sell what they do with the fire it deserves. This is often driven by one of 4 branding mistakes. Let me save you the heartache and share what I've learned from seeing so many others struggle.

When you're busy building the life and brand of your dreams, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and lose sight of what's really important. Before you know it, you're burnt out. You'd love to just crawl in a hole and hide from the world for a while.  I know how you feel.

Lucky for you, I've got your back! These 4 secrets will revolutionize your work-life balance, and keep you moving closer to your dreams. Find clarity, avoid burnout, and keep that hustle going strong.

Many of us consider the final product to be what defines the value and success of our work. When someone asks us what we do, we go straight for the portfolio. The proof is in the pudding, right? Well without a creative process, there wouldn't be any pudding. Without that secret recipe, there's no telling what kind of unpredictable mess you'll end up with.

Your creative process is the key to producing the same level of professional, amazing results every time. In order to harness it's power, you've got to get intentional with it. Use these 5 tips to make sure your workflow is working for you.

Time—there's never enough of it. Most days it feels like you can never be productive enough, always chasing that list of to-do's in your head. It's a maddening board game—advance 1 space, then back 3. Check one thing off, only to replace it with five more.

It seems that our time is in ever shorter supply, especially around the holidays. You've got all these goals and aspirations—for the new year, for your brand, for your life. Yet you just can't seem to find time for them, and there's this avalanche of other things that keeps caving in.

GETTING IT ALL DONE

Well, I've got three mantras that could be the answer to your struggles. These revelations are the magic that keep my own avalanche at bay. I can't promise you it will be easy, but you can create more time in your days. You can get it all done. Think I'm out of my mind? Read on.

Several years ago, I remember anxiously rambling my way through a job interview. Just as the end was in sight, the interviewer dropped that infamous question, “What is your greatest weakness?”

You're probably familiar with this scenario and how it works. Your answer is supposed to be a positive trait, ever so slightly disguised as a flaw. For many of us, perfectionism is the obvious answer.

My standards are just too high, you say. Sometimes I spend too much time on something because I want it to be the best it can possibly be.

If it sounds like I'm mocking perfectionists, I promise you I'm not. Perfectionist and proud right here. Well, most of the time.

WITH GREAT POWER...

In reality, perfectionism can be both amazing and terrible. It's probably both my greatest strength and weakness. I'm sure I'm not alone here. Many of us passionate and creative people struggle with the two sides of the perfectionism coin.

We all fall somewhere within that spectrum, which—for both simplicity and rhyming's sake—I'll say ranges from lazy to crazy. Figuring out where I naturally fell (which is way more toward the crazy end) helped me identify my own perfectionist tendencies, and separate my awesome habits from the destructive ones. Hopefully I can help you do the same.

“Don't judge a book by its cover.” We're all too familiar with this saying. But let's say you're wandering around Barnes & Noble, searching for that next paperback to sink your teeth into.

What gets your attention? What makes one book stand out on the shelf over all the others? Sure, you may page through and read a few excerpts before you decide to purchase, but what makes you pick that book up in the first place?

Exactly.

Don't Judge a Brand by Its... Oh Wait

Your logo is to your brand what a cover is to a book. It's the face of your business. It's often the first thing your customers will encounter—making that first impression, which decides if they're going to dig deeper or move along.

Your logo is the first crucial step on the way to gaining another loyal customer. It's the key to making that next sale and so many to follow. So it's essential that it makes an amazing impression.

About a month ago, Sam (my husband) and I were car shopping. Upon pulling up to one of the dealerships that made the cut, a salesman immediately set his sights on us and proceeded to swoop in. We saw him racing toward us and I cringed. “Vultures,” Sam grimaced.

This guy didn't even let us get inside. He headed us off in the parking lot and proceeded to weave his pretentious and relentless web of a pitch. The rest of our experience with him was more of the same—arrogant, pushy, and frustrating.

THE NIGHTMARE OF SELLING

I'm sure this scenario sounds familiar. The sleazy car salesman is what comes to mind when most of us think of selling. Even the word “selling” makes you shudder a little bit, doesn't it? Well it doesn't have to.

Welcome to the next installment of Defining Your Brand of Professionalism! During Part 1, I focused on the benefits of expressing yourself through your brand. After all, when you're able to embrace your style and share your unique wisdom, we all benefit. When it comes to becoming the creative professional you're meant to be though, that's only the beginning.

Mind the Mindset

I believe the most important evidence of creative professionalism transcends how you dress or where you work. While those factors definitely contribute to our confidence and contentment, real professionalism comes down to your mindset, what you do, and how you treat others.

When I think of “professionalism” in the traditional sense, I think of working 9-5 in a cubicle wearing some combination of black dress pants and a button-up shirt. Most likely there's a cardigan involved.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good cardigan, but I discovered early on that a career in corporate America just wasn't for me. So what should professionalism look like for a creative entrepreneur?