Cross your fingers, step on your shadow and dig out your rabbit’s foot – or whatever you do to summon positive vibes for what looks like some economic bright spots in the year ahead. But don’t hold your breath because you might not see those balmy skies right away.

Speaking on Friday the 13^th to the Women’s Chamber Austin Affiliate, Federal Reserve Bank Economist Jesse Thompson struck a cautiously optimistic tone in our annual economic forecast.

Read News Report, Download Full Presentation 

He said the economy is looking good but not quite as good as last year. The intractable labor market may improve slightly but not until the second half of 2012. Read more about Jesse’s comprehensive and interesting forecast in this story by American Statesman Business Reporter Laylan Copelin who covered the event.

Download Jesse’s presentation that gives details about the Texas economy including research graphs on various industry sectors on our Web site at 2012 forecast.

Still, I’m amazed at how many people don’t have a sharply honed brand, tag line or elevator pitch – which puts you at a real disadvantage in networking and new business development.

A branding statement — or tag line — is that short, snappy phrase that communicates the essence of your unique self or your company in a flash and in a memorable way. It’s really a little quote about you. That leads me to think about pithy quotations, which can make a point faster than greased lightning.

One of the all-time best personal branding statements is this famous quote from a woman:
“I used to be snow white – but I drifted.”
Mae West

This little pearl runs a close second:
“Never eat more than you can lift.”
Miss Piggy

And right behind, maybe even neck and neck:
“You’ve got to loosen your girdle and really let the ball fly!”
Legendary Golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias (a Texan btw)

Speak Succinctly and Carry a Big Brand

Those famed women had a clear sense of what they were all about and knew how to say it short and sweet – which is the trick with branding tag lines. Less is definitely more whether it’s your company or personal brand. Here are more celebrity quotes that could serve nicely as their personal branding tag lines:

“I’m just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time.”

“Life is just a bowl of pits.”
Rodney Dangerfield

“Move fast and break things.”
Mark Zuckerberg

“It’s possible, you can never know, that the universe exists only for me. If so, it’s sure going well     for me, I must admit.”
Bill Gates

“I want to put a dent in the universe.”
Steve Jobs

“I always knew I was destined for greatness.”
Oprah Winfrey

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

“Conceive. Believe. Achieve.”
Tony Little

“If you are going through hell, keep going.”
Winston Churchill

“I’ve been reckless, but I’m not a rebel without a cause.”
Angelina Jolie

“I invented ‘It’s a good thing’ before you were even born.”
Martha Stewart

Or possibly this memorable quip from a non-contrite Martha:
“I have a microphone on one ankle and an ankle bracelet on the other, so I’m well balanced today.”

It’s all about you

When the Women’s Chamber was founded 20+ years ago, we focused on money and power for women – a bold concept at the time, which we drove home with this cheeky branding line: “The buck starts here.”©

Today our organization has evolved into a community of women with broader interests, and our branding statement reflects that: “Connecting and enriching the lives of women of Texas for two decades.”©

A tag line is not your brand but does derive from it. Discovering your brand and your tag line isn’t as simple as coming up with a clever slogan. Both must authentically reflect what you are. Which means  before you can brand, you must first position yourself – but that’s a topic for another day.

Learn more:

The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding (Al Ries and Laura Ries)

The Brand Gap (Marty Neumeier)

ZAG: The #1 Strategy of High-Performance Brands (Neumeier)

Positioning:The Battle for Your Mind (Al Ries and Jack Trout)

Differentiate or Die (Trout)

Do you have a favorite quote that enriches your life? Send it to us and we’ll post some online.

Rose Batson
Copyright May 2011

Welcome to the Women’s Chamber brand-new Website and our very first blog. We launch the site with irrational exuberance and the blog with cautious optimism tempered by awareness that blogs can indeed turn into one of those OMG-what-have-I-done offspring.

But what the heck, I sally forth convinced it’s another great way to gather, gab and connect over our virtual backyard fence. I’m even making a few loose promises about what to expect, beginning with: The posts will be short, sweet and substantive. I’ll strive to bring news you can use.

I’m on the lookout for interesting and engaging experts who bring fresh perspectives to your business and provocative voices to spice up your life. Those include our diverse, talented members who make up our unique community of women. So send your idea for a possible guest blog post — great way to channel your inner author and flaunt your professional expertise.

Expect to see new ideas, trends, and stories that inform, inspire, entertain and enrich you both professionally and personally. This blog aims to connect on a level that whips up our motivational juices and jogs us to act. Blood and guts journalism used to publish by this axiom, “If it bleeds, it leads.” I have my own kinder, gentler version, “If it jogs, it blogs.” Or to borrow figuratively speaking from the First Lady’s pet initiative, “Let’s Move!”

I may run out of steam but not content in this fast-paced world. I’ve been writing my entire life and can’t remember a time with so much information to chew on. The world brims with fascinating stuff to know and write about.

Rummaging in that mountain of random data, I’m on the hunt for rare nuggets that make us sit up and take notice, spark our imagination, spur us to action, lift us up, make us laugh, move us to tears, and transform our lives and maybe even the world.

Is that too much to expect?

Nah. Not in the wide wonderful world of women.

Rose Batson
Copyright May 2011