Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Betty
Happy birthday to you!
Yes, January 17th marks Betty White's birthday, and it has officially been named "Betty White Day" in Oak Park, Illinois.
When asked to describe Betty in one word, most people say something like:
Witty
Entertaining
Smart
Sharp
Charismatic
Funny
Salty
Versatile
Awesome
Kind
Animal Lover
Grandma (as in your favorite!)
Not a bad list at all!
Which brings us to brand.
Betty White is a wonderful example of having a positive personal brand.
The reason the words listed above come to mind is because she represented them all consistently.
Betty was largely known for her wit, talent, and animal advocacy.
1. Wit.
She might seem sweet, but White had a wicked sense of humor.
Examples:
When asked if there was anything she hadn’t done in her career, her stock reply was, “Robert Redford.”
or
When fellow Golden Girl Rue McClanahan was hospitalized after having a stroke earlier last year, a friend of Rue’s reported that Betty had sent a “Don’t Get Well” card that said something along the lines of,
“Dear Rue, I hope you hurry up and die so I can be the last Golden Girl left. NOT KIDDING.”
Rue apparently got a huge kick out of it.
2. Talent.
Betty had a record-breaking TV career.
- She holds the Guinness record for the longest TV career of any woman ever
- In 1955 she was nominated as the honorary “Mayor of Hollywood”
- In 1995 they inducted her into the Television Hall of Fame. Twenty years later, she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys.
- She was one of the first female producers in Hollywood
- Betty earned an impressive seven Emmys.
3. Animal Advocacy.
Betty was known for turning down roles if an animal was to be “injured” – even for pretend – anywhere in the script.
So...
What's your personal brand?
Or asked another way,
What words would people use to desribe you?
Give it some thought, and if you are feeling brave, ask a few people in your life what 3 words most describe you.
- Do the words align with how you view yourself?
- Do you want to make any changes?
- How are you showing up on a daily basis?
- Are the words representing you consistent and intentional?
Understanding body language allows you to intentionally align your words with your nonverbals.
Example:
If you are showing up in a way that feels intimidating to others, adding warmth cues can change how you are perceived.
And if you are viewed as really nice but not taken seriously, adding in some competence cues will help send a different message.
Check out the tweet below that beautifully summarizes what a great personal brand is and how it is representative of how we are perceived.
We miss you already, Betty!
Your co-pilot (who is dying to know your words!),
P.S.
What is your word for Betty White?
And more importantly, what are your three words? Send me a message ASAP!