What Is It That You're Going to Stand For?

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we choose brands every day, all day long. Whether it’s the coffee we drink or the cereal we eat, where we eat lunch or what wine we have with dinner, what books we read or what movies we see, … you get the picture.

We rarely take time to think about ourselves as a brand.

And, if you’re a business owner or executive, you’re so deeply immersed in the business, it’s hard to separate you as a person from the brand.

If you can relate to this, then it’s high time you take some time for yourself and rediscover what you stand for and how you want to recalibrate what you do today to match what you want to do and who you want to be.

Try following these few simple steps—things you would do for your business’ brand that should also be done for yourself:

Take inventory: identify your many accomplishments and how you feel about each of them. Think about the hurdles you’ve had to jump, how you made it over them, and how you now feel about it.

Consider what you want to learn , create, do and enjoy. Explore the possibilities you have right in front of you.

Create your vision by thinking about your purpose – what you want to do; your passion – why you want to do what you want to do; and your personality – how you want people to experience who you are and what you do.

Design a plan of action: you can test your vision and your plan; enjoy a small plate rather than a five-course dinner with wine pairings.

Recalibrate: give yourself permission to adjust as you go.

You’ll be amazed at how rejuvenated you feel. It may give you renewed energy to keep doing what you’re doing. Or, it may give you the courage to discover new territory.

Related: Just Do It? How to Develop a Realistic Schedule to Complete a Plan

From my personal experience and in talking to many executives who are burned out or looking for what’s next, standing for something and knowing that you have a vision makes the path forward all the more tantalizing.

So, what is it that you’re going to stand for?