A couple of nights ago I went out with some friends and I realized how so many people are trying very hard to be somebody they are not only to please or impress. (Ok, I don’t analyse everything, but this time it was so bloody obvious to me that I had to notice it).

How often do you find yourself trying to be something or someone you are not? It gets quite exhausting and confusing, doesn’t it? How often have you met somebody and thought, this person is not for real and you saw straight through him or her?

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."

Raymond Hull

People want more of you! This also applies in your business. Just imagine you want to work with a real estate agent and you have the choice between two agents: oneof them is trying very hard to impress you and the other one is being very authentic and showing his true self. Which one would you rather work with?Probably the authentic one, right?

If you are being more of you, you will build better relationships and people will trust you more, because they know that you are for real and they will want to do business with you.

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." Judy Garland

How can you be more of you?

1. Think about all the facets you have.

Find your hidden characteristics. For example are you a secret nerd, a passionate stone collector, a strict teacher, a funny neighbour. Whatever your characteristics are, bring them out, be more of you.

2. Become a signature

Bring your facets to life. Be more of you by bringing your uniqueness to the table. Live and breath who you are. For example if you are a bit of a nerd (ok, I admit I am a bit of a nerd), don’t hide it, it is part of you. You don’t have to please everybody, it’s ok if some people don’t like your ‘style’.

3. Dare to be different

Dare to be different and stand out. It makes you more interesting. Don’t just follow the pack and do the same as your competitors. You can also apply this principle to your marketing, be different in your marketing approach so that you get noticed!

4. Have the courage to say no and stand your ground

You don’t have to say yes to every single offer you get if it doesn’t suit you or your ethics. Take a stance, stand your ground and say no to things if it doesn’t work for you. If you apply this one step, it will save you a lot of pain later and you will attract more of the people you actually want to work and hang with.

Walk your talk, don’t deviate from what you stand for.

5. Don’t fake it, you will get found out

Don’t try to be something other people want you to be to impress.It will only get confusing and suddenly you can’t even remember what you were for whom. People will see through you sooner or later.

Think about your unique characteristics and decide which ones you can bring out more. How can you be more real for your clients and customers?

"No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one."

Hawthorne