Written on the 15 August 2012 by Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist
Hmmm. You’re wondering what the connection is. Well...
I was watching a re-run of Friends recently, in this particularly episode Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston thought she maybe pregnant and was waiting with Phoebe and Monica for the result. Phoebe announces to Rachel she’s not pregnant. Rachel immediate cries out for the baby she didn’t realise how desperately she wanted.
In typical Phoebe fashion she then states, “Well now we know how you feel about the baby.” Confirming Rachel is in fact pregnant and that she had lied about the negative result.
While watching the Olympics we have been reminded again and again of the obstacles and struggles the various athletes have overcome to become now recognised as an elite athlete, an Olympians.
Bronze Triathlon Winner, Erin Densham’s story is remarkable. Not only was her dream of being an Olympian in doubt, at times the question being asked was “Will she live?”, after collapsing of heart complications during the swimming leg of a triathlon last year.
Erin Denham’s post race comments were inspiring. While leading the field for most of the race, she was outpaced at the very end coming in third for a bronze. She was gracious in accepting the congratulations, remarking she was grateful to be even at the starting blocks, let alone on the podium.
Even Aniston, from her breakout role in Friends to Brad Pitt's wife, America's sweetheart endured heartbreak and bounced back to be ranked in the top most beautiful people in the world and cover of the current People magazine cover. See People. com
Like Aniston, many of the Olympians have been confronted with the potential loss of their love, their sport, fighting back from injury, accidents and life threatening health issues. They have come to the edge and seen their dream of becoming an Olympian in jeopardy, like Rachel in Friends; her grieving tears were shed at the potential lost dream of being a mother.
On the edge when all is at stake, you can realise just what you want. Deciding how badly you want it will determine if you become an Olympian or another talented professional who had potential.
Dr John Demartini sums it up so beautifully, “Everyone experiences moments where outer circumstances appear to be an overwhelming crisis. To many these circumstances dominate and rule their lives. To some these crises leave lasting scars unless they are recognized as truly being blessings. When the worst crisis becomes your greatest blessing, you heal. Nature does not deliver crisis without opportunity or misfortune without blessing.
Some people have crises that drag out for years. Others seem to nip their crises in the bud almost immediately. It's not the outer circumstances that necessarily create the crises. While they may elicit the crises, it is a person's reaction that actually turns circumstances into crises. The length of time it takes for you to recognize your outer crisis as a blessing correlates with your degree of wisdom. Pure wisdom is the instantaneous knowing that each crisis in life is indeed a blessing. Some misfortunes don't reveal their blessing easily, while others are recognized immediately.
Hidden within all misfortunes are the seeds of an equal but opposite fortune.”
Many having nearly lost everything, they decide to make a comeback and become more determined than ever to win. They recognise that every crisis has a blessing.
An important aspect of building your brand is identifying how the challenges you have experienced have provided you with unique skills and life experiences and these are essential to determining your life purpose and authentic brand.
Brand Yourself! And Jump the Q! Your personal brand should reflect your abilities and potential. Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist, known as ‘the Authority’ on personal branding and author of must- have book ‘Brand Yourself’. Grab a copy at http://www.brandyourselfbook.com.
Rachel encourages Jump the Q clients to think strategically when developing a personal brand to get that job offer, gain that promotion or win that client. Go to http://www.JumptheQ.com.au for FREE strategic branding tips.
Jump the Q assists you to strategically and systematically leverage your professional profile and build your personal brand to become the authority in your industry. Get your free personal branding tactics and tips at http://www.brandyourselfblueprint.com
We assist you to develop your personal brand strategy by:
- discovering your strategic purpose and brand
- designing your best personal brand.
- developing your signature brand.
Email us to discuss your free brand consult and how we can re-position you as the market leader.
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 "Why are Jennifer Aniston and our Olympians alike?")
