What do you want to be known for?

I recently came a cross a very interesting little exercise that I wanted to share with you all here. It’s about identifying what do you want to be known for and I think it’s really useful on various levels, from business to life. 

Having a positive and healthy self-image is vital in both your personal and business life. It allows you to make choices that align with where you want to be and with how you want other people to see you. It’s also a different way to find your purpose in life.

And first, you must decide what that reputation or image will look like. So, what do you want to be known for?

1. Define your desired traits

Select three qualities you would like people to identify in you, and make them a mixture of personal and business qualities. 

For me, Inge Dowden, I would like to be known as: 

• A caring friend
• A great coach
• An enjoyer of life 

When selecting your traits, think about these qualities as image markers. If people you work with or your friends were to describe you to others, what key areas would you want them to identify? Imagine them referring you to someone in their network. Imagine them talking about you around the family dinner table. 

Although you are defining your qualities in a mixture of personal and business terms, you will be surprised how they tend to cross over and influence one another. After all, you will embody all these qualities so it’s natural for them to merge slightly.

2. Use your qualities to identify new opportunities

Once you have your qualities defined, you can write them out and keep them on your vision board, on your desk, in your diary or even on a piece of paper in your bag. Whenever you make a decision about something you are going to do, or perhaps a new opportunity that has come up, you can check if it is congruent with your value and your purpose. You can ensure it will align with the reputation you want to build and therefore you can measure yourself against it. 

As Inge the enjoyer of life, I say ‘yes’ to unusual invitations or trying something new as it helps me create a good work-life balance. This in turn helps me be a great coach as I am practicing what I preach. Therefore, saying yes to trying new things is congruent with at least two of the qualities I want to be known for. 

Remember though, you can’t say yes to everything that comes your way. Having a visual note somewhere of the qualities you want to be known for is a great barometer to check you are not veering off course. It will be easier to keep on the straight and narrow of your desired reputation.

3. Make sure they are positive and aspirational

The final point to remember when writing down what you want to be known for, is to do it in a positive way. Rather than saying ‘I don’t want to be…’ you must ensure you state that you ‘want to’ or ‘will be’. This will make your quality aspirational. 

In becoming an attractive character renowned for certain traits, you will also attract more of these qualities into your life. After all, like attracts like. So, choose wisely and enjoy the journey to becoming the best version of yourself.

4. Use it in your wheel of life

This fairly simple exercise can be very well combined with doing your Wheel of Life exercise. After all, that’s also about finding out what and who is important to you in your life.

If you haven’t done one, or it’s been a while since you’ve done one, why not do one now and see where you are at?