Alaa Hassan

The Most Passionate eCommerce Coach & Advisor

Personal Life

Help, I Can’t Find My Passion!

by

How to Find my Passion

Some people seem to come out of the womb with an obvious passion for one thing or another. Maybe they pick up the guitar at an early age or can’t be pried from their easy-bake ovens as children. These people go on to become famous musicians and world-renowned chefs. But what about you? Where is your passion? We get so many emails on this topic, and that’s why we’ll cover all the bases in today’s article, “Help, I Can’t Find My Passion!”

Truthfully, I was once like you. I couldn’t find my passion with a flashlight in a paper bag. Seriously. When people asked me what I would do if I won the lottery, do you know what my response was? Nothing. Isn’t that terrible? It was pretty depressing because I knew it meant I was living a life without purpose. Fortunately, I learned a few easy, and a few not –so-easy ways to truly find my passion, and that’s when my life really began. It all started with a few questions. 

What makes you truly happy? 

I’m not talking about on-the-surface kind of happy. I’m talking about the times when time flies by and you don’t even notice; you simply don’t care. For me, there were a few things. That’s when I started to realize I wasn’t a lost cause after all. Things were starting to come together. I was on the right path to find my passion.

What do other people recognize?

Don’t think about what other people want you to do for a living or what would impress them. Think about what you’re doing or what you’ve done when you get the most compliments. Do people consistently “ooh” and “ahh” over your sketches? Or maybe everyone in your company comes to you when they need help writing a particularly compelling email. Whether you’re drawing, writing, selling or doing something else, if people always seem to recognize that you have talent in one area, it may be something worth pursuing. For me, what made me happy and what other people recognized as talent were exactly the same, and I realized that I would find my passion at this exact intersection.

What would you be willing to do for free?

Although I learned how to find my passion before getting to this last question, it’s not as easy for everyone. Sometimes people get past the first two questions with a list of two or three things. If you need to narrow things down further, ask yourself which you would do for free. Keep in mind, of course, that you aren’t going pro bono. This is just an exercise to help you find your true passion. 

By now, you should be well on your way to finding a rewarding and fulfilling career. And you’ve probably realized that the answer to the question, “How can I find my passion” was inside you all along. There are many reasons why we struggle with this, but it’s usually

6 Most Popular Passions I've Noticed People Have

by

Find Your Passion

Whether you know it or not, you’re a passionate person. There’s one thing that you love above all others. But for some people, it takes a little soul searching to find out what you really love.

While you’re mulling that one over, let’s take a look at some of the most popular passions. Maybe you’ll see something that strikes a chord.

Music

With all the singing and talent competitions around these days, it’s easy to see that we’re a nation obsessed with music. And why not? Music can be inspiring. A simple melody can put a smile on your face and change your entire mood. But while we all enjoy music, some people enjoy it a little more. These people play instruments, sing or dance. Maybe they even do all of the above. 

Food

Again, our nation is obsessed with this passion. Maybe a little too obsessed. But it’s important to note that a passion for food doesn’t mean overeating. It means that you truly enjoy cooking or tasting new things.  You enjoy talking and/or writing about your meals almost as much as you enjoy eating them. 

Exercise

Staying fit and healthy is definitely a passion for many people. It’s probably one of the most productive of the popular passions because it will keep you (and maybe others too) in great shape and feeling amazing. If you’re passionate about exercise, you probably don’t skip more than one day per week. You enjoy all kinds of workouts, sports and you enjoy helping others make fitness a priority in their lives. 

Gardening

This is probably the most peaceful of the popular passions. If you’re a gardening enthusiast, you really enjoy the quiet, serene nature of this hobby. You love the fact that you can cultivate something beautiful from a simple seed. When you’re not in the garden, you’re thinking about what you’re going to plant next. 

Animals

Most animals cannot defend themselves from humans, and many can’t survive without our help. That’s why animal care and welfare is a passion for many people. These people spend time volunteering at shelters and adopt animals who desperately need placement. 

Travel 

Some people don’t like to travel. They’re happy spending their entire life in one area without feeling the need to explore. But those people are few and far between. Travel is among the most popular passions because most of us have the urge to visit faraway lands and experience different cultures. It’s truly a life-altering experience to submerge yourself in the culture of another nation. I’m not talking about going from Montreal to New York (although, there are definite cultural differences there). Montreal to Beijing would be a better example of the experience that passionate travelers seek. 

Now that you’ve seen the most popular passions, do you have a better idea of your own? Remember, it’s not enough to “kind of like” these things. You have to want to eat, sleep and breathe these things. When you find something like that, you’ve found your true passion. 

20 Ways to Find Out If You're Suffering from Cell Phone Addiction

by

Are you addicted to cell phones?

Here’s a list of things you do with your phone without even noticing you do them.  If you agree with 6 of them, you really need to evaluate your phone use or see a specialist.

  1. You turn back if you forget your phone at home
  2. You Have to look at your phone before going to sleep
  3. You text non stop to everyone on earth
  4. If you don’t get any app notifications, you feel like a loser
  5. You check apps multiple times even though there’s nothing to check on them
  6. If you’re battery is dying, you feel that you are running out of breath & you will die soon
  7. When having a meal with others, you check your phone at least 3 times (without it ever making a sound in the first place)
  8. You get irritated when someone bothers you during your phone time (ex..your kids, spouse or parent)
  9. You get pissed at everyone who tells you that you’re addicted to your phone
  10. You constantly think about calls or messages you may receive (and never end up getting)
  11. You choose to spend time on your phone for hours instead of calling a friend for 5 minutes
  12. You constantly forget your keys or wallet before leaving the house but you always have your phone in your hand
  13. You take cell phone breaks at work (and even while going to the bathroom)
  14. You hear your phone ringing but it never ran in the first place (sometimes you even feel it vibrating….you seriously have issues)
  15. When you drop your phone, you feel your heart breaking and hope to God that your screen is not shattered ( and you feel victorious when everything is alright)
  16. You secretly check your phone under the table as not to be rude (btw…that’s still rude…..who checks their crotch at a table???)
  17. You ask restaurants to charge your phone while eating a meal and then your mind constantly thinks about those missed notifications
  18. You interrupt people to show them a photo or video on your phone
  19. You can’t stop texting or checking Facebook while driving
  20. You hate going to places where there’s no WIFI

So are you addicted???

10 Must-Read Books About Personal Branding

by

Personal Branding Books You Should Read

The benefits of developing a personal brand are numerous. It will increase your visibility, perceived value and earning potential. Although developing your personal brand may seem like a intimidating task, there are a lot of books out there that will guide you in creating a brand that will elevate you and make you stand out in a competitive market. Here is a list of my top ten books that will give you that little push and guidance in developing a brand that will work for you. It is time to grab the bull by the horn and take control of the brand that you want to be associated with.

Reinventing-You

 

Reinventing You By Dorie Clark
http://www.amazon.ca/Reinventing-You-Define-Imagine-Future/dp/1422144135

“In Reinventing You, branding expert Dorie Clark provides a step-by-step guide to help you assess your unique strengths, develop a compelling personal brand, and ensure that others recognize the powerful contribution you can make.”

Me 2.0- Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success
By Dan Schawbel
http://www.amazon.ca/Me-2-0-Powerful-Achieve-Success/dp/1427798206

“Me 2.0 shows job seekers and established professionals alike how to leverage the power of online media for personal empowerment and career success.”

 

be your own brand book

Be Your Own Brand: A Breakthrough Formula For Standing Out from Crowd
By David McNally and Karl D Speak
http://www.amazon.com/Be-Your-Own-Brand-Achieve/dp/1605098108

“McNally and Speak take you through the process of identifying the key components of your brand, conveying that brand to the world, checking how closely your brand aligns with important relationships in your life—particularly your employer—and assessing your progress along the way.”

self marketing power book

Self Marketing Power: Branding Yourself as a Business of One
By: Jeff Beals
http://www.amazon.com/Self-Marketing-Power-Branding-Yourself/dp/097974380X

“In a competitive, global economy, you need to stand out. Whether you’re hoping for a promotion, trying to land a major client or striving to make a difference in your community, one thing is for sure: The world has no room for shrinking violets. Self Marketing Power is a book about business, career and life success.”

branding pays book

Branding Pays: The Five-Step System to Reinvent Your Personal Brand
By Karen Kang
http://www.amazon.com/BrandingPays-Five-Step-System-Reinvent-Personal/dp/0988437503

“BrandingPays, a practical guide to strategic personal branding, will help you refocus your skills and experience so you are the best candidate for the job, career and business opportunities that you desire. Perfect for professionals, entrepreneurs and college students, the step-by-step BrandingPays methodology has been proven in Fortune 500 companies and leading business schools.”

the brand called you

The Brand Called You
By Peter Montoya
http://www.amazon.com/The-Brand-Called-Brand-Building-Indispensable/dp/0967450659

“Personal Branding is who we are, authentically and without anything held back, crafted and communicated in a way that maximizes our influence with the people who can make us successful. This is the focus of The Brand Called You, the most authoritative resource to date on what makes Personal Branding effective, the principles behind the success of any brand, and the strategies any business owner can use to become the inevitable choice for anyone seeking a product or service.”

the personal branding phenomenon book

The Personal Branding Phenomena
By Peter Montoya
http://www.amazon.ca/The-Personal-Branding-Phenomenon-Advancement/dp/1460995473

“The Personal Branding Phenomenon is about taking control, whether you’re an ambitious professional or entrepreneur. Instead of focusing on the right suit or business card, you’ll take a high-level, clinical look at how and why Personal Branding works – and how to leverage it to your advantage.”

career distinction book

Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand
By William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson
http://www.amazon.ca/Career-Distinction-Stand-Building-Brand/dp/0470128186

“Career Distinction outlines the proven personal branding process and provides case studies of successful professionals that will help you not only survive, but thrive, in today’s dynamic and ultracompetitive workplace. You’ll learn to manage your brand with innovative tools that enable you to differentiate yourself and stand out from your peers.”

high visibility book

High Visibility: Transforming Your Personal and Professional Brand
By Irving Rein
http://www.amazon.com/High-Visibility-Transforming-Personal-Professional/dp/0071456805

“Today, it’s not just what you know or who you know–it’s who knows you. High Visibility is the difference between being just a member of the crowd and becoming a highly recognized individual.”

the brand yu life book

The Brand YU Life: Re-thinking who you are through Personal Brand Management
By Hajj E. Flemings
http://www.amazon.ca/The-Brand-Life-Re-Thinking-Management/dp/0977138801

“The Brand Yu Life is a passionate account of personal branding, where the author mixes case studies, quotes, compelling graphics and workbook elements to help you discover your calling in life and build your personal brand.”

 

There are many books, blogs and guides out there on personal branding and just approaching the loads of material can be quite daunting. We love to hear from you and your feedback is very valuable to us. Which book(s) did you find the most helpful and inspiring? How has taking control of your personal brand helped your business or career?

The Ultimate List of Benefits of Having a Personal Brand

by

Benefits of Having a Personal Brand

Do you remember when you used to press the fast forward button on your VCR and speed through your favorite movie?

Do you feel like everyone around you is actually going through life just as if someone was pressing FAST FORWARD and for some reason you are stuck on PAUSE? 

You’ve probably heard this so many times before but trust me when I say:

You need to take the time to work on your personal brand because the benefits are endless.

Here is the most complete list of benefits of personal branding:

 

Helps you maintain focus

Your personal brand is the filter that will encourage you to maintain focus. Once you know who you are and what you would like to be known for, you can really narrow your focus and manage your time much more effectively.

Stand out from the crowd 

Like I’ve said, it is very difficult to stand out from the crowd in a very competitive market.

Personal branding allows you to distinguish yourself from everyone else and become more visible. It works like spotlights on a stage that follow your every action and make everything else seem so dim in comparison! So in case you are wondering, yes its makes THE star in a one-man show!

Make more money (who doesn’t want that, right?)

When you gain recognition and stand out from the competition, you can simply charge more for a service.

Your personal brand will increase your earning potential without having to put more effort. Once your brand is set, people will come to you. For example, Sara is a fun outgoing person who is passionate about makeup.  She started by posting videos and pictures on Facebook and Instagram of her work. She also started doing makeup presentations at bridal conventions and created her own site. Her fun outgoing attitude along with her passion and talent for cosmetics made her a thought out expert in this field. She became one of the highest paid make up artists. All that to say that a personal brand will actually pay up (if you even care about money).

Increase Credibility

Your personal brand is a promise. If you work hard, it shows and you will gain credibility.

Think of a promise you make to a five year old: “if you eat all your veggies I will give you some ice cream” (don’t judge, bribes work excellently with kids!) So if you validate your promise, your five year old will take your words very seriously and you will earn credibility. Now no offence to anyone, but your brand followers are not very different from children. If you gain peoples trust by fulfilling your promises, you will be empowered by your brand.

Build Your Brand Loyalty

Carving your brand and constantly updating your followers about your work creates a sense of trust between you and your audience.

Think for instance of loyal Coca Cola fans. No matter what new soft drinks enter the market, loyal fans will not budge because of their emotional attachment to this brand. To them it is not just a drink. The brand focuses on the experience of opening a bottle of Coca Cola and the sense of comfort and nostalgia as you hear its’ sizzling sound (Coca Cola should pay me for this paragraph).

Limit Possible Distractions & Become More Productive

Your brand allows you focus on a narrow area and really excel at it. This sense of direction limits the distractions in your life. Knowing who you are online and offline gives you direction and allows you to put forth all your energy in developing your brand.

Increases Your Confidence

Remember that the first step in personal branding is to look deeply at yourself and discover your greatest qualities and passion. This approach also allows you to downplay your weaknesses. One approach to this is to ask people around you about your best assets (but definitely not your mother, they tend to over exaggerate). So building a personal brand focuses on what people praise you for. This is a real confidence boost for anyone and a much needed one at times.

Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin

Personal branding allows you to incorporate your personality in your brand. It is essential to reflect who you are as a person as well as your area of expertise. This really allows you to be at ease with yourself. It is ok to be unique and different. In fact your unique qualities are what make your personal brand an effective one.

Outshine the Competition

Here is a secret that large companies have been keeping from you.  You have to keep a close eye on your competition and do what ever they do that much better.

Audit your competitors’ pages and add a little personal touch that will make you outshine them. Your brand will allow you stand out because there is no other person just like you. There are many people with similar credentials and work experience, but there will never be another YOU!!!

Showcase Your Expertise

You personal brand is a platform to showcase your experience and expertise in a certain field.

Think about you what do better than anyone else and focus your energy on that. Becoming an expert and using your personal brand to market yourself will really speed track you towards success!

Be More Connected with Your Audience

Not everyone has to like you. But really knowing who you are will actually get the right people connected to you.

For example, Linda the creative and passionate baker will have more customers and other bakers following her due to her personal brand. 

Showcase your awesomeness!

You are different and unique. A personal brand allows you to use your awesome unique self to gain reputation and success.

It is ok to be that adventurous fearless writer. Although that office job might not be right for you, your brand as an adventurous and fearless travel writer better suits that distinctive personality.

You Will Not Just Have a Rise in Income but PRESTIGE as Well!

Developing your personal brand will leave a marked impression on people. You will be established as a go to person in a specific area. Gaining that type of reputation and being invited to speak at seminars because of your expertise is a prestigious accomplishment (hmmmm try to maintain humility when you make it to the top though, because arrogance will bring you right back down).

Become a Leader In Your Field

Establishing yourself as an expert who is different from the competition will position you as leader in your field. Once you gain the confidence and credibility, your name will spread like fire. People will recommend you to others and possibly endorse you on social media outlets and the cycle will keep on repeating and widening. Success creates more success!

A Map Towards Success

Think of your personal brand as a map that will guide and keep you going on the right route. It is easy to get lost and take unnecessary detours but knowing your aim will keep you on the right track.

Become a Star

Well not a Hollywood star but a shining star in your field. Personal branding enables you to become a popular, talked about, followed and well known person in your field. While it may not make the next Brad Pit or Angelina Jolie, it will make you the thought out and distinguished person in real estate for example.

 Attract the Right People. 

While your personal brand will not attract everyone, it will attract the right people. Think of a magnet. It will not attract everything. In fact it will repulse some objects yet have a very strong hold on some metals. Your personal brand will transform you into a magnet (not a chick magnet that is). Someone who will attract people in your field and allow you to make more money out of it.

Creates Consistency

Your brand is a guideline for all future action. It will head you in the right direction and enable you to filter the right opportunities from the ‘not so right’ ones. It will answer your question, “is this opportunity, post, blog or photo consistent with my brand?” This really allows be consistent in your online and offline activities.

Increases Commitment

When you take the time to build a personal brand you become more committed to your work.

The time and effort put into your brand will not only make others committed to you but will also make you more attached to your niche. Your brand is similar to a plant that you nurture from a seed to a beautiful blossoming flower. The process of nurturing the plant and watching it develop creates an attachment and commitment to its well-being. What is better than being committed to your OWN growth and success for a change? Yes I said it. It is a commitment to your self and it is not as bad as it sounds. In fact this commitment will really make you prosper, both on a professional level and a personal one. 

Now friends let’s get talking. The advantages of personal branding are really remarkable. Has your personal brand achieved any of these promises I mentioned? How has your personal brand impacted your life or career? 

 

The Ultimate List of Disadvantages of Having a Personal Brand

by

Disadvantages of Personal Branding

From Donald Trump to Martha Stewart, personal branding has become the latest trend in business. Lately there has been such a buzz going around about the advantages of personal branding and its magical healing powers to all your career and personal demands. Is it really as good as everyone claims?

You should also download my 10 Websites to Boost Your Personal Brand On The Internet

Here are 6 disadvantages of personal branding. 

Yes you heard right…I said DISADVANTAGES: 

1. It limits your ability to explore other possibilities

It defines you in a way that can be very limiting.

If your personal brand is about being a passionate marketing director, you might miss out or neglect your other passion for cooking (I love food!). It will also be very difficult to be taken seriously as a passionate cook after being branded as a marketing director. Let’s not forget that it is very humiliating to admit that you have failed or have changed your mind and would like to pursue something different (but it’s not the end of the world if you do….I did it myself and it still worked)

2. Get ready for some criticism (learn how to handle it & be patient)

Your personal brand puts you out there and can subject you to more criticism.

You did not just create a brand about your technical skills or career; your brand is PERSONAL so be prepared for criticism that cuts deeper. Criticism from a client or employer might resemble reproach from your wife or husband simply because a personal brand allows your unique qualities to be assessed with your professional image. For instance, do not be shocked if your client Mrs. Harrison attacks you for being uncaring because your personal brand defines you as a caring and passionate entrepreneur. 

3. Rejects the multilayers of a personality

People are not as simple as they define themselves on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or Tumblr.

Most people have many contradictory qualities. Creating a personal brand forces you to prioritize and maintain some of your qualities and reject what does not fit that image. Although a brand can help you focus, gain visibility and prosper in a domain but have you ever thought about what you left behind?

Could your passion for music have developed into anything more than a hobby if you did not drop it to maintain your credibility as a passionate entrepreneur? 

4. Limits your ability to live and enjoy the moment

Have you ever been out with a couple of your friends who were more occupied with taking pictures of their meal, “checking in” in the hottest places or posting what an amazing day they are having with their friends than actually enjoying their company?  I’m at fault 🙁

At times it feels that building a personal brand really takes away from special moments.

It requires a lot of effort and constant updating of the many social media outlets. It feels like social media is actually making people anti social. I have been to social gatherings where people were more invested in their phones than socializing. Crafting your personal brand is not an easy task and requires a lot of effort, however don’t your family and friends deserve a disconnected you (disconnected from social media that is!)

5. Connects your professional and personal life together

A personal brand actually blurs the line between your personal and professional life.

While that can benefit your career, this blurred border can also be a huge burden. All your online activities are constantly monitored and assessed by your peers and employer.

You are accountable for your actions not just at work but your online activity at all times (yes that includes evenings and weekends). So before you loosen that tie after a long day of work, remember that you still have to project that suited identity in all your actions after work as well. 

6. Can really weigh you down!

Although a personal brand can act as leverage in your career but it also can be huge burden that can weigh you down.

Not everything you post, no matter how well intentioned, will be understood in a positive way. Imagine for instance posting a status update that you forget to reread before posting. Well that message has a couple of spelling mistakes causing your aspiring copy writing career to go down the drain. 

Is personal branding a magical cure for your career or a poisonous pill that will murder your aspirations?

I would love to hear what you think. Do the pros outweigh the cons of creating a personal brand? Can anyone really maintain a consistent personal brand without neglecting what makes us unique individuals?