Mine, Yours and Our Style Statement Revealed!

May 1, 2008

Make sure and read through the following post for a chance to win your own autographed copy of ‘Style Statement, Living by Your Own Design by Carrie McCarthy & Danielle Laporte’!

I had so much fun introducing everyone to this wonderful book, Style Statement, Living by Your Own Design, that I missed my opportunity to reveal my own style to my readers. The journey to learning your unique style statement is the most intriguing and thought provoking part, even more than the final result!

By following along with the chapters of the book step by step, you learn how to arrive at your two words to describe your style. When you discover these words you are then introduced to how to apply the words to your everyday life and business. The process is about empowering you to lead an empowering life.

First, you learn how to define your style statement, remember it is all about you! The principle is 80/20…80% is your inner self, then 20% is what moves you forward and gets the results. You will then learn how to design your life, See it-Feel it-Be it. Carrie & Danielle then give us 50 ways to express your style statement. Finding your two words is definitely not the end of the journey but the beginning. You learn how to continue to define yourself for life using a Lifestyle Map or checklist of how to apply your style.

In this post, I would like to talk about how to use your Style Statement for success in business. I reveal my two words, Rustic/Dedicated. At first glance, I can hear you say “How in the heck can you use these two words in business?” With just a short walk through, you will see how I can apply these two words for Success!

Foundation Word: Rustic (as defined and copied from the book, Style Statement)

SPIRIT: Rustic is the salt of the earth and as genuine as the day is long. Warmhearted, devoted, and loyal, they place family at the center of their lives. They invest their resources close to home and weave a close-knit circle of friends, relishing the strength and vitality of their own community, as well as others they visit in their travels. With their feet planted firmly on the ground, Rustic is a no-nonsense decision maker who is in it for the long haul. Their bounty is homegrown and handmade. Domesticity and nesting are their forte. Sometimes they can become too settled and need to push themselves to venture beyond familiar territory-both emotionally and physically-to keep learning and truly growing. Incredibly nurturing, and supportive, Rustic is the friend who shows up to help hold down the fort, fix what’s broken, or offer some old-fashioned tender loving care. They adore tradition, holidays, and any reason to bring good people together. Rustic enjoys tranquillity when they find it, but fully embrace the beauty and richness of sometimes chaotic full living.

LOOK & FEEL:Country, rural, small town. Homespun, handmade, craftsmanship. Roughly finished woods, textured appearances: heavy textiles and materials like stone and wrought iron. Earth tones, terra cottas. Natural. Charmingly simple, agrarian, agricultural, austere, bucolic, charming, countrified, homey, honest, natural, pastoral, picturesque, plain, pleasing, primitive, rural, simple, sylvan, unaffected, unpolished, unrefined, unsophisticated, verdant.

OK, so I’m a great neighbor that is dedicated to nuturing and fixing your stone and wrought iron fence around the holidays…right?! I don’t think so, not by a long shot!

I’ll show you how I have unknowingly already applied these two words to my business and business style.

My eBay store is Drei Katzen Media. That is German for 3 cats. You can read the complete story by going to my ‘About Me’ page on eBay. In short, I have a German ancestory and two daughters. (tradition, family) We began to make homemade all natural soap together. (handmade, natural) I really wanted to have a venue to sell the soap on eBay and came up with the name, 3 of us and German heritage. I also had the models ready to go for the logo, my 3 cats! (what’s more rustic than 3 cats?)

I’ve worked as a manager for a few companies in the past and my management skills were always based on the golden rule and common sense. First of all, ‘Do unto others…’, ‘Honesty is the best policy’ and the homespun (there’s that word again) motto’s, ‘Don’t sweep your neighbors porch..’ when listening to others talk about someone else, etc. I have found by following these simple, basic rules (are you beginning to see a pattern here?) You can succeed in business.

The items I sell are based on Rustic as well…vintage collectibles. I absolutely love finding items that have been around for awhile and cared for by someone. I often pick it up and wonder about its origins, where did it come from? who used it? where has it been? I am in my element when learning the history of a particular item. All of this ties back to Rustic.

Today with my eBay store, it is exactly the same rules that help me succeed. Whenever I’m faced with a challenge, I go back to the simple, basic rules of life. Even though my Foundation word is Rustic, don’t let it fool you…I absolutely adore a trip into New York City for a Broadway play and a wonderful gourmet dinner at a 5 star restaurant! I get a chance to enjoy myself with the play, taste the good life, be sophisticated…and go home to my comfortable rural setting in the hills!

The Creative Edge word is: Dedicated

Dedicated: (as defined Dictionary.com)

ded·i·cat·ed –adjective

1. Wholly committed to something, as to an ideal, political cause, or personal goal: a dedicated artist

2. Set apart or reserved for a specific use or purpose

If you were to take a poll of my friends and associates, I am sure this word would be at the top of everyone’s list in describing me. My life foundation has been dedicated. Whatever I do, I do it to the fullest. I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to my causes, beliefs and whatever I decide I want to accomplish. I won’t be deterred. I set goals for myself and even find I make little challenges for myself on a daily basis. While working, I set my goal in ‘To Do’ lists and try to do one better, just to show myself I can do it. I have my 2 year, 5 year and 10 year goals set for my business. I am dedicated to doing the best I can. I also have my dream vacation tacked to the wall in front of my desk. I know I will be on my European cruise soon!

Whenever I worked for a company, I often took a lower position to get my foot in the door. Usually, by the 6th month, I would be managing it. I made it my goal to learn everything I could about the operations so that I could run my position and everyone else’s positon if needed in a pinch.

Hopefully, now you can see how my unique style is applied to my business. This was a somewhat short tour, but you can get the idea.

Now its your turn! After writing my first post, I received a wonderful invitation from Karryn Ransom. She is with the authors Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte. They would like to sponser a contest on this blog! The winner will receive from them, an autographed copy of their book: Style Statement, Live by Your Own Design! How could I resist this opportunity for a lucky reader!

OK, so down to the rules:

1. Please submit a comment to this blog describing your own business style. Try to come up with a Foundation word and Creative edge word that you would use now to descibeyour business style. Follow those words with a short blurb about why you choose those words.

2. Submit your comments beginning today through 9pm EST, May 15th. The contest will be closed at that time.

3. All entries from comment posts will be put into the drawing to receive a copy of this (soon to best selling) book, signed by the authors Carrie & Danielle!

That’s all there is to it! What could be easier, especially to win such a great prize!

If you already own the book, you probably have a good start on your Style Statement. You can use it for your comment…then if you win, you have a great gift for someone else!

If you don’t have the book already, it doesn’t matter, in fact it will probably be fun. You just have to sum up what you think your words would be, then if you win the prize…get your book and see how close you were to being right!

Remember: Post a comment with your business style statement between now and May 15th, 9pm EST. If your entry is drawn, you will receive an autographed copy of ‘Style Statement, Live by Your Own Design’!

Anyone can win, what are you waiting for?! Post your comment…

Entry Filed under: Book Reviews. Tags: branding, Carrie McCarthy, contest, Danielle LaPorte, design, ebay selling, ebay store, marketing, style, style statement, success.

12 Comments Add your own

1. janieruth | May 2, 2008 at 3:06 am

OK, what else would I be but Funky/Fabulous - I don’t know if that is in the book, but it is in my life! Love your blog,

janieruth
2. Online Success Institute &hellip | May 2, 2008 at 3:39 am

[...] Then read the reply she made after receiving the compliment from the authors - http://dreikatzenmedia.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/mine-yours-and-our-style-statement-revealed/ [...]
3. Pam | May 2, 2008 at 2:50 pm

What fun! I would, without reading the book, select Persistent/Imaginative. That is a bit the way I have been running my business - persistent, in trying new things (although slowing) and trying to be creative in my outlook and how I apply principles I learn.
Can’t wait to read the book!
4. Brandy | May 2, 2008 at 3:06 pm

I would definately describe myself as Organized Disorganization. Only because I have the appearance of being disorganized, but I have it all together and I know exactly where it is!

Great Blog! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book. You have a great talent for writing yourself! I’m looking forward to winning or purchasing this book for myself.
5. thesavvyseller | May 2, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Super blog and what a fun contest!!

My foundation style would be ‘observant’ and my creative edge word would be ‘iridescent.”

In business: Observant because I linger in the background, gathering information before I act.

Iridescent (shimmering, changing) because my business is adaptable to what my clients (customers) need.

Loved thinking about this!!

Marlene
The Savvy Seller
6. quilteralice | May 4, 2008 at 2:13 am

I’ve had a hard time choosing my words but I’ve narrowed it down to Content and Dedicated. I am happy and content in the path I have chosen which allows me day by day to build upon past successes and continue to grow.

I am dedicated to and single-minded in my pursuits. Whether I’m learning to knit (and rather obsessively knitted everyone I knew a sweater for Christmas), or learning to quilt, or starting a business. I throw myself into a pursuit with great dedication until I see it through.

I look forward to reading the book - it’s a great topic to think about.
Alice
http://www.aliceinstitches.com
7. nichemarketplace | May 4, 2008 at 3:11 am

I think my Style Statement would be Neoclassical / Dedicated.

My Foundation Style is Neoclassical. One definition of Neoclassical is “new designs inspired by artistic elements from classical antiquity.” It is also described as “characterized by order, symmetry, and simplicity.” I am — by training and temperament — a historian (ergo my interest in classical ideas and themes). That historical awareness permeates every aspect of my thought process and world view.

Like you, my Creative Edge word would be Dedicated. While the phrase “wholly committed to something” is also deeply engrained in my personality, it is the second definition — “Set apart or reserved for a specific use or purpose” — that really articulates my essence. My primary mechanism for accomplishing goals — especially big goals — is by choosing and prioritizing. Setting apart my time, effort, energy, and resources and then focusing on the task at hand until it is completed.

Obviously, I’d have to WIN and READ Carrie and Danielle’s book in order to determine whether my initial impressions would stand the test of intense scrutiny, but it has been an interesting exercise and an engaging way to start your blog. KUDOS!
8. grandpastradingcompany | May 7, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Guess I won’t really understand this until I obtain the book I will win in this contest! Business style is dedictated but sometimes varies between organized and disorganized. Rustic probably fitsin there too.

OK, send the book, I’ll post after I win! *smile*
9. precisionbluing | May 9, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Wow! Mary - after reading your blog, if I’m not rustic, NO one is! I so thoroughly enjoy my family and all things described in your definition. It felt like someone had just written a few paragraphs about me in particular!

So, I would have to say Rustic would also be my foundation word. My Creative Edge word would have to be persistant (although I have yet to read the book). I am often described as stubborn, but I really like the sound of persistant better! Just try telling me I CAN’T do something!!

Excellent review! You’ve most certainly gotten my attention!

Jennifer Smith
http://www.PrecisionBluingPlus.com
10. AndyUk | May 10, 2008 at 3:18 pm

Wow a great blog. Looks so clean and tidy, and full of great content. Well done Mary

AndyUk
11. eclecticcollectit | May 26, 2008 at 6:15 pm

Hi Mary, Great information on your blog! Keep up the good work!

Dorothy
12. melapatella | May 28, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Thank you for your definition of Dedicated! Lovely blog and great info to help me find my foundation words.
I’m thinking eclectic or integrative- as I have to find some way to merge my passions for screenwriting, alpacas, homeopathy and real estate.
Melanie
http://seattlehomesite.wordpress.com

Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed