Stepping out of the shadows.

Boost your business endeavors with your face and voice

One of my Facebook friends has an incredible organization that is anchored by her good works of providing passports to pre-teen and teen girls. I’m certain she has a better motto than the one I've concocted in my head: Girls should see the world they are going to rule one day. Yet that is the thrust of her work. Today she changed her Twitter I.D. to her given name from the program’s name. She said it was scary to lead her cause with her name and face.

It is scary to become the face and voice of a business. The spotlight is a vulnerable place to stand. All eyes are on you. To be scared, from my perspective, is a good thing. I told the Facebook friend that she should be scared, because it is a sign of humility, humanity and that she’s doing it for the right reasons.

We see the result of the wrong reasons all of the time. The person who ruins a perfectly good business model or cause by rushing to the front as a spokesperson. Gosh. They’re like human spam. They can be inconsistent in representing what they’re trying to market. They’re often irritating. They are hidden in my news feed and un-followed on Twitter. They become bigger than whatever it is they’re promoting.

The person doing it for the right reasons will most likely be more strategic in how they use their image and voice to promote their good works (business, project, cause). They are not interested in being seen for the sake of being seen. They have a goal.

My Facebook friend has to solicit donations, interact with parents and guardians and coordinate these fabulous trips for girls and women that require trust. It is necessary for her to be seen for the sake of being credible and trustworthy. People need to see the face of one who cares.

People need to see the face of one who is asking others to care with their money and support.

She’ll be just fine.