Style My Soul Explores…
What is one tip you have for business professionals seeking to reinvent their image?

Be Different but Discreet
Be the odd one out. When everyone’s wearing a black suit, wear a blue one. Differentiating is a great way to reinvent one’s image. This will set you apart from other business professionals who may not be as committed. However, keep in mind that this should be done ever so discreetly. Remember: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, so you shouldn’t be too conspicuous. Apply subtle changes like wearing contacts if you used to wear glasses or changing your hairdo to a similar but different style, just enough for people to say, “There’s something different about you, but I can’t quite figure out what it is.” This will add a certain mystique to your new image. This doesn’t just apply to your physical look. You can apply tiny changes to how you handle yourself and how you interact with other people. -- Paw Vej, Chief Operating Officer, Financer.com
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Change Your Photos to Change Your Image
Your introduction to the world begins with your website, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that photos are a large part of that first impression and is why you should focus on them when reinventing your image. Your image can convey a strong message of what you are about, and can often be more impactful than words, as people associate appearance with many qualities. Whether it is aspects of your personality such as approachable, confident, or fun loving, or how you relate to patrons like being helpful and informative, a quality picture can go a long way in helping change people’s perceptions. By paying attention to your photos, and carefully selecting the ones that you want to put on display, you can take a big step in reinventing your image and personal brand. -- Adelle Archer, CEO & Co-Founder, Eterneva

Use Social Media to Change Your Image in Your Network
You can change your image through promotions or professional profiles, but altering perceptions in your network is more challenging and this can best be done best through using your social media. The advantage of social media is that it is so vast and there is such a massive amount of information being dispensed at all hours of the day, that it makes it impossible for people to keep up with everything you are doing, and this provides a gap in which you can input a new image. Therefore, by altering your social media engagement, you can fill that gap with new products, services, authoritative blog posts and articles, and photos, that gradually change your brand and image. By taking the time to update all of your social media channels and notify your network of your new direction, you can effectively change your image in a manner that will have a far reaching impact.
-- Matt Miller, Founder & CEO, Embroker
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Be Committed to Whatever Steps You Have Decided to Take And Show Consistency
It’s always possible to reinvent yourself and/or your brand as long as you have commitment and consistency. First, if you’ve decided to reinvent, you have to fully commit and give the reinvention your all. Then, you’ve got to stay consistent throughout the reinvention process. When reinventing, all brand tone, style, and voice across all outlets need to be consistent in order to prevent confusion for your customer base. -- Eric Elggren, Co-Founder, Andar

Look for a Mentor or Life Coach
Look for a mentor or life coach. They can help you in your personal and professional development in any route you want to take. For example, if you’re making a career change, they can help with formatting your resume or introducing you to the right people. We all need help sometimes, especially when reinventing yourself, and a mentor is a great place to start.
-- Natália Sadowski, Director of Aesthetics, Nourishing Biologicals

Get Rid of Self-Doubt
If you are trying to reinvent your image in business first you need to get rid of any self-doubt and should gather your self-confidence, you need to break through your fear and rejuvenate yourself. Identifying your skills and all your strong points and investing all of it and telling people that you are still capable of doing things and gaining back their trust. It’s a tough job to reinvent your image, but if you are consistent enough you will do good. Once people make an image of you in their heads it is difficult to change their mindsets but one thing is that you can try to work harder towards building a better image by being persistent.
-- Isaac Robertson, Fitness Trainer & Co-Founder, Total Shape

Research Competitors’ Strategies to Gain the Advantage
When looking to reinvent your professional image, be sure to check out your competition for tips, direction, and opportunities to occupy a niche. For the same reason market research is helpful to a business’s brand positioning, professionals should understand their competitors’ strategies to position themselves most successfully. Firstly, you want to create a professional image that isn’t a carbon copy of someone else’s. This helps you reduce competition in the same role or industry and gives you input on how to best market your strengths to stand out from competitors. Understanding your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses is the best way to decide how to emphasize your own. Research what companies will see in your peers’ branding so you can discern how to set yourself apart. Kevin Miller, Founder, kevinmiller.com
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Get Back to the Basics to Reinvent a Genuine You
It can be tempting to want to become a version of ourselves that we think is more productive, popular, intelligent, etc. But we all need to resist the urge to give into the ‘grass is always greener’ mentality. It might be possible to turn ourselves into a different persona for a limited period of time. But sooner or later, it’ll become quite difficult to maintain the facade! So, you need to ask yourself whether the version you want to be is really you, or someone you aspire to be. The best way to reinvent yourself is to find aspects of yourself that you haven’t been nurturing lately and bring that version of yourself to the fore. Are you a creative person who has no time to flex their artistic muscles? Bring out your arty side in the workplace! Are you a teacher at heart who works in an office for an easier life? Get involved in training and mentorship at work or on a voluntary basis. In this way, your reinvention will feel 100% genuine. -- Wendy Makinson, HR Manager , Joloda Hydraroll
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Take Care of Your Employees as Part of Your Reinvention
The best way to reinvent your business is from the inside out and a solid place to start is with your employees, who are your biggest asset. Your rebranding strategy will be more effective and generate ROI when your employees are well taken care of. Your employees are your brand ambassadors and the first line of contact with your customers. If their needs are not met, you cannot expect to rescue or reinvent your reputation — you will still be the same old company people know. Make your business a great place to work whether you have 2 or 200 workers. Start by empowering them with the tools and resources they need to make decisions and get work done. Provide meaningful benefits that bring joy, reprieve, and fulfillment in their lives, whether these are wellness benefits, financial benefits, parental support, or professional development opportunities. When you care for your people, you will keep them and you will attract others too. Then you’ll have loyal ambassadors for your brand. -Paul French, Managing Director, Intrinsic Executive Search

Double Down on Your Online Presence
Over time, your brand (or personal brand) may feel stale or outdated. That’s where rebranding comes in! My tip is to double down on your online presence. Take the time to clean up your social media profiles and ensure your website accurately reflects the current state of your business. But rebranding is not just a visual change; it also involves reassessing your values and goals. Your online presence will only convey that evolution. So, for example, if the new era of inclusivity and diversity is important to your business, make sure that is reflected in the language and imagery you use on your website and social media. You can also launch online campaigns or partner with organizations that align with your rebranded values. Hence, if you’re a fashion company now focusing on sustainability, team up with eco-friendly nonprofits or promote your efforts on social media. By doing so, you’ll attract like-minded consumers and establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry. -- Ty Wilson, Co-Founder, CustomMade
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Educate Yourself and Learn About the World
Keep learning and growing intellectually and mentally. The best way to reinvent yourself is always to look to learn something new. For example, use literature to expand your vocabulary or take technology, marketing, and management courses. Lastly, traveling to gain a better insight into other cultures and traditions. It would be okay if you pushed to expand your knowledge, as the world is advancing rapidly, and as an entrepreneur, so should you. -- Benjamin Earley, CEO, HOLT

Focus on New Opportunities or Create Them
There are many strategic ways to learn, lead and live. Entrepreneurship is life and when something goes wrong that doesn’t stop the process of living. In fact, you should learn new opportunities to learn and reinvent yourself as well as the business. I have learned this rule the hard way. As an entrepreneur you have to learn the Farmer’s rule. You will never know which seed is going to grow without planting it. In the business world, it is about creating multiple streams of opportunities but the important aspect is to water these opportunities with focus and focus so that the opportunities can discover new ways to support one another.
-- Vance Tran, CoFounder, Pointerclicker
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Redo Your Website
People can often learn about who you are as a professional by how you present yourself online. Therefore, if you want to reinvent your professional image, start by redoing your website. For example, if your personal brand was more formal before and you want to make it more casual, you can incorporate brighter colors on your website and more laid-back language. People take these things into account when determining what kind of professional you are, especially when they have never met you in person.
-- Nancy Eichler, Senior Vice President of Marketing & eCommerce, iwi life

Focus On Your Personal Brand
If you’re looking to reinvent your image, one tip is to focus on your personal brand. Your personal brand is what sets you apart from other professionals in your field, and it’s what will make you memorable to potential clients and employers. To create a strong personal brand, start by identifying your unique strengths and values. Once you know what makes you special, start promoting yourself through social media, networking, and other professional channels. If you’re consistent in marketing your personal brand, you’ll soon stand out from the crowd and be on your way to a successful career reinvention.
Maarten Cox, Founder, Gecko Routes