Every so often life will throw you an epiphany

e·piph·a·ny = A sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something

Simply put an `ah ha’ moment where the universe has transpired to bring the obvious to your attention.

Well it happened for me last week. I was at the Shine Conference introducing myself left right and centre to some fabulous women entrepreneurs.

The common conversation that arose after they looked at my badge which said `Natalie Sisson. WomanzWorld. Vancouver BC’ was:

Q: Oh you live in Vancouver?

Me: Actually no. I live out of a suitcase. I was living there for over 2 years and currently I’m enroute to live in Argentina and running my business while travelling through the US.

Q: Oh really?

Followed by a wow, look of astonishment, amusement or just plain disbelief.

Q: So what do you do Natalie, what’s WomanzWorld?

Me: WomanzWorld is my blog and online business designed for women entrepreneurs who want to create freedom in business and adventure in life. I want women to court bolder dream and turn them into reality.

Q: Oh how exciting. We should talk….

And that was kind of how it went over 3 days. It seems many people are interested in gaining personal freedom, building a flexible business model and making their dreams a reality.

In short it resonated, and that excited me. But would they remember my USP?

When the answer is right in front of you

When it really is!
On the final day, the lovely Pam Brossman who I had the pleasure of lunching with said I was the travelling entrepreneur and should do a video show on that.

I laughed and agreed – it’s where I’ve been heading with my recent on location shoots.

Then I met Matt, the cool copywriter who I was discussing my desire for a redesign of my site. It has many quirks, an overly large header and squished paragraph font.

I said “I guess I’m the Suitcase Entrepreneur”. His reaction was surprising. He liked it so much that he told me to buy the domain and texted me to follow up on it.

So I did. Plus two misspellings of entrepreneur, as suggested by Maren Kate, fellow lover of freedom and outsourcing.

I came up first in the results on Google for it within hours of buying it. I’ve redirected the domains to Womanzworld, because for me this is what I’ve built my brand and credibility on.

It seems that everyone I’ve talked to about it loves it too. It’s memorable, sticky and clearly states what I’m about. But there are some issues….thanks to Sean Malarkey for throwing them up!

Question 1: If you typed in WomanzWorld and found `The Suitcase Entrepreneur’ would you be confused or intrigued?

Question 2: What do you think of the new design for a new banner  (this is first mock up and yes there’s colour options coming).

Question 3: The tagline that appears more popular over here in this discussion on Facebook is

‘Creative strategies to run your business from anywhere’.

Join in or comment below on what you like best!

How do you develop your USP

**Here’s how!
**I’m a fan of Mark McGuiness’s worksheet for developing yours (and his work in general). So I highly recommend you take a look at his great way to break it down. I’ll delve into my answers below.

Mark suggests getting at least two answers to all of the questions below.

Firstly, answer them yourself. Secondly, get someone who knows you and your work well to answer them –your customers, colleagues or friends. That’s where you come in.

This is because a USP is about other people’s perceptions of you. What makes you remarkable in their eyes may not be obvious to you. I’m going to keep my answers purposefully short because yours are more important.

1. What are you better at than anyone else?

Being open to change and learning new things. I like to think I’m someone who lives a life of adventure, constantly challenging myself. My friends say I’m a motivating type and a connector.

2. What do you enjoy doing the most?

The art of entrepreneurship, travelling the world, meeting new friends who I inspire or am inspired by, and playing Ultimate Frisbee (and sports in general).

3. What do (or could) you provide that no one else is providing?

Show you how to run your business, if you choose to, from anywhere in the world by using efficient systems, online tools and social media to streamline your work and free up time to do other fun things.

4. What annoys people the most about your industry?

A lot of people talking the talk but not walking the walk of a life of personal freedom. Tim Ferris does not work a 4 hour work week nor would he want to. I’m not interested in never working. I love what I do.

If I won the lottery tomorrow it would not make me happier because I am doing exactly what I want to be doing. That’s where I want to help other people. To get to their ultimate place of happiness and personal freedom.

5. What is remarkable about you?

I believe I’m remarkable for having an eternally optimistic love of life that sees me through.

(You can read what others say about me on the ‘Testimonials Wall’, it reminds me why I do what I do to touch the lives of others – and gives them a shout out too. Thank you all).

6. Do you have an unusual combination of elements?

I’m an integrated marketer who loves new technology and sharing how to use it effectively with others. I am a free spirit with a strategic business mind.

7. Do you have a big personality?

I’m not Gary Vaynerchuk. But I have a big sense of adventure, a Kiwi accent, a cheeky sense of humour and the ability to laugh at myself. I just wish I could project my voice more!

8. Write a USP statement

This acts reminder of what makes you distinctive and here’s the format to follow:

I am unique and different because I provide [USP] which no one else in my field provides. No one else can or will provide this because [insert reason].

So. This is where YOU get to step up and tell me what you think my USP is. Go ahead don’t be shy. Please someone…;)

Help a gal out