Quirky Entrepreneurs: Cori Padgett & Using Your Inner Quirk to Become the Sharpest Crayon in the Box

Name: Cori Padgett, Inked Write Media
Website: www.BigGirlBranding.com
Facebook: Big Girl Branding
Twitter: @BigGirlBranding
Bio: Cori is a wildly hire-able freelance ‘ghost’ as well as the creative brains and dubious brawn behind her blog Big Girl Branding. If you’d like to harness her creative brains and dubious brawn to guest post on your blog, just stalk her on Twitter and ask her. I’m “almost” sure she doesn’t bite. Well… like 95% sure.

Interview with Cori

Jess: Who do you work with and what do you help them with?

Cori: I work with entrepreneurs, business owners, and fellow dorks that like to make money and seek a lifestyle of personal freedom. I help them with creating engaging content that resonates with their readers and when called for inject a bit of fun into otherwise dry verbiage. I also help guide them on their entrepreneurial path when asked, giving as much wisdom as possible, gleaned from my own experiences and journey.

Jess: What does being a quirky entrepreneur mean to you?

Cori: Being quirky means being myself. Not afraid to express my opinions, not afraid to showcase my skills, not afraid to expose my flaws. I think people like to do business and work with other people and once upon a time, that was truly how it was done, face to face. We’re going back in time to that same face to face “feeling”, only now it’s often online and virtual. But the same principals still apply… before you hand over your money to someone, you want to know them, like them, and trust them. Being yourself helps you get there faster than wasting time trying to be something you’re not.

Jess: What is the biggest benefit you have found from really being yourself in your business and life?

Cori: I have awesome friends… all amazing people that I admire, look up to, and like to think have similar qualities as myself. And even better, I get to do business with some of them, or help them achieve some of their goals. And as to my life, I have the benefit of knowing that all the people who love me, really love me, warts and all. That’s a pretty damn good feeling, that feeling of freedom to be me.

Jess: What is one tip that you would like to pass on to other up-and-coming quirky entrepreneurs?

Cori: Being an entrepreneur can be hard at times. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. But ultimately it’s about creating a lifestyle that you control, that you envision. Being an entrepreneur allows me to do me, exactly the way I want to do me… and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So in the end, all the hard is more than worth it.

Using Your Inner Quirk to Become the Sharpest Crayon in the Box

It’s not always easy being an entrepreneur and running your own biz.

Especially when you’re first starting out and you’re new to the whole business, branding, and marketing game.

There is a lot of competition in the world of business, and it’s fierce. Because of that, it’s important that you make it a priority to learn how to “stand out from the crowd” and differentiate yourself from the dude standing next to you.

To become the sharpest crayon in the box.

I mean let’s face it… if you want someone to choose to hire you for a project over the next guy you’ve got to give them a reason to want to. You’ve got to find a way to stand out in their minds as the best candidate for the job.

• Maybe it boils down to the way you package your product or service.
• Maybe it boils down to the customer love you show your buyers.
• Maybe it boils down to something special only you do in your industry.
• Who knows?

The point is that there are always ways to stand out in a crowd and you’ve just got to find the ways that work for you in particular. Feel me?

That said, one of the best ways I know of to help you stand out from the people around you and that’s guaranteed to work for you is to be… well, yourself.

Or rather, your quirky self.

Real to real, we’ve all got quirks right? Those little details that are the makeup of our existence on this earth. Little details that make me Cori and you (what was your name again?) you.

We’ve all got them and for the most part we usually really love them about ourselves.

So why not use those quirky little tidbits of your nature to help you brand and grow your business? It’s what I do on BGB.

It’s what Jess does here on Jessiclicious.

For instance, the tagline of my blog is “Dork Label Required”.

Why?

Because I’m a dork. Durrh.

And because I’m a dork, I like attracting and hanging and working with other dorks like me. Those folks who “get” me, resonate with the things I have to say, and enjoy working with me.

As a bonus, I also “get” them, resonate with them, and enjoy working with them. Pretty sweet right? Win-win.

And that’s what being yourself and using your myriad little quirks to your advantage can accomplish for you. It can help you niche-ify, build a cool brand, and make waves in your industry.

Quirk Alert- Please be careful when being yourself of “over-sharing”. TMI is TMI and it’s up to you to suss out and know just what constitutes “too much information” for your right people. Some things are just better left unsaid, capisce?

Now- On to Becoming the Sharpest Little Crayon Ever

With all of this talk about letting your quirks differentiate you, you’re likely in one of two camps at the moment.

You’re either vigorously nodding your head up and down, shouting “Yes! I can do this!” or… you’re scratching your head, looking mildly befuddled and asking yourself, “How the hell do I do that?”

If you’re in the first camp, keep reading, you might learn something new anyway. If you’re in the second camp, don’t worry… I’ve got tips!

Tip 1: Be yourself.

Probably goes without saying, as it’s the whole point of this article but the first step really is being yourself. As in the real you.

Not a pseudo you that you slip on just to do business. The landscape of the business world today is changing. People want to work with people. They want to do business with people. They want to spend their money with people.

And real people have flaws. They have strong points. They muck up and they get it right. But real people aren’t trying to hide the bad parts and shine a light only on the good stuff. They’re willing to expose their screw-ups as well, chalk it up as a learning experience for all, and as a result really engage the people they’re doing business with.

But don’t get it twisted… that’s not to say you shouldn’t be professional. There is a fine line between sharing a learning experience and being unprofessional, with TMI. Find that line and make it your best friend ever.

Tip 2: Let a little geek shine through.

Or dork. Or whatever your thing is. Maybe you’re a total PHP fan, and it’s really all you ever want to talk about. That’s cool! Set up your own design and biz blog, and talk PHP all day long.

If you’re a fan then you’ve got passion for it and if you’ve got passion + usefulness, you’ve got the makings of a successful blog that can bring you business.

If you’re a little silly natured, or like something oddball and off the wall like Unicorns, share it with your people. They’ll likely get a good kick out of it and love you even more. Let your silliness shine through a bit in the way you write, your conversations on social platforms, and in person.

You’d be surprised how many people in this world feel secretly insecure, and letting loose a little silliness on them, allows them to loosen up to you. And that’s the makings of a good relationship that could become good business.

As T. Harv Eker said once “I’d rather be rich and a little hokey, than cool and broke”.

People can relate to silly, cool can often intimidate them.

Which would you do biz with, the relatable silly guy, or the cool intimidating guy? I know which I’d pick.

Tip 3: Don’t be afraid.

To take a stand. To take a risk. To do something a little outside your comfort zone. Some of the biggest and best successes happen when you plow through your fears and do the damn thang, whatever your thang is.

Some of the brightest business minds I know are blatantly quirky, blatantly opinionated, blatantly passionate, and 100% unapologetic about it.

They do what they feel is best for them and their business and emulate and learn from those they respect and look up to. They then proceed to make no bones about taking all the well-meaning yet self-defeating or self-limiting advice that becomes prolific when you start coloring outside the lines, and sticking it where the sun don’t shine.

And that’s the mentality I believe you need to have to become a successful business, with a successful brand that keeps your little crayon razor sharp. How about you? Got quirk? How do you use it to brand yourself? How do you keep yourself sharp and stand out from your competition? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s have a conversation.

Your Turn

Have a question or comment for Cori? Leave it in the comments below, then head over and connect with her on her blog, Facebook or Twitter if you’d like to learn more from her.

Related posts:

1. Quirky Entrepreneurs: Abby Kerr & 3 Ways Quirk Doesn’t Always Work
2. Quirky Entrepreneurs: April Bowles-Olin & Get Over Your “Vanilla” Mentality
3. Quirky Entrepreneurs: Kimberly Riggins & Birth of The Art of Eating Chocolate Naked
4. Quirky Entrepreneurs: Denise Rivait & Turning Your Inner Critic into Your Inner Brilliance
5. Quirky Entrepreneurs: Pamela Wilson & Reach Your Market By Being Your Quirky Self