Business Transformation Lessons From A City In Transition

The city of Oakland, California has suffered from what is commonly described as an "image problem".

Starting with Gertrude Stein's declaration that "there's no THERE there", and taken down by high crime rates, Oakland was not on many "Favorite City" lists. .

But Oakland is having a renaissance as a city and its transformation serves many lessons for entrepreneurs all over. Old boarded up buildings are re-opening as restaurants, waterfront warehouses now cater to loft living hipsters, and there are lots of friendly people walking around feeling good about their city.

Locals are approaching people in restaurants saying "Thank you for spending money in Oakland." The entire city feels like it's on board for more great things to unveil.

If Oakland can go through a transformation so profound, so can you!

Transformation of any kind is a potent experience. It's exciting, it's exhilarating, and even a tad nerve wracking. When you're in transformation and not fighting it, you understand that the process of change is leading to something new... you may or may not know exactly where you're going but you have a pretty good idea that it's going to be better than where you are.

Look around you... look at your business. Look at the way you communicate about your work, look at the people you're connected to via social media, look at how you face your work.

This is a great time to invite transformation into your life and into your business. Take a cue from Oakland and make the leap!

Here are 3 Easy Places You Can Get Started:

1. Review (and Revamp) How You Describe Yourself and Your Business

Take a risk and be breathtaking. If your bio or how you describe your business feels lackluster, then now is the time to update it.Oakland suffered many jokes, but now it's reinvented itself with new images filled with civic pride. What can you do to make your business more cool and exciting?

2. Ask for Honest Feedback

Find a trusted colleague or associate who can give you qualified feedback about your strengths and weaknesses. Drop what's not working and focus on what is.

3. Rewrite the Rules

No need to hang on to the "have to's" that take up your time and bring very little in return. If there are marketing tasks that aren't working or feel like a drain, then take a second look at what you really need and don't need. Customize your marketing so it works on YOUR terms (without sacrificing profitability)

Creative inspiration shines through, and when you're in it PEOPLE NOTICE! People around you spot something attractive about you and want to follow what you're doing. They'll want to read what you write, learn from you, promote you. It's a visibility and business building strategy that emanates from your inner core.