Repetition Is Not Boring; It's Branding

The other day I read a book about an editor who teaches others how to become word heroes. From one section of the book to the next he guides us through the painful stages of word apprentice, word novice, word artist, word wizard and yes there it is, Word Hero!

One of the empowering tools this author teaches us how to wield is word repeaters, i.e. when you want to get your point across you use the technical art of repetition.

The following is something many grew up reading.

I do not like them in a box. 

I do not like them with a fox. 

I do not like them in a house.

I do not like them with a mouse.

I do not like green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.

It’s repetitious. It’s instilling in our mind the fact that the author has something worth saying and is making a point verbally or in written fashion.

Then yesterday I bought a beloved gem written by Ernest Vincent Wright, where the author never uses the letter “e.” Now more commonly known as the book that will never be an “e-book.” In this, he practices another intentional process of repetition. Every single page, every single word, every single descriptive wedding scene void of the letter “e.” (Did you notice my word repeater?)

In doing so both authors - Seuss and Wright - have done something remarkable. They have branded themselves amongst millions of other notable authors.

They have illustrated that repetition is not boring; it is branding. Repetition is intentional. It’s strategic. It’s consistency. Wait, you may be thinking. Doesn’t that sound like a habit? At one point and time, I thought so too. The difference between a habit and repetition:

Habit becomes a form of addiction: It’s controlling. It’s often born from our subconscious. Habits form us whereas we form repetitions…

I’m looking forward to receiving my new book, and I’m anticipating an exciting read because I’ve learned as an aspiring Word Hero that word repeaters – repetition- builds trust.

• The more you reiterate one point and stand by that point of positivity, the more likely people will choose you.

• The more you stick by your designated color palette, the more people will recognize you by your true colors.

• The more you live your life motto and mission statement, the more people will join you alongside your mission.

Because the more you do things intentionally it is repetition, and repetition is not boring; it’s branding.

I Give it a Year

I give it a year.

To many people this would seem like a negative thing; a phrase of most epically discouraging and disrespectful proportions; a cocky bet against a relationship, business – just a bad omen against any success.

To me it was five of the most encouraging words I could have heard while in my work place.

You see, being the new girl or guy is hard no matter what you know, where you are or whom you work for – even though I work for and with amazing people: Dynamic visionaries, acceptant of my quirks and qualms. Yes, I’m getting paid while I write this blog, but I’m not getting paid to write this blog. (See what I did there?)

So there I was, initiating a performance review – a stuffy, archaic choice of words compared to how Worx works, but that is how the corporate world recognizes this concept…

So I asked, how am I doing? I really wanted to know if, in over-dramatizing my resumé, was I also over promising my work? Sure, I didn’t say I could speak seven languages, was ambidextrous with my feet or I had the ability to levitate. However, I’m a writer, and that one sheet of paper was my chance to prove my creative linguistic abilities. So way back in October of 2013 I took the liberty of being creative.

Every day since Laura and I have been learning to understand and cultivate my written language, so it reflects the custom work and strategies Amber and Kassie establish. Thereafter I realized I got one thing right on my resume: A picture speaks a thousand words; a writer’s job is to find them. When I penned that I had not realized just how prophetic it would be, because now it was time to put that into effect.

I give it a year, she replied at that performance review. A year? I can do a year. I have plenty of those, I hope.

Here’s the gist of the conversation:

You’re getting there. Ask any of the girls, and they’ll tell you that it takes a good year to get to know the clients and to communicate with them, to communicate for them and to understand them and their brand. And to feel confident doing it.

According to my LinkedIn Profile, (my poor calculation capabilities are not to be trusted), I’m coming up on that year and as I look back, Laura’s right. Although I’m not surprised. I’m a self-deprecating woman, so I admit that I was hesitant to believe I’d have the gutsy (proud Green Couch product placement) to get to know the clients, communicate on their behalf and feel confident during the entire process.

Most importantly I’ve learned to refer to Worx in the first person, taking ownership of my identity among the Worx team.

Where I work, “Your big idea means as much to us as it does to you, which is why we create Visual Branding for Big Ideas…so, how can we make it Write For You?”

Well, here’s to many more years. Y’all are stuck with me now!