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Branding Your Character: Yes, it is up
to You
The book is nine short easy-to-read
chapters on subjects ranging from what shapes your character to the ways you
can take small steps to strengthen what you already have, and have an impact on
others.
In our conversation Ken came across as
one of those naturally upbeat individuals who sees the sunny side of life. Even
clouds have a purpose. How you respond to them is a reflection of your
character.
Writer’s Block and Ken Owens Q&A:
WB: Let’s
begin by you telling the audience about yourself and what prompted you to
write, Branding Your Character, Livinga Dynamic Life.
KO: My
background includes an associate in liberal arts, bachelor in business, several
master level certificates in hypnotherapy and counseling and I’m an ordained minister.
I was raised in the Midwest and was an Eagle Boy Scout and 4-H leader, all
which helped me with a good foundation for character. The biggest
motivation for me writing a book on the topic of character was – and still is
– turning on the TV every night and seeing the lack of character in the news,
on TV shows, in business and in our elected officials.
WB: In the
book you say that a man’s character is his fate. Tell us what you mean by that.
KO: A
person’s character sets the stage for their destiny or fate in life. People
with good character – like Mother Teresa, Oprah, Bill Gates all are great role
models and give back to society – are of service to others. People with bad
character – the scamming, cheating criminals – like Bernie Madoff or the young
gunman in Colorado from a couple days ago – are bad roles models and hurt
people. The actions of their character will determine their outcome in life –
successful and happy OR lonely and in jail. Or in a more religious context –
their final outcome would be heaven or hell.
WB: In Leveraging
Your Brand you emphasize understanding one's positive and negative traits. Talk
a little about that.
KO: The
concept of branding in the business world defines your product or service’s
recognition and reputation in the marketplace. A positive brand means more
sales and more money. A negative brand leads to no sales and bankruptcy. The
brand recognition of Coca Cola is
worth $70.5 billion. That is just what the name or brand Coca Cola is worth, which has nothing to do with all their
inventory, trucks, factories, etc. The same is true for a person – your
positive character will mean more friends, higher standing in the community, a
better job and more money. It also means more peace, balance and harmony.
WB: The Purpose
of Life is a Life of Purpose. Talk about how different people express that and
why it is important to define one’s purpose.
KO: What
is your purpose in life? That can be a very hard question to answer to most
people. Your purpose is your roadmap which will guide you through life. If you
don’t have a map or a purpose, then how can you reach any destination? Some
other words which also help to define your purpose would be to ask yourself:
- What is your aim?
- Your intention?
- Your goal?
- Your mission?
Just to clarify – money is not a purpose. Money is the outcome or
reward for having a positive purpose in life. Your purpose is the drive that
gets you up every morning. There are positive purpose careers and negative
purpose careers that fit your overall guiding mission. Know that the wealthiest
people make their money being of service to others – doctors, lawyers, small
business owners. While those in negative purpose careers take from others –
bums, con artists, computer hackers.
WB: I love the
idea that imagination is more important than knowledge. Talk a little about
what that means to you and why you included a chapter about it in your book.
KO: Nothing
in life happens without it first being imagined in the mind of its creator. No
product, service, business or opportunity became a reality without someone
first having a spark of imagination in their mind before putting action behind
that thought to make it a reality. Imagination is the foundation to everything.
Your imagination is a key component to developing your character. Do you
imagine ways to scam elderly people out of money or new concepts to put into a
book which will enrich the lives of many readers? Too many people don’t follow
through with their sparks of imagination and stay stuck in a rut throughout
life, while others put their imaginations to work and soar to new heights and
truly do make their dreams come true!
WB: This is a
thought provoking concept: Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate. Can you
elaborate on that?
KO: This
chapter is true, but also a light hearted look at what most of us feel. A
recent scientific study, which I talk about in the book, found out that we lose
50 percent of our friends every seven years. Our friends shift and rotate and
that is OK in life. Our jobs, hobbies and interests change and when they do –
it allows us to open up to a new group of friends; while some older ones just
fade out of our life. That is a healthy and natural occurrence. BUT on the flip
side, how many listeners wonder why they can never get rid of those pesty
energy-sucking enemies out of their lives? They just seem to accumulate and
never diminish. I talk in-depth about why we may keep some of those enemies
still in our lives. The other major concept in this chapter is the truth behind
the old saying, “You are judged by the caliber of your friends.” Be careful
because a component of your character will be the perception others see in the
group of friends that we hang around with.
WB: My
favorite, hands down is the chapter entitled Nothing Will Work Unless You Do. Talk about that and the
reaction people have had to your take on the subject.
KO: Some
don’t like it because I tell them that if they want a better life that they
have to get up off their butts and do something about it. Too many people are
stuck in the mentality that all they have to do is lay around and others will
take care of them. Look at the work ethic of immigrants who come to this
country and how they work circles around USA folks because they want a better
life for their families. Those same opportunities are here for all of us, we
just need to go get them.
WB: Faith
makes things possible should be a given. What are the obstacles people face
when there is a lack of faith in themselves and their goals?
KO: The
faith I am talking about in the book is not a religious context of faith, but
more an esoteric context – that inner unseen knowing that each of us has. And
having the confidence, security and dedication to trust and listen to that
inner guiding force. A lot of people lack a secure sense of self-confidence,
which is their biggest obstacle. Too many people look to others to justify or
define who they are instead of having a deep-seated faith to know who they are and
be comfortable and confident. Also, a lot of people lack the faith or trust in
the unseen world of possibilities that lies ahead of them. They stay stuck in
what they think is a security of the past. To grow, one must have faith in the
future and let go of the past.
WB: Explain
what you mean by “Character is a victory, not a gift.”
KO: A
good analogy would be to look at the upcoming Olympics
in London. When a medal is placed around the neck of an athlete for placing in
their sport, it is a victory. They have earned that medal from years of hard
work, practice, sacrificing fun activities – because they had a goal – a
purpose to become a world class Olympian. It was not given to them as a gift
for something they did not accomplish. To me, character is the same thing – it
takes years to develop your character and you earn it; it isn’t something that
someone can just give to you.
WB: What
exactly is a human potential consultant and what do you do?
KO: That
is my spin on the term coach or coaching. I love to educate and inspire people
to grow and become a better person. On a business level, I love to help
businesses expand their products and services while bringing value to their
customers. I mainly do this by one-on-one counseling sessions with individuals
or larger group corporate trainings for businesses.
WB: Final
comments?
KO: If
anyone has any personal comments or questions for me, they can reach me at www.BrandingYourCharacter.com
. And remember that the children of today will become the leaders of tomorrow.
They need good character role models to help them lay their foundation in life.
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