Lady, this has never happened to me before…

Sir, these things happen to me all the time.  — Toniann Richard

My conversation with the sweet, kind and very uncomfortable TSA agent in Kansas  City on Wednesday as I struggled to get my (super cute and strappy) high heel off my right foot as the zipper had become jammed up.   It wasn’t budging.  I started to sweat and talk really fast and tying to distract the grumpy woman who was glaring at me for holding up the line.  I explained to him (hoping she could hear) that I had flats in my purse but I was taking a quick flight to D.C. for a meeting and thought I would save some time and effort by just wearing the cute shoes on the flight out.  She wasn’t having any of it.  She told me to put on both shoes and walk through the scanner like the “kids”.  Long story short my shoes set off the “swipe test machine” and I nearly missed my flight and as I was running off my high heel, yes the one with the stuck zipper, flew off my foot.  The grumpy lady laughed out loud. Never a dull moment.

The whole reason I was so nervous was because I THOUGHT that the TSA agent was grumpy and mad at me for holding up her process.  I am sure that she has a stressful job and people are constantly griping at her and she really didn’t need some sassy pants girl in her line causing a mess of a relatively simple situation.  After my shoe fell off and I saw her laughing I realized that I completely read her wrong.  BODY LANGUAGE people – it goes a long way!  It is amazing what a simple smile, warm look and patience will do for a situation.  Remember that when life kicks you in the teeth and you are trying to figure out what to do next.

Building your personal brand is something you need to work on every single day and every single moment.  How are you perceived?  That is your brand.  Nothing fancy, nothing sparkly (well maybe) and certainly nothing complicated.  Think about your personal brand and see if it could use some attention.

Here is a great article to consider:   Career Contessa  I love this website!  She has great articles and is always focusing on the positive ways we can influence others.  Tell me….what is YOUR personal brand?

My daughter has a brand of her own!!