Writing Your Own Manifesto – sounds grand doesn’t it?

 

What about Powerful? Meaningful?

Creating a manifesto is a great way to define yourself, or your business, or your goals.

 

What is it about this time of year that makes us pensive and turn our thoughts inward?

Is it the New Year with its promise of a fresh start and endless possibilities?

 

I was thinking about “brand me” and trying to write a revised “About Me” section for my website. And how to incorporate more of a storytelling sense than simply “here is where I studied, here are my job credentials, blah blah blah.“ BORING with a capital B.

 

Recently, I tuned in to BlogcastFM’s webcast called “Why Being You Is Good For Your Business” with guests Dyana Valentine, Mayi Charles and Mars Dorian. It’s an insightful look at 3 very vibrant personalities, and how they have used their uniqueness to define their own brand, and draw in the clients who really resonate with them.

 

I also remember hearing about Erika Lyremark who runs a business coaching website called the Daily Whip. She admitted that she took a while to share that she had been a stripper for 9 years. Now she embraces it as an integral part of who she is and how it influenced her coaching business. She even wrote a book called “Think like a stripper”.

 

Then I had the idea that I could write my own manifesto. This is what I came up with.

 

 

What is a Manifesto?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines manifesto as:

a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer

 

Yes, “declaring publicly” is an important part of manifesting anything. We accomplish our goals more easily when we are held accountable. Whether it’s saving money for a trip, quitting smoking, going to the gym, or making a 6-figure income in our business. Tell someone. Announce it to the world. Then set out to do it. {More on easily achieving your goals in another blog post.}

 

Then I noticed the phrase “Manifest Destiny” in the related words section.

Hmmm. Manifest Destiny. I love it.

I think that will be my focus word (ok, words) of the year.

 

Cool Manifestos – Getting Inspired

I looked for manifestos to inspire me in terms of fonts and design. (Just type “manifesto” in a search on Google, then choose “images”.)

One of my faves for its message and meaning that first tuned me on to the manifesto concept is the HOLSTEE Manifesto.

My visually creative and talented friend Karen Gunton of Build a Little Biz created a manifesto for her own business:

 

 

Getting Down to Business.

At first there was a pervasive little inner voice that said “you can’t do that. What if the design is all wrong? What if those 2 fonts don’t go together. It will just look dumb. Some graphic designer will come along and criticize it.”

I ignored that little voice and just started dumping ideas. Then rearranging the sentences, adding colour and changing the font size and spacing.

In a short time  I came up with my “I am the Hero of my Own Story ” manifesto. {It’s at the top of this blog post.}

 

I’m pleased with the results. No one else has to like it. OK, it would be cool if they did, but it’s really for me. To inspire me. To think about how my own journey, and how my background and experience can help people. And how it makes me a unique and integral part of my own brand.

 

Do you want to create your own manifesto?

It’s easy. I’ve created a video to help you with the steps.

 

 

 

Use this link to watch the video if you can’t see the video player: http://youtu.be/7bBLnk-f3wQ

 

To create your own manifesto you will need:

• PowerPoint (or Keynote on a Mac), Adobe Photoshop (any version of Creative Suite), Adobe Photoshop Elements (a simplified version of Photoshop Creative Suite), Fotoflexer, Canva, or another design or photo-editing software.
• Your idea.
• To be creative and judgement-free.

 

Here is a simplified list of steps from the video:

1. Do a brain dump of 8-12 sentences in PowerPoint. Use power words. Be honest.

 

2. If you’re stuck, try these to start:

I can….

I will…

My best…

My worst…

My biggest desires…

My BFHG (big fat hairy goal) is …

I feel _______ (amazing, joyful, successful, peaceful, etc) when I _______ (spend quality  time with my family; save money to buy myself a gift for reaching my goal; when I help my clients achieve their goals; etc)

 

 

3. Put a star beside your 3 strongest statements.

 

4. Duplicate the slide. Then copy and paste your 1 powerful sentence in the middle of the new blank slide. This is your anchor text, your power statement, and it might help to think of that as the title.

 

5. Now start playing around. Make the font larger. Maybe just one word larger, or bold, or change the colour. Make the key word stand out. Rearrange the other words in the statement in a pleasing way. You can use the alignment and spacing tools, or even added spaces, to make your words fill the text box or stretch across the page.

 

6. Repeat with other statements to fill the page.

 

7. Share it with the world! Add it to a blog post. Upload it to Facebook.  Use it as wallpaper on your computer. Print it out.

 

 

Where to use your awesome new manifesto:

Your website’s “About” section, in a blog post for new year, on Facebook, as wallpaper on your computer or smartphone.

Print it out and post it where you can see it every day.

 

Now go ahead and get started.

 

What are you waiting for? Manifest your destiny!

 

I can’t wait to see your finished Manifestos, so tweet it out (be sure to include my twitter handle @AngeliqueDuff so I can find it) and share it with the world!