Own Your Swag: The Secret to Getting More Business

There’s a little powerful, four-letter word that’s been floating around for the past few years. Ever hear “he’s got swag?” How about “get your swag on?” Maybe you’ve heard the phrases and maybe not, but if you’re an entrepreneur or marketing professional, you’ve got to familiarize yourself with this powerful, four-letter word.

Let’s Start with the Basics

The Webster dictionary offers several definitions for “swag,” including “an ornamental festoon of flowers, fruit, and greenery.” But no my friend, this is not what I mean by swag. Swag is a slang term that simply means the “unique characteristics that only you possess.” Swag are those stand out qualities that command attention and as a business owner or marketer – you definitely need swag.

The good news is that everyone has swag. The not-so-good news is that people typically have a hard time owning their swag.

Earlier this week, I took some time out to catch up on “Preachers of L.A.” (yes, I’m a reality TV junkie).

So in the episode I watched, Bishop Ron Gibson (pictured on the right), a flamboyant, Armani suit-wearing preacher was telling some friends that he wanted to become a member of a prestigious pastor group but was told by others that he had too much “swag” and wouldn’t fit in. So his friends were weighing in on the things he should change, and one guy said, (I am paraphrasing here) “all those things are what makes you … well, you and you should be who you are.”

As entrepreneurs, people try to put us in these little tiny boxes everyday. Don’t use too much slang, don’t share too much about your personal life, don’t talk about religion or politics. And the list goes on and on.

Well forget what you heard. People are blowing up in business by showing off their swag and being who they are – with their poor grammar, flashy suit, saggy-jean wearing selves. And I urge you to just be YOU and love the YOU that you are!

I love wearing nice suits to business meetings, carrying expensive handbags, and like to throw in a little slang from time to time. And I love President Obama and I’m a Christian. The world didn’t stop when I told you this and people are still going to come to me for business plan writing and marketing copywriting help.

Identify Your Swag

Before you can own your swag, you must identify your swag. So here’s what I want you to do: think about your business and write down what makes you so ridiculously amazing. Now this is not just a list of your product and service features. No, no my friend. This is your swag list – the things that make people want to listen to you and buy what you’re selling.

Now Own It

Whatever you wrote down that makes you shine brighter than anyone else is your swag – that special sauce that makes you so freakin’ wonderful. There’s nothing left to do now except own it. Be the special YOU that you are. Don’t waste time trying to fit into the little boxes people want to put you in. Stand up and shine. And if everyone doesn’t like your shine – that’s okay. Because remember, you can’y be everything to everybody, but you can surely be someone special to somebody.

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