To Your Packaging/Branding, Add Virtue

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Early this year, around February, I registered to attend Shawn Bolz prophetic conference in Florida. I had already arranged my work and school schedule to align with this conference. I also booked my flight and fortunately for me, it was highly discounted. The next thing was to book my hotel for two nights. I was working with a budget. I wanted an affordable hotel close to the conference venue. Finally, I was able to book a hotel online. I had read the reviews and looked at the pictures online and from my analysis, it was okay; Just good enough for my short trip. On Thursday evening I left for Florida and arrived very late at 12 midnight as my flight was not a direct flight.  I took Uber and got to the "hotel" and I was shocked at what I saw. From my point of view, that place could not pass as a hotel. The cigarette stench greeted me from the door (I totally hate the smell of cigarettes).

At this point, I was beginning to get disappointed, however, I was hoping that just maybe, the hotel room will be a decent place to spend the night. I checked in with the receptionist and headed for the elevator to get to the third floor where my room was. I got to find out that the elevator was broken, and I had to take the stairs. I took the stairs all the way to the third floor and opened my room and met unexpected visitors in my room. Cockroaches, bugs, ants all over the floor and the counter. In fact, the room was a glorified dormitory. It was baaaad!!! I quickly closed the room and ran downstairs to meet the receptionist to get her to explain to me how on earth, someone would pay their hard-earned money and get such service. In fact, I had to ask for a refund for the second night. I wasn't going to make the mistake of staying for two nights. if it was possible, I would have looked for another hotel, but it was too late at night, so I had to manage what I had.

The receptionist checked me into another room. Thankfully, I did not meet any visitors in that room lol. By 7am, I had already showered and was out of that hotel with my refund. I was able to get another hotel (I mean very good hotel lol) for the second night. From the customer service of the new hotel to the environment down to the room and even to the complimentary breakfast, everything was excellent! They truly lived up to their name. My experience in the second hotel was like a shock absorber or pacifier for my first experience. I learned a lesson I will never forget in a hurry.

 I learned that packaging or branding is different from Excellence. Excellence is a culture. You don't just look excellent, you do excellent. Excellence is something you do.  With the growth of different online platforms and businesses, it is very easy to brand and project yourself or your business the way you want it even without being it. No matter how well you may package yourself and your business, it is your interaction with people online and offline that shows who you truly are. I am a strong advocate of looking good and having a good branding/packaging but if your packaging is devoid of virtue/character, just like the first hotel I booked, you are deceitful, and you won’t last whether in business or in any relationship!

Always review your character and find out where you have weaknesses, devise a growth plan with a deadline and work to improve yourself. Be accountable to people who will help you grow. When you are making efforts to develop yourself, packaging becomes an addition or an icing on the cake. People will look out for you and like to be around you. So please don't just work on your branding, work on yourself and improve your character.

Love N.