Financial Times

Promoting the "I' brand through confidence

By Quintus Perera

Club members members applaud the speaker

Focusing on one's self, to promote his or her image, to be successful in life and profession like a successful marriage depended on various qualities such as understanding, commitment, confidence, loyalty, interest and sacrifice, said Munshif Hussain, Country Manager, Training, MTI Consulting last week.

Speaking on the "I" brand - how to manage the individual as a brand - at the monthly meeting of The Sunday Times Business Club at the Trans Asia hotel, Hussain's presentation was not just a lecture, but infused lot of fun, laughter and made members participate actively and enjoy the programme immensely.

Trans Asia Hotel and Ceylon Breweries were co-sponsors of the meeting.

Hussain said while people spent most of the time reacting to situations leading to real failure one should be able to design the future like an architect. Due to stiff competition in today's world creating one's own image was important. The Prime Minister of Thailand appeared in a recent advertisement urging the world to visit his country and why the prime minister did this was because of the close competition in the international market place.

To be successful one has to stand out from the crowd with something creative and to impress you should do something different. The moment you try to stand out, you become great, Hussain said. He said that there were numerous brands that stood out and performed successfully. To stand out, to be great, one should have such qualities like value potential, goodwill and uniqueness in style.

"We have become a nation of people with negative attitudes, saying no for everything or I do not have this or I cannot do this." Hussain said Sri Lankans should take a cue from Mother Teresa who first heard an old man crying in agony and ventured to take care of him, thereafter caring for hundreds and sacrificing her life for these destitute people. She had two things - faith and confidence in herself. These two things had brought resounding results benefiting millions world over.

Another short presentation on "Power World, The New Body Language was made by Shehan Latiff, General Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, Power World Fitness Centres. He said that the attitudes of people towards systematic exercise was neutral prior to 1994, but this attitude has changed over the past eight years, once the first Power World Gym was launched in 1994. He said that today Power World has a chain of eight gyms with a ladies only facility. The current membership is over 7,000 members. A quiz was held and the two winners, S. Muhunthan and Razan Rauff, were presented with gift vouchers from Trans Asia.

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