Vol. 2, Issue 1                                                                                                         September 1, 2007

Why Image-on-the-1's? Because your image is your most powerful communication tool.

We know your image matters to you and your image matters to us. You've got questions and we've got answers. So, on the 1st, 11th and 21st of each month, we'd like to answer your questions and provide you with tips and tools that you can really use.

Stay tuned for on-going information that will help you save time, money and energy and guarantee that you present your very best self to your world everyday.

Meet Tater

What's in a name? Let's find out.

Meet B. Tater Lichtenstein-Solomon I. Drs. Lichtenstein and Solomon (my sister-in-law and brother) have added this sweet little guy to their new family. Cara selected the breed, labra-doodle, a mix of labrador and poodle. Steven chose the name. "The blond colored puppies look like Tater Tots (the frozen potato clusters that have served as a family favorite since childhood)," he declared. "Let's call him Tater." However, all the males in the litter were chocolate colored. Not to be detered, "We'll call him B. Tater, short for burnt tater tot." Hence, B. Tater Lichtenstein-Solomon I came to be. From the photo, even at 4 weeks of age, we can see the young Tater thinking, "Oh, come on, who's going to listen to me tell that story over and over?"

We each have our personal approach to naming, be it a child, a pet, a product or a company. In the end, we are not the ones to carry the label forward. That word or combination of words will become the gift of identity we give to that child, pet, product or company. We want it to be creative. We want it to be unique. We want it to be remembered. And, we want the name, the single most significant designation for the future, to work for the owner. Much like a complicated joke, if it requires repeated explanations and stories to create the image, perhaps a different choice would be better.

The best we can hope for is that the name we select will become synonymous with its owner, conjuring the associated image, thereby becoming a brand unto itself. Would Reginald Kenneth Dwight with his extraordinary talent and out-of-this-world fashion flare be knighted as anyone other than Sir Elton John? Would Lucille Ball, America's funniest redhead, have been invited into your homes as a mousy-blond named Diane Desiree Belmont? Do you search the Super Pharm shelves for Q-Tips or cotton swabs? Do you "Google" someone or do a world-wide-web search?

Whether a name serves to honor history or a family's lineage, represent a gift from nature or reflect your deepest creative spirit, it should be selected and bestowed with great care and consideration. In fact, the future and success of the owner may very well depend on it.

As for Tater, when he weighs in at 70lbs and greets you at the door, his paws on your shoulders, if he wants to tell the story of how he got his name, you'll probably be happy to listen.

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Image Matters!
First Steps on the Journey to Your Best Self
by Lauren Solomon

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E-Image Inquiry

Q. Is there an "image advantage" to naming a business using your own name or not?

A. If you are your business and your name is quickly associated with your product or service by an industry or large community, then there may well be an advantage to keeping the company image personal and directly associated with you. From a pure image perspective, you will already have a solid position from which to propel.

If you are building your business around a particular product or industry, you may prefer to use a name that describes the service or product. This will allow the corporate image to encompass a broad range of individuals and keep the image focused where you want it, on the product or service.