,

Stronger than me

When this song came out, I wanted to know who that woman was. People in the industry said she was different, she was only 20, they said she was a true musician. This was all before the drugs and booze ruined and then took her life.

Amy Winehouse.

If you have 5 minutes today, please look at this video of her performing this song on Jools Holland. She plays the guitar and is much different than how you probably remember her. But this was the Amy I loved.

What lessons can we learn from Amy Winehouse when it comes to personal branding?

Follow your passion and know what you want to do.
She grew up listening to Jazz and developed a passion for sixties music. She started playing guitar at the age of 14 and was still a teenager when she was signed to a record label. By the time she was 24 she had already won 4 Grammy awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single “Rehab” and Best Pop Vocal Album. Impressive, right?

Dare to be noticed.
Remember her big beehive hairdo? It was her tribute to the famous girl groups from the sixties like the Ronettes. Amy loved that look and it also made her authentic because her voice and the look just made you look and listen to her. There was no way back once you heard or saw her, she made an impact.

Authenticity is not a dirty word.
She wrote exactly the way she felt, her vulnerability, honesty (“They try to make me go to rehab but I said no no”) and openness is why she sold so many records and why she was a huge star. We love it when people are real. It makes us feel connected to them. She was as real as they can get, artist wise.

If only she took better care of herself and not let her candle burn out so quickly…..

Talk about candles burning out, if you are in need of me-time, today is your last chance to join our Renew Yourself Week free masterclass this Sunday with Daphne Feller, Raquel van Oijen, Cammy May Lombardi and myself. Register here before noon tomorrow!

And if you are in need for some inspiration and want to meet new people come to our International Women’s Day Summit on the 6th of March in Amsterdam. To celebrate and empower women. For only today we have a special 24 hour price where you pay 199 euros instead of 249 euros. So don’t delay, get your tickets now. See the program below!

PROGRAM
13.30 – 14.15 Registration

Part 1
14.15 Introduction, Cécile Narinx (Harper’s Bazaar) & Nancy Poleon (BrandedU)
14.20 Training your brain, Margriet Sitskoorn
15.05 Perception is reality, Corinne Vigreux (TomTom)
15.10 Influencing perception of yourself, Panel discussion speakers with Tiina Salzberg (Executive Strategy Director and Head of Planning 180 Kingsday), Lot Keijzer (IBM iX Growth leader Europe & Benelux lead), Marion van Happen (Algemeen Directeur Unique Nederland) and Dr. Cara Antoine (Chief Marketing & Operations Officer at Microsoft Netherlands).
15.30 Managing a public image, Sylvana Simons
15.45 Music performance by Anneke van Giersbergen

Break 15.50-16.20

Part 2
16.20 Surprise guest to be announced
16.30 Fearless ambition, Cassandra Stavrou (PROPERCORN)
16.45 Role models in TECH, Janneke Niessen (Inspiringfifty)
16.55 Telling your story matters, Christina Moreno (Shematters.nl)
17.00 Sisterhood in business in Amsterdam, Panel discussion with Margreet Wieringa (directeur DeLaMar), Els van der Plas (general director National Opera and Ballet), Cathelijne Broers (director Hermitage) and Marloes Krijnen (directeur Foam).
17.28 Music performance by Sabrina Starke

17.35-18.30 Networking drinks

 

XOXO,

Nancy