Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia Dore
Hi Asia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my business nearly a decade ago as a photographer, and eventually found my way to specializing in brand photography. Working with fellow entrepreneurs was extremely fulfilling, and I had a blast doing that kind of creative work! But the more sessions I photographed, the more I realized there was a crucial piece missing for every single one of my clients: strategy.
They wanted stunning pictures that represented their brand, but they also couldn’t really explain what their brand was. So to avoid finding cliché inspiration from Pinterest and copying other people’s images, guiding them through the strategy piece became a big part of my work as a brand photographer.
It didn’t take me long to realize it was the strategy part that got me really fired up. So in 2021 I let go of the photography aspect, and now I strictly offer brand strategy development!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owning a business has been the easiest thing in the world, I’ve never once struggled, and everyone should become an entrepreneur.
I’m joking, of course! There’s been a dump truck load of obstacles, but I think they all really stemmed from the difficulty of finding my path and never feeling like I had a cohesive, sustainable business. I pivoted a lot within photography, and my vision has evolved with brand strategy, so I spent a lot of time feeling like I was constantly restarting instead of consistently growing.
But once I developed my own brand strategy, that’s when things really changed for me. It was the strong foundation I needed to build the rest of my business upon. I’ve learned firsthand that once you can articulate the 11 core elements of your brand strategy, the rest falls into place beautifully from there.
Now when something changes in my business I feel like I can experiment strategically instead of just throwing spaghetti and seeing what sticks!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a brand strategist! I help entrepreneurs leverage their unique expertise so they can position themselves as the authority in their space.
The most game-changing concept I’ve discovered about branding is that you need two components for a truly solid brand: strategy and audacity.
You need equal parts if you want to make an impact with your business instead of just obsessing over your profit margin. If you want to use your expertise in a very specific way instead of just trading time for money. If you want to help actual people solve actual problems instead of just selling stuff.
If you want to be your real, true, unapologetic self in your business instead of just manufacturing an identity that changes with the trends. If you want to share a message that inspires people to take action instead of just creating surface-level content in the hopes it will get attention.
Strategy without audacity is boring, but audacity without strategy is ineffective. So I’ve developed my signature STRATEGY/AUDACITY Method to ensure your unique brand is built with both!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Most books that have helped me the most in my business actually have nothing to do with business – they’re centered around creativity, curiosity, storytelling, personal development, and relationships. My favorites over the last few months include:
Think Again – Adam Grant
Never Split the Difference – Chris Voss
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control – Katherine Morgan Schafler
The Story Paradox – Jonathan Gottschall
Bold Move – Dr. Luana Marques
Contact Info:
- Website: https://asiadore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asia.dore
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@asiadore
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/asia_dore/
