Which is it? Pick One and Stick To It. Always Be Easy to Find
When I married for the first time a couple of years ago, I was asked many times if I was going to change my name. My answer was always no. Not because I have proudly identified myself as a feminist since I was fourteen or because I am proud to be Italian-American and have an Italian last name, while my spouse’s is Irish. The reason is because by the time I finally tied the knot, I had already been in business for 15 years, and to change my name after working so hard to get my name out there for so long would have been a grave mistake- for me.
What brings this to mind today is I planned to tag a friend/client in a post on Facebook and she did not appear to be there. I finally found her after typing in her email address and learned that she is using her legal more formal name for her Facebook profile. Even though she is published under the shorter name and all her friends and clients know her by that shorter name.
Pick a name, one name, always spell it the same and use it everywhere. Be consistent. I even see people using a middle name or middle initial some places and other places not. I see women trying to use their married name for business and their maiden name for business- this no longer works. In this era or being able to find someone in an instant, it is important that you do not make it tough for people to locate you because they will quickly look to someone else and this can cost you business. Make a final decision, pick one and stick to it.
I know about this because I did legally and for business change my first name several years ago.
Let’s have some fun and give away a few prizes. Here is a Caterina trivia question: Can you tell me what my name used to be? Those of you that knew me before I was twenty are excluded from this. Your choice of a copy of one of our latest books from http://www.powerdynamicspub.com for the first three respondents that get it right.
Comments
Love this, Caterina! Thanks for the always insightful and thought-provoking blogs!
I bet it was Catherine, and you changed to Caterina because it feels more upbeat like you.
I’m going to say Maria. Good article! I do my best to always be “scrapbookaddict”
Don’t know what the name might be, but I like this promotion!
This is so fun. I am going to wait for a few more responses before revealing the answer.
Okay- Tammy is the winner. Cathy or Catherine were the answers. My birth certificate said Catherine, I was raised as Cathy and I am named after my Italian grandmother which is why I now go by Caterina. Thanks everyone for playing.
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