(Borrowed from the WNEP website blog. It was just too good not to share here. The reading of a young Girl Scout’s email to one of her father’s “very rich” friends captured the attention of Mike Rowe and millions of viewers on Facebook.

Charlotte McCourt is a Girl Scout whose father Sean works on a podcast with Mike Rowe, who you may best know from Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.”

Charlotte’s dad had mentioned that one of his friends from high school was “very rich.” Less than an hour later, he noticed an email in his Sent folder, not one that he had sent, but one that his daughter sent to his rich friend.

Upon discovering the email and seeing its hilarious contents, he shared the email with Mike Rowe who read it in its entirety in a video on his Facebook page.

If you know a Girl Scout, you know that when cookie season comes around they can be quite the salespeople, but none quite as honest, and effective as young Charlotte.

Her email begins, “I’ve been informed that you’d like to purchase several cookie boxes for our troops serving overseas.” Charlotte goes on to say, “Most importantly, I would like to tell you about the cookies themselves, for some of the descriptions I’m afraid use false advertising.”

Charlotte then goes on to give a very honest description and rating of each of the various flavors of Girl Scout Cookies.

Her least favorite cookie is the Toffee-tastic which she describes as a “bleak, flavorless, gluten-free wasteland.” Charlotte isn’t just harsh, she’s shows some other cookies love, describing Savannah Smiles as having “divine taste” and her personal favorite, Samoas, as having “amazing flavor.”

Charlotte’s straightforward approach must have worked. Her goal was to sell 300 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies this year, a goal which at the time of this post had already been reached (no surprise there) according to her “Charlotte’s Cookie World” website.

Congratulations Charlotte, you have a bright sales future ahead of you!
If you would like to purchase cookies from Charlotte, you can visit here website HERE.

Please click on the link at the top of this post to view Shawn Dunn's video.

For most individuals and companies, the New Year provides an opportunity to reflect on the past and look towards the future. We all do it. So in assessing the status of your brand and your brand stewardship; consider these 10 questions:

1. What is your mission?
2. Who are you talking to/with? Determine your brand audience.
3. What is your Mission Statement? Review your current one to determine if it needs a rethink. If you don't have one, now is the time to  create one.
   
4. What key qualities and benefits does your brand offer? Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
   
5. Do you have a strong brand logo and tagline? Now is never to soon to create your brand identity.
6. What is your brand's voice? What voice will effectivly translate your brand personality?
7. What is your elevator pitch? You should be able to respond succinctly, in no more than two sentences, what your company/product/service does and/or provides.
   
8. Have you integrated your brand information into all aspects of your business? If you haven't, you are missing out on vital opportunities to re-enforce your brand promise and message.
   
9. Are you your brand? You are your brand's biggest advocate - If you don't believe in it, then no one else will either. Remember to speak with enthusiasm and committment.
   
10. When should you reassess all of the above? Continually, or at the very least oncea year.
    

Welcome to 2017! I'm sure that it will prove interesting and challenging. Remember there are SOME things you can control in your life and BRANDING is one of them.