Discover Your USP Today
- Victoria Hogg
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
Discovery! We all want to discover stuff, right? When we do, it lights us up inside. It’s a spark, a glow - it’s meaningful. And then, of course, things become magnified in their importance - which makes them easier to see for others. Other people feel the discovery; the significance. It’s a shared sense of wonder and adventure. A joint quest, making work-life easier all round.
And so what is a USP, anyway? Of course we won’t have to tell you that it stands for ‘Unique Selling Point’ - but what does that mean? It’s hard to imagine being ‘unique’ when 2025 feels like such a crowded market place. It’s tricky discovering the key thing that matters both to you AND to your ideal client, and which is also relevant and unique.
As such, we’re excited to be running the IMPROV Inc. Seize the NICHE workshop on Monday 19th May. It’s an all-dayer in London and promises to support business owners and solopreneurs to delve into what you offer and why - and therefore, who’s interested. Sounds like you might get your USP on a plate. Yum. Join us!
Something in the blood…
I, Paul, found out recently I am a descendent of Mary Queen of Scots. Cool! As a proud Scot, this touches my heart in many ways. But no more so than knowing I am therefore also a descendent of Robert The Bruce!! You don’t know what this means to me, personally! It’s unreal!
I’m descended from Robert The Bruce! The most Scottish of Scottish Kings. The King who brought peace to Scotland, defeating the English at Bannockburn and setting context for Scotland’s national Anthem, “Flower of Scotland”. Robert The Bruce, my 32nd great grandfather.
In my mind, me and Robert, we have a strong connection. The two of us. He’s a legend and also, you know, my 32nd great grandfather. With this new-found knowledge, this profound super-power, I walk the streets of the town where I live, Godalming: the town where Robert The Bruce’s 33rd generation of grandchildren currently live, knowing that we have helped the family bloodline carve a piece of life, and land, in England.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again” Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland
The irony of what Edward Longshanks tried to achieve in throttling the Scots is not lost on me as we proudly claim our corner of England. And no one else knows (or cares, perhaps). We do though. Oh yes… we know. And we care. We care very much!
Of course, a relatively simple calculation would show that I could have up to another 2^31 32nd generation grandfathers as well. A mere 2,147,483,647 others. But who’s counting?
Something I didn’t see coming…
I, Vic, am also a proud Scot! (granddaughter of a Campbell from the Highlands, since you ask). But this week I discovered something else to do with my DNA. I’d not thought about my eye colour in years - other than that it’s kinda weird. Patchy. Wishy-washy. Neither one thing nor t’other. Significantly, no-one ever tells me I have [fill in colour] eyes. And that felt… kinda sad, if I’m honest.
Imagine my surprise when a random Tik-Tok told me that when an eye has a circle of one colour next to the pupil and a different colour beyond that to the iris, it has a name: central heterochromia! Fancy that!
What did this discovery give me? A sense of distinction, a feeling of belonging to a very small (six percent, anecdotally) tribe, and, significantly, a rush of pride to have, finally, a way of describing something that felt nebulous and nameless.
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes” Marcel Proust, author
Something in step…
It’s a shame when we don’t follow the fun. Decades (!) ago, I (Vic) went to a dance class to learn how to jive. It didn’t go well for: reasons. But last night I broke the spell and tried out some lindy hop in a village hall with some lovely strangers.
It felt absolutely right: like coming home. How can we make sure we honour those parts of us that need to flower? And by doing so, light the way for others?
Discover your jive; honour your inner lindy hop. It’s never too late.
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