So I’m driving back from my random drug screening/dentist visit/eat as fast as you can morning and I end up behind a minivan, wrapped top-to-bottom in all types of colors and swathed in phone numbers, url’s, and email addresses. They even had a custom tag furthering the brand they were displaying. Not so odd to see these days, I know. The problem you might ask? They were driving 61 mph in the left lane causing, at one point, a school bus to pass on the right. That’s right; traffic on 540 northbound was piling up like you wouldn’t believe because someone’s Brand-mobile was driving like a horse’s behind.
This brings up a thought I’ve been mulling over ever since, causing me to hold up traffic even further and almost miss my exit… I didn’t say I was perfect and don’t judge me. I’m a brand guy. I live, breathe, eat, and sleep my personal brand as well as those brands near and dear to me. I establish and maintain brands for a living and I can’t remember a time when I had a discussion with a client over proper etiquette when living ones brand. This is an error of strategy.
Having experienced this particular faux paux I now realize the importance of living your brand even further. Yes, I am telling a pile of people about them but you’ll notice no reference to their name and I promise that every time I see that brand now I’ll remember a school bus having to drive around an idiot in a minivan. I don’t know about your brand but that’s not the image I want associated with my brand.
Bottom line, remember the message you’re sending out at all times. Live your brand well and reap the rewards of solid brand management.
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Isn't it the truth? As the smartest brand person I've ever had the opportunity to work with said, "Everything counts, because _everything_ communicates."
BTW, left-laners drive me bananas, too.
Thanks for the comment Ed! I think we be allowed to put 1 left laner in the wall per year. in no time the issue would be no more.