Whether you are a solopreneur or the head of a corporation you must be completely in sync as the company’s Brand Ambassador.
Why is this so important?
Think of your potential clients and customers and their first impression of you. For that matter, think of the public’s impression of you over time.
If you were to list the qualities and characteristics that make your company great, would that match up with how you present yourself?
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Let me share a few people who I think are in total sync with their brands and why.
Lena Dunham – writer, actress, and producer of the award-winning TV series “Girls.”
When this first appeared on HBO I thought the show was brilliant. Over many episodes I have listened and watched and really thought this woman really knows who she is and is so comfortable in her own skin. I know her character doesn’t always act that way.
I just read an interview with her in Entertainment Weekly where they asked if she was the voice of her generation? Maybe so.
She said when the public watched Sex in the City they wanted to be those women, but when we watch her and her girlfriends (on Girls) it’s more like learning what not to do, or for those watching, maybe they’re thinking they really get it because they are like her.
To quote Michael Lombardo (from the article), who’s the network’s president of programming…
“The thing that’s so powerful about Lena is she’s enormously relatable… she’s not a size 0. She not the person who you know is going to find love because they’re “just so beautiful.” Lena’s just there, with all her wonderful imperfections.”
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Bill Maher – stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor.
I have been watching Real Time with Bill Maher for just about as long as it’s been on. I don’t always agree with him, but he does lay it out there like no one else I’ve seen. Saying exactly what he’s thinking whether offensive or not.
I know from reading about comedians that they have said they are laughing on the outside but crying on the inside. This cannot be the case with Bill Maher.
In 2005, Maher ranked No. 38 on Comedy Central’s 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time. You cannot achieve this type of fame if the public doesn’t “get you.”
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Richard Branson – business magnate, founder and chairman of Virgin Group, a group that has over 400 companies.
When I think of Richard Branson, I think of a go-getter, someone who’s almost larger than life itself. Who dreams really big and makes those dreams a reality.
He wrote in his autobiography of the decision to start an airline and I think this is exactly what we’re discussing here. He said:
“My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them… from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it.”
Someone who’s worth billions can choose any lifestyle and doesn’t have to help humanity, but he does.
According to Wikipedia, his next venture with the Virgin Group is Virgin Fuels, which is set to respond to global warming and exploit the recent spike in fuel costs by offering a cheaper fuel for automobiles and in the near future aircraft. It seems he was a skeptic, but was influenced in a recent meeting with Al Gore.
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Beyoncé Knowles – singer, songwriter, dancer and actress.
The reason I want to talk about Beyoncé is because of “Sasha Fierce,” the alter ego who was born during the making of her 2003 single “Crazy in Love.”
Do some people need to create an alter ego that help them over their fears and at a certain point when they have become more comfortable, do they finally let go and just be who they are? Or perhaps when it comes to celebrities who are followed and watched ever so closely, do they need that separated persona to help keep a bit of privacy in their lives?
Recently there was a blip in the radar with Beyoncé. At the president’s inauguration, she sang or so we thought… It seems she lip-synced because she hadn’t practiced with that orchestra, and it was such an important event she didn’t want anything to go wrong. Well, to me it was fine. I don’t know why there was such a big fuss. It’s not like it wasn’t her voice. But the fans and the media went cuckoo. To make matters worse, she overcompensated by singing live at a press conference for her halftime super bowl performance. Like she needed to prove something. Maybe Beyoncé is still not 100% in sync with her brand?
She doesn’t need to prove anything. Her Super Bowl performance was great.
So, being real is being true to yourself, as well as to others.
So how does studying celebrities help business owners?
As business owners we must be the true face of our company, whether offline at conferences and events, or online through our website, social media and community sites.
The fact that video is surpassing other mediums means we must embrace it and show others who we are. When you shine through and others feel they get you, you will gain so many more followers. And that will lead to more business and unlimited success.
Who else do you think is totally in sync?
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To learn more about building your brand and online presence like a Superhero, visit Udemy where I have a 10-class series on “Brand Visibility.”
