Your Biggest Fan
February 15th, 2008
Sometimes, when I send questions to the Brains on Fire Curiosity Team, I have a specific project or client in mind. Sometimes, I just happen to be scratching my noggin about something. Sometimes, I just feel like it’s been too long since I’ve engaged them, and I’d better ask them something. So this week, our Design Wizard Eric helped out and suggested that I ask them to name their 3 favorite brands. I thought that was particularly interesting, since I had recently asked them to list 5 books everyone should read… and I wondered which would be easier.
Well, I think this was easier, which surprised me. But that’s really not my point. My point is one of the responses. One of the team members listed his own company, SpinningSilk Multimedia, as one of his three favorite brands. His reason: “Yes, it’s my own company but I am dedicated to developing our brand to the fullest and believing in what we do. If one is not a fan of their ‘own brand’ they might as well quit.”
I think that’s one of those things we forget sometimes because it seems so obvious… but is it? Maybe we don’t want to seem too caught up in ourselves. Maybe we spend so much time thinking outward we forget to think inward. I think that it’s not unusual for companies to take themselves for granted. Absolutely, cultivate fans wherever you find them. But the best way to deserve those external fans is to do business in a way that makes you and your employees your own biggest fan. I just had to give Patrick a shout out for such a great reminder. Thanks Patrick!
Other posts by Jennifer.
Patrick says:
I’m glad I subscribe to your blogs RSS feed! I was certainly a pleasant surprise to receive this in my newsreader so quick this morning. I’m still getting over the flu here, bad deep cough so anything uplifting is great today!
I do want to say that Brains on Fire is also one of my favorite brands. As an integrated marketing communications company I know how important consistent branding is. I’m in the process of writing a series on branding right now and just to let you know I had already planned a mention of BOF in a future post in the series.
Thank you for your kind words.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:55 amAlva says:
I think that depends a lot on how it’s said or presented. I think when some people hear a company rep name their own brand as an answer to this kind of question, it sort of makes them roll their eyes.
That kind of self-congratulation can be a little offputting, I think.
That said, most company reps certainly should be thinking it - or else trying hard to make improvements.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:04 amPatrick says:
Alva, I did make a point not to mention my own company first out of the three choices for that very reason but I did want to make a point that I have been thinking about my own companies branding A LOT lately and how important it is to me.
I wasn’t trying to advertise because the blog mentioned what more of creative thinking venue than anything else.
If you knew me in person, (You may, I’m not sure) but I rarely if ever toot my own horn unless it’s required in my own advertising or a networking event.
The point is I am passionate about my work to the point it doesn’t even feel like work and I want to make my company a place I would love to work for as well even though I am the owner.
February 15th, 2008 at 12:15 pmJennifer says:
That’s part of the issue in trying to communicate this idea… there’s a fine line between overt egotism and being proud of what you do. Like any individual… you’d better like yourself, or you enter into the realm of depression and self-destructive behavior… but you also don’t want to be that guy - you know the guy. Same in business. You should admire your own brand. If you don’t… you’re probably doing something wrong. Off-putting for me is when it gets to the Steve Jobs level of self aggrandizing (sorry Mac heads… I’m sure I’ve opened a whole new can of worms by going the Apple route). Love what you do. Be proud of what you do. There’s nothing wrong with that.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:09 amEllen Weber says:
Great discussion here and both sides tend to have an interesting point. It’s really tone that makes the difference. At a recent business leadership gathering - one person took extra time to brag about products during intros. It backfired as people resented the inserts.
It seems that when we communicate with a genuine interest in other’s brands — through asking a well planted question or two - this helps us to avoid too much talk about our own brand.
It appears that both sides of this discussion make a good case for engaging others first, too:-) Am I correct?
February 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pmPatrick says:
Exactly Jennifer. It certainly is a fine line. To me it’s more of deep personal thing instead of a braggadocios habit. While I may have expressed what I did as a business owner it should be the goal of an employee to look at the company they work for as one of their favorite brands. Yes, often we want to get a job just to pay the bills and sometimes, especially in more difficult times it harder to pick and chose. That being said the bests times on any job I have worked are when the employees rally behind the company and it’s mission, not necessarily their supervisor. The is a significant aspect of “buzz marketing”. On the opposite end the worst memories I have had when working at other companies are when I have had to do endure listening to fellow employees complain about everything.
As much as Apple is also one of my favorite brands I have said before that Steve Jobs is both Apple’s best and worst asset. The best because he sets the tone for the companies mission, the worst because the company is too tied up into his personality. Thankfully he has done things in recent years that were unheard of when he joined the company. Like the switch to Intel and also allowing Windows to work on a partition.
To put it in very simple terms. I love the work the company I own does. I love the work I do and I want our customers to know we love working for them.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:19 am