Photo by Matt A.
If brands start with people, great brands start with great people. Not great in the sense that they are wealthy or successful or influential (yet), but great in the sense that ego, self-righteousness and self-serving agendas aren’t part of the equation.
Instead, these people are devoted to a cause. Infected with an idea. Motivated by success measured in other people’s smiles and excitement and ownership of the things they do for them.
Need help getting into that kind of groove? Check out John Moore’s awesome post on Dan Sullivan’s Laws Of Lifetime Growth here. Not super recent, but timely.
I’m serious. Go check it out now. (No, not later, right now.) It’s that good. (Well… it’s really the ten laws that are good, but… same difference.)
What… you’re still here? Tsssk.
Technorati tags: service marketing, John Moore, Dan Sullivan, marketing.
These laws are all excellent. Particularly like #9 and #10.
#9: Always make your purpose greater than your money.
”Money as an end, become as growth stopper. Having a purpose that is greater than yourself will give you a constant impetus to strive. Purpose gives life meaning and helps us direct and focus our talents and efforts.”
Without purpose, organizations have a really tough time not only delivering on their brand, but defining it. Nailing your brand position requires that the organization understands their purpose and while businesses inevitably need to make money, purpose has to come first. If it does, the money will come.
#10: Always make your questions bigger than your answers.
“ … all growth lies in the territory of the unknown. What we already know is in the past. What we have yet to discover is the future. Always make your questions bigger than your answers and you’ll keep drawing yourself into a bigger future with new possibilities.”
Questions lead to innovation. Smart leaders continue to ask “why” and “how” to push their organizations to be future-forward.
Thanks Olivier for highlighting John’s post and Dan’s book. Quick everyone, buy it and read it.
Olivier,
Thanks for pointing this out – else it would’ve remained missed by me.
For me, this article goes to show the need for leadership and visionaries who see the bigger picture for their companies / brands / chiuauas / etc. Immediately I think of Good to Great and others like it (including Kawsaki’s ten rules of innovation) that encourage us to aim for better.
Of course some people don’t get it – but that’s not us!
SG