Brand Alignment

For 11 years, I drove a station wagon (SW), an Oldsmobile it was, hauling around my babies and rarely finding a parking spot for The Tanker aka The Beast, as I so adoringly dubbed it. As I recall, the SW was about as long as an 18-wheeler and more days than not, I would make disparaging remarks about having to drive such a piece of work. It just didn't match up with its driver, in my opinion. Brand alignment? Me and the SW? Not a chance!

The happiest day of my life with The Tanker was when I found a small sign in Dallas, Texas with these words written on it: Steal This Car. I brought that sign home and slapped it on the back of The Beast as soon as possible (ASAP). No takers; no stealers. The day I sold that car was a tear-jerker, too; I cried my eyes out. So many memories packed in The Tanker; I watched until she disappeared forever into the distance with her new owners and new memories-in-the-making.

So what does a silly station-wagon story have to do with brand alignment, anyway? Plenty! Whether you're driving a car that doesn't align with your brand, working at a job that's a mismatch, or exploring career options you're not that interested in, something is out of alignment. Ask yourself this question:

Is there anything I can do today to get myself into something tomorrow that better aligns with me and my brand?

What would have to happen for that to become a reality for you?

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Julie O'Malley]

Great analogy, Billie. It resonates with me because I've been driving a minivan for 10 years. Although it doesn't fit with my personal self-image, I guess it does sort of align with my brand -- as a writer, I try to keep my work simple, practical, functional, comfortable, and loaded with fun and valuable "stuff."

Hmm, I'm still not ready to completely embrace my essential minivan-ness :)

[billiesucher]

Good points Julie -- especially about the valuable "stuff." Whew, my office / car filled with stuff...way too much "stuff!"
: - )