Love your business. Live your business.
I learned a very important lesson today in business. I never usually look for these things, but they always seem to hit me smack in the face.
The lesson is this… you have to live your business.
Jake Burton, the Father of snowboarding, rides 100 days per year. He wears Burton coat, pants, boots, hat, and gloves, and of course rides a Burton snowboard.
Crocs (the shoe) CEO, Ron Snyder wears Crocs 24/7. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wore them to bed. No matter if he’s wearing a suit, shorts and a t-shirt, or his pajamas, you never see him without his Crocs.
Come to think of it, have you ever seen Phil Knight without Nike shoes on?
These people make a very big statement. No matter where they are, or what is happening, their product is #1. If its a suit and tie event, Mr. Snyder wearing Crocs makes a statement that THIS is the shoe I wear no matter what. Jake Burton riding his own board makes a statement that there is nothing better.
Anything less would be wrong.
No matter what it is you do, a Dentist, A Graphic Designer, An advertiser, or a fast food franchisee… you have to live your business. Self promote like there is no tomorrow, and use and promote your own product as much as possible. This is the only way it can be if you truly want to be successful.
I’ll leave you with this: Promote yourself and your product as much as possible, because if people don’t like it, they don’t have to listen…
…If you don’t promote yourself, you don’t give them a choice.
**************UPDATE***************
2-1-08
Tonight, Paris Hilton is on Letterman, and she was asked about her clothing line. Dave asked her if the dress she was wearing was from her clothing line. She said no.
The only reason people wear Paris’ clothes is because they want to be like her. If she doesn’t wear them, why would anyone else want to?
