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An example of a powerful brand story (regardless of your political party) is that of Barack Obama. His story is a brand that was built brilliantly. And the final outcome of his brand will keep marketing experts and aficionados engaged for years to come. Just think about it - most of us did not even know his name just 8 years ago.
Think about it: (Source: nytimes.com)
* Just 8 years ago, the name Barack Obama was not widely known to the majority of the country outside of the state of Illinois, or much less, the city of Chicago.
* Just 8 years ago, when Al Gore was running for President, Barack Obama was not even on the guest list for the Democratic National Convention.
* Just 8 years ago, even the Illinois delegation did not have room at the Convention for the young lawyer who was not waiting his turn to seek a higher office.
* Just 8 years ago, he went to Los Angeles anyway to attend the Convention, persuading the rental car agent to overlook his unpaid balance so he could make his way.
* Just 4 years ago, when Senator John Kerry received the Democratic presidential nomination, he campaigned in Chicago. And was so taken with Senator Obama that he then INVITED him to play a premier role at the convention that just 4 years before that, he struggled to even participate in.
* Just 4 years ago, Senator Obama spoke at the Democratic National Convention where no one knew who he was. He even remarked, "Even up to the time that I walked on the stage, where they were handing out Obama signs, people were thinking, what is this?” (source: Nytimes.com)
* And just earlier this year, Senator Obama led a brilliant strategic campaign to defeat the highly-favored and highly-qualified candidate and wife of one of the most popular presidents of my GEN X generation to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.
* And just this past August, at the Democratic National Convention, the perseverance and vision of Senator Barack Obama came to a peak as he accepted the greatest position of his political career. In front of a similar audience that just 8 years ago, didn't have a clue who he was or what he was about to become.
His brand story of "hope" is one that is not made up or politically crafted. He's a living example of his brand story as-it-is. We can easily connect to him because of its authenticity and consistency in this transparent world of deceit today. Even more so, we connect because his story can be any one of us...just 8 years from now.
So, what's your story?
Comments
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Your comments were interesting and on point until you made the leap in editorializing. Obama's political trajectory has indeed been extraordinary. However to assert his message of "hope" isn't politically crafted is nonsense. You neglect to mention his tandem message of "change" also politically crafted, also brilliant and also nonsense.
Hope for what? Really, what? He's proposing new taxes, taxes on income, capital, corporations, and social security, all guaranteed to send an already reeling economy into new lows, possibly even a depression. We know what high taxes do to an economy in trouble. I have serious trouble being hopeful in the face of this kind of profound economic ignorance.
He's proposing a trillion dollars in new spending and despite the economic travail of the last week has refused to concede that his spending plans have to change. This is hopeful?
He, like other Democrats of the last two decades, is playing the class warfare card. Them versus us. Rich versus poor. Worker versus owner. How is this hopeful? What change does this portend?
He's refused to acknowledge or discuss in any forthright way his close ties with ACORN or William Ayers. In fact, he's dismissed Ayers as "some guy down the street," a patent misrepresentation. How is it "hopeful" that a presidential candidate can't bring himself to be clear about his associations? I'm not asserting a judgment about them, I simply point out his refusal to be candid.
If I were planning a product launch, I'd want him on my team. But I really would be interested in precisely and substantively what you find so hopeful about Obama.
norma156 response to
thank you for commentary.
I think you missed the point. I don't feel that I need to add more as it is a simple demonstration of Barack's perseverance and diligence in seeking the highest office in the nation when merely 8 years ago he was an unknown entity like ALL of us right now.
Misreading
"His brand story of "hope" is one that is not made up or politically crafted. He's a living example of his brand story as-it-is."
Sorry, did I mis-read this?
response
no, that's perfect: "His brand story of "hope" is one that is not made up or politically crafted. He's a living example of his brand story as-it-is."
Thanks for re-iterating!
Norma so glad you are back.
Norma so glad you are back. Was missing your comments. Thanks for posting. I have to admit I agree with you. All this "change" and I am still scratching my head as to what exactly he is going to change. It is great to sit around and get excited about change but I have yet to hear anything.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am so tired of the rich vs. poor thing. The fabric of the United States was built on Capitalism where each person has the opportunity to create something and get paid for it depending on what consumers value it as.
There is great risk in capitalism, and the United States is the only place in the world where people have the freedom to take those risks. Any individual has the ability to earn his own keep if they so choose. You hate your job, well you have the freedom to create your own job and live by your rules and not someone else's.
I heard someone say the other day that they were ashamed to be an American because they couldn't speak 3 languages and I felt sad for that young man. I felt sad because while he is embarrassed to be an American he has every privilege and opportunity to grasp while in most other countries they have no such things...........but hey they can speak five different languages.
I think it goes back to the idea of entitlement and lack of gratitude in individuals, in addition to making an entire nation dependent on its government instead of teaching people how to stand on their own two feet. You give a man a fish you feed him for a day. You teach a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
Great Post!
XOXO,
Freda
Founder
www.AlphaWomen.com
"Those Who Say It Can't Be Done Need To Get Out Of The Way Of Those Who Are Doing It!"