As we all go through the reality shift from Covid-19, I have begun to hear the infamous saying, “Everything happens for a reason,” more often than not. It has come out of the mouths of those on CNBC discussing the decline of the stock market, and even from my mom as she pushes through daily, to go to work at one of the largest hospitals in Seattle, greeting and smiling to passersby behind her cloth mask; her new normal.
So here I am, with the saying, “Everything happens for a reason,” impressed in my mind. I definitely don’t want to get into the depth of the meaning of the compilation of those words nor do I have the mindset to address just how much this virus will forever change us (believe me I will get to that in another blog). I would like to consider though, the world of incredible messaging, branding, sensational marketing, how delivering your brand’s message clearly is still so imperative, and how your story matters.
Let me explain…
My husband and I love music so much. So much so that we will stay up until 3 am passing the “DJ remote” to type in the YouTube search bar the next song, and of course, the next visual to see play on our television! Sometimes, the beat resonates to the point of us getting up to dance together, while other times, the images splashed so creatively across the screen urging us to press pause, then get into a heated discussion.
During the stay-at-home order, just a couple of weeks ago, we sat together, cozy on the couch, calling out all the music videos that made an impact on us during our “younger” years. My memory seems to be dwindling as I age, but somehow, I can still recall the feeling I felt years before as I watched Janet Jackson groove to the beat in her video “Rhythm Nation,” and my husband always erupts in a story about watching the launch of Michael Jackson’s video, “Billie Jean,” with his mom and dad; what amazing memories! Something about the tunes and the delivery of the images created a sense of open-world possibilities for us and made for stories we will never forget. Their message, through video, was impressed on our hearts in a memorable way.
That’s the point as a brand, right? To clearly define who you are, what your message is, and why your message is important to those that are viewing your content, you have to be right on time, no matter what may be going on in the world. Let’s be honest, Michael and Janet did that! They made us want to dance, to believe…and want to stand for something…
So as I put on my all black and prepare myself to dance the night away in power, because, well – Janet did it. I am reminded that the times have changed greatly, no doubt about it. We no longer rely on MTV to show us the way. We now depend on the ads in between our Hulu episodes showing us that BMW will deliver your new car to your door, or a portion of your purchase from WingStop will impact those on the front lines. No matter what, we can acknowledge, we still determine our purchases by the images that create and carry a desire within us. Through it all, we still want to identify with something. We still want messages to resonate with us. We still want to dance, believe and stand up for something!
So what does all this mean for you as an entrepreneur? As a dreamer? As a single person? As a couple?
The time is now to recognize, yes, things may be shifting greatly and in such an uncertain way, but the only certainty we can bank on is us, our brand, and the different messaging that can only come from you, but in a succinct and visually appealing way. Your story, just like Janet and Michael authentically expressed through their music, is important, but you have to deliver the message you want others to know appropriately.
I encourage you to get with some experts and to connect with some visionaries that want to hear your ideas and can compile some compelling content that makes people crave what you have to offer, just like Janet and Michael.
And remember, authenticity is not trendy.
Determine your message and deliver your unique brand’s message to your target audience.
Remember, “Everything happens for a reason” and the reason may just be your brand message.
