I checked stats after an hour – nothing.  I checked stats after three hours and there was a hit or two, but no entries.  Then, after a day, one trickled in…  then another and another… within three days, I had so many titles that I almost stopped the contest just to use ALL of the entries for future posts!

I was blown away to see the creativity and fun people were having with the opportunity.  From the sublime “Eat This,” to the off-putting “The Smurfs Were Communists,” each new entry gave me a little insight into the participant’s personal brand - funny… reflective… passionate… curious… driven… While not my intention, I learned a little bit about all of them, and I thank them all.

Which brings us to our winner:

“Flourish Where You Live.”

When Sheena Rae Lara (@SheenaMacGruber on Twitter) posted her title entry, I knew it was one I was going to have to look into some more – win or not. It had depth.  It had weight that made me think of a million things to write, and that, originally, was the reason for the post “Conquer Writers Block – Save The World,” and Sheena killed it!

So, like I said, my original intention was to take Sheena’s title and write my own post from it.  After some reflection (and basic curiosity), I decided instead of telling you about how I thought “Flourish Where You Live” applied to me, I’d let Sheena tell you.  Because without Sheena and the community in which we live, how could The Brand Chef truly flourish?

Flourish Where You Live

(Brand Chef) What possessed you to post your title for this competition?
(Sheena Rae Lara) I had been thinking about doing my own blog post on this topic and saw your contest and wrote it in.

(BC) So, what inspired your title?
(SRL) I tell people that my plan, when I was in college, was to leave Iowa. I ended up staying and doing well here.

(BC) It sounds like a personal calling or mission you try to follow, yes?
(SRL) Yeah, I think so. I think it’s a waste of energy wishing/thinking about living somewhere else. If you really want to get out of Iowa then take the steps do it, otherwise quit dreaming and start making Iowa into the place you want it to be.

(BC) How to you integrate your title into everyday life?
(SRL) Flourishing can be different to different people, but for me it’s about doing what makes me happy and adding quality to my life. If that means staying home and baking bread from scratch, taking my son to the park, heading out to dollar pints at Olde Main with good friends or working on creative side projects.

(BC) Are you “a local” or do you hail from outside our little, Midwestern bubble?
(Note to readers: I ask this just because Sheena and I had connected on Twitter a few months ago to discuss her interest in multi-cultural marketing.)
(SRL) I’m an Iowan, spent my whole life living in Iowa except when I backpacked across Europe for two weeks and lived in Rome for a semester. I love learning about different cultures and people!

So, of course, here come the branding questions…

(BC) If you could sum up your personal brand in one sentence, what would it be, and would your title be incorporated?
(SRL) Tough one! Adventurous and responsible, nothing is beyond reach with a little creativity and ambition.

(BC) What do you want the readers to know about you that isn’t evident through your social media activity or blog?
(SRL) Well, some people have picked up on the axe stuff. I’m a contributor to Best Made Company’s social media presence. I started their facebook fan page and contribute to their blog.

***

Well Sheena (and the rest of you), I just want to thank you for taking the time to participate in my little social media contest this week.

It IS through the community in which you live that the passion and love for your surroundings fosters TRUE growth.  Sure, I’ve lived in Boston, Kansas City and traveled to other countries, but I kept coming back to my community, my family, my friends in Des Moines, Iowa. Why? I think Sheena said it best,

“I think it’s a waste of energy wishing/thinking about living somewhere else. … quit dreaming and start making {where you live} into the place you want it to be.”

It warms my heart to see social media fostering new relationships and creating these communities around virtual commonalities.

This is where I live!  This is where I flourish! How about you?

Keep Cooking! (Wherever you live!)
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef

Sheena Rae Lara is currently the Graphic Designer for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University.
She is looking into pursuing a Master’s degree in marketing and transitioning her career into digital media/marketing with a multicultural emphasis.

“Are you good or are you damn good?”

He was a troubled musician that had a talent that was second to none. He changed the world of music.  He changed electric bass.

He completely altered jazz for ever because he was DAMN good. He embodied unmatched creative innovation. (All before the age of 35.)

Take a look / listen here (from the early 1980′s & well worth the 9:41):
(Facebookers and feed readers, click on this link to see the video.)

Because of his amazing talent and passion for his trade/art, he was able to move mountains – just look at some of the “shout outs” in his bio.

But he was troubled.  An addict.  A broken soul…  And he was taken from us too soon.

So, what’s the connection?

Jaco Pastorius’ track helped me realize there is a difference between just being good and being DAMN good.

If you’ve ever asked yourself any of the following questions:

“Is there more?  What kind of impact will I have?  What legacy will I leave for my children – the world?”

you may want to ask yourself…

Are you good or are you DAMN good?

When I say DAMN good, I mean do you simply do what is expected or do you innovate?

Do you clock in and do your work to get from point A to point B?  Or do you utilize your talent, your passion, to change the perspective of those around you?  Do you make the world better for yourself – for others?

Jaco Pastorius, through the pain, loneliness and mind-numbing distortion of addiction, left the world a better place.  He took the one thing that seemed to make him happy and worked it to its pinnacle, a mark to which the rest of the music world would measure themselves against.

This leads to a few final questions:

“How can you take your current situation and become more like Jaco Pastorius?  How can you take your passion to a level that further defines you, your career and solidifies your future?”

Food for thought.

Keep Cooking (innovation over stagnation)!
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef

It seems like a simple concept, but when it comes down to it, it takes a commitment to a TRUE brand.  Often times people ask what it takes to become “viral.”

My answer:

“You can’t  Being “viral” is entirely based on the community you’ve created…”

Here’s a great example:

(Facebookers and feed readers need to click here to see this great video.)

Okay, maybe they’re all stoned.  But they all seem to be “drinking the same Kool-Aid” – tainted or not.

This guy’s belief in his unique value inspired others to engage.  Can you say your brand is this infectious?  How can you make it so?

Keep Cooking (unique ways to engage your audience)
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t get a lot of email through my Studio 24 site. I rarely look at it and it’s grossly out-of-date. When I do get email from there, it’s usually SPAM.  So, out of habit, I hit “delete” – without even reading!

REALLY BAD IDEA…

Recently, I almost messed up a HUGE opportunity for the Brand Chef blog to be included in some pretty heavy company.  It was a simple oversight, but looking back on it, I realize what a monstrous gaffe it would have been.

***

On a quiet Sunday morning, over a bowl of Grape Nuts and a cup of coffee, I decided to weed out my in-box – after over a MONTH of negligence…

You know how it goes…  Facebook notice…  delete… delete…  Twitter…  delete…delete…delete…  SEO Guarantee…  delete…delete… I was in a pretty good groove!  “Special” offer…  delete… delete… “Need a Date?”…delete… delete…

and then…  BrandManagement.com… de-HUH?… I had to pause.

I read it again. “A Message from BrandManagement.com”

Edward Mance, Co-founder and CEO of BrandManagement.com sent me an email.  Odd. But odd because of the long path his message took…

Edward found me through my old blogspot blog, and subsequently through the form on the Studio 24 web site.  This simple fact shows that he made a concerted effort to contact me.

With the push of a button, the story could have ended there. But it didn’t.

As I opened the email and read, my jaw about hit the counter (thank God it didn’t, my mouth was full of partially chewed Grape Nuts)…  Brandmanagement.com was being launched in late May, and according to Mr. Mance,

” …a significant element of the site will be comprised of leading thought writers’ most current, daily/weekly works.“

And he continued on to say,

“In short, we love the blog entries on your site, and we would love to republish those entries on the BrandManagement.com site as they become available on your site…”

Wait a minute… Me? I had to read it two more times and once to my wife, just to clarify who it was really addressed to…  Not only was I honored, but I was astounded that someone else (besides me) thought I had something of value to say.

As I reviewed the site, I realized that Mr. Mance was including The Brand Chef in a pretty darn respectable group of branding consultants, professionals from advertising agencies, the marketing communications field and respected commentators and branding advocates – people that I’ve read and respected for years – Oliver Blanchard, Anna Farmery, Tom Fishburne,  Katie Konrath, Laura Ries,  Dan Schawbel, and Chris Wilson just to name a few!  Go here to see a full list.

I immediately gave Edward my contact information, my RSS feed and anything else he asked for (could have asked for my first-born son, I would have considered it).  And, low-and-behold, the site was launched, on schedule, and there I was, right next to some of the biggest names in branding commentary and blogging.

What’s my return?  Self respect.  And click-through traffic has jumped a bit, but the sheer fact that I was included is return enough for me (honestly).

So, as a direct message to Edward Mance, Thank you!

My lesson learned from this?  Be careful what you delete from your inbox, because opportunity may be knocking – albeit quietly.

Keep Cooking!
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef

Until that time, the snack candy company was finding difficulty positioning themselves in their respective market – finding their product a mere commodity in the consumers’ eye…

Why? There wasn’t a hook. There was no UNIQUE brand advantage.

Enter the hook – A Surprise In Every Box! What kid (let alone most adults) don’t like a fun surprise – guaranteed?!?

And the rest is tasty history.

How many brands can guarantee that kind of draw? What brand can cement itself in the pop culture lexicon by adding one simple surprise? Ever sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game?” (make sure you turn up the volume)

What surprise does your brand offer? Can you think of one thing to add (a surprise in your brand box) that would catapult your brand like Cracker Jack?

Food for thought…

Keep Cooking!
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef
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