The best brand you can own

The best brand you can own is ‘you’.

You can’t be cloned, can’t be counterfeit, can’t be me too-ed.Other people can do what you do, copy your methodology, but they never can be you.

This was never clearer to me than when Zach de la Rocha left the band Rage Against the Machine. (RATM)

Some of the remaining members then formed another band called Audioslave. Sure it was a different band, but in real terms the guitar riffs and music style was exactly the same. Just a different singer with different lyrics. In my view the magic was lost. It just didn’t have the same sound, feel and energy. As a massive fan of RATM who owns all of their music, I could never get into Audioslave. With only one ingredient changed, it didn’t work for me.That ingredient was one person (Zach) with a massive personal brand. A brand that doesn’t just stand for something, but delivers everything he does with a certain edge.

Have no doubt that successful entrepreneurs also develop a personal brand. A brand which will represent their persona, style and techniques. Those who do it well develop something which is transferable wherever they go. It is often of incredible value, a value which will live on, even after they sell their killer startup.