The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

November 28Brand Reliance

To him no vain regrets belong / Whose soul, that finer instrument, / Gave to the world no poor lament, / But wood notes ever sweet and strong. / O lonely friend! he still will be / A potent presence, though unseen,— / Steadfast, sagacious, and serene; / Seek not for him—he is with thee.

Louisa May Alcott—“Thoreau's Flute”—Her Life, Letters, and Journals (1914)

More entrepreneurs should read poetry (maybe).

Some might find it hard to comprehend; it does bring a certain aliveness to things tangible and intangible. Perhaps there are copywriting lessons to be had.

The passage from today's reading deserves some context. Alcott wrote this shortly after Thoreau tragically succumbed to tuberculosis, thus the title, “Thoreau's Flute.” (Gossip was that she was in love with him.)

In a thought more observational than instructional, entrepreneurs, or creators of any sort for that matter, have a tendency to personify aspects of their business. And, perhaps this is the real essence of a brand.

Now, in the era of the “personal brand” seeking, this tends to lead to the pop-culture YouTube persona and that's not what is meant here.

Seeking self-reliance leads to a strong brand because elements of the brand are accidentally personified through your passion to serve, your authentic point of view, your staying the course, and a whole bunch of showing up. (It doesn't hurt that you mostly zig when people say zigging is crazy.)

Maybe we can call this “brand-reliance.” ...