A Strong Brand Promise, Your Unique Self, and Lizzo
A LETTER FROM THE FOUNDERS
It isn’t about who is telling the story; it’s about the story being told.
Two weeks ago at the People’s Choice Awards, recording artist Lizzo received the People’s Champion Award.
Lizzo’s acceptance speech underlined why she was deserving of the award. “To be an icon isn’t about how long you’ve had your platform,” she said, “it’s about what you do with that platform.” Lizzo shared her acceptance time with 17 activists whom she thought deserved the attention.
The group included Amariyanna Copeny (“Little Miss Flint”), who has been fighting for clean water in Flint, MI, since she was 7 years old, and Reshma Saujani, who founded Girls Who Code to get more girls into tech. Also on stage were Maggie Mireles—a teacher who’s been advocating for gun control legislation since her sister was killed during the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas—and Emiliana Guereca, who founded the Women’s March Foundation.
Lizzo said she brought them to the stage because she valued and appreciated their backgrounds and their work. Many of them were inspired by others (including Lizzo herself) to share their stories and become advocates while facing their most challenging moments.
Life throws exacting and painful ordeals at us all, but the people who share their stories of overcoming adversity or who advocate for change give the rest of us the strength and courage to navigate those difficult experiences ourselves.
That’s why telling your personal story is so powerful. Sharing what you’ve been through and what you’ve learned connects you to the community around you. That connection means you’re more likely to meet someone in their moment of uncertainty and offer them the direction and clarity they need to overcome that experience.
Not all of us are Lizzo or Little Miss Flint or will ever be recognized at an awards ceremony. You don’t have to be. You just have to be willing to build a path that pulls your story from inside of you and shouts it from the rooftops for those who need it.
At Arcbound, our favorite moments are when a leader’s story helps someone around them move forward or succeed. We don’t help you build your arc for you—we help you build it for the people you impact along the way.
THE ONE AWAY SHOW
Joe Pulizzi: One Phone Call Away From Realizing His Potential
Joe Pulizzi is the Founder of multiple startups, including content creator education site The Tilt, the content entrepreneur event Creator Economy Expo (CEX), and is the bestselling author of seven books, including Content Inc. and Epic Content Marketing, which was named a “Must-Read Business Book” by Fortune Magazine. Joe is best known for his work in content marketing, first using the term in 2001. He later launched the Content Marketing Institute and the Content Marketing World event. In 2014, he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Content Council. After exiting CMI in 2016, Joe wrote an award-winning mystery novel, The Will to Die.
In this episode of The One Away Show, Joe and Bryan discuss the power of clear communication, how to focus your pursuits for maximum effect, and the importance of being an entrepreneur first and a content creator second.
ON THE BLOG
Building a Brand Promise That Lasts
The more Arcbound works with authors, business leaders, and CEOs to market their products, the more we realize the importance of starting with a strong brand promise.
At the outset of creating a brand, little thought is usually given to shaping the brand’s identity. CEOs, entrepreneurs, and authors tend to look at the product they want to sell first, not their brand identity. While taking short-term measures overlooking details like purpose, problem, promise, and communication style is easier, it becomes cost-ineffective in the long run.
Companies can have the best designers, coders, salespeople, and products in the world, but if their foundations are weak, it costs them millions in restructuring and rebranding down the line.
Thankfully, it is possible to get it all right the first time.
ARCBOUND HAPPENINGS
Recommended by LinkedIn
GoodSphere is looking for the perfect marketing lead join their team. They have product/market fit, amazing testimonials, a great team, and an ambitious vision to help professionals do their best work by being their best selves. And it's working.
But they need to get the message out.
They're looking for someone passionate to fill an important role for their team.
Learn more about GoodSphere by watching their Introductions & Testimonials video!
TIDAL IMPACT
Tidal Impact is a global impact advisory and investment holding company catalyzing companies driven by social, environmental, and financial returns. Their mission is to support ventures in achieving their impact objectives while accomplishing long-term financial outperformance, In addition to investing, Tidal Impact works with startups, corporations, investors, and foundations to integrate impact and sustainability as a measurement of growth and progress.
ARCBOUND RECOMMENDS
Robbie Crabtree is a Competitive Storyteller and thought leader. His newsletter dives into what he's seeing in the fundraising world and how best to deploy storytelling to its full potential.
Recent issues have included everything from how to stay away from the dark side and rising above the doubters to selling yourself without feeling sleazy and creating the perfect one-liner.
The Art of Being Yourself | Caroline McHugh
"The last you, and the opposite of least, is the ever-present, unchanging you. This is the you that you've been since you were seven, and the you that you'll be when you're 107."
Following your path and telling your story along the way is only possible if you are your true, authentic self. We love this TED Talk because it reminds us to live as our most unique selves. We hope it's what you need to hear today.
Storytelling is our obligation to the next generation. If all we are doing is marketing, we are doing a disservice, and not only to our profession, but to our children, and their children. Give something of meaning to your audience by inspiring, engaging, and educating them with story. Stop marketing. Start storytelling.
— Laura Holloway, Founder & Chief of The Storyteller Agency
Thanks for the feature. Much appreciated.
Crafting a path for your voice to be heard
2yLook at that picture Robbie Crabtree!