You Sleep When You Die

On Tuesday, the voters of Iowa got it right … and kept the GOP brand promise alive for 2012…That promise says America is still a place where anything is possible. It says the spirit of enterprise and the ideals of economic freedom and opportunity are still worth defending, and are nothing to apologize for. It says the dreams of free people are still our greatest resource in addressing the problems we face. It says our enemies in the world must learn to respect our strength as a nation. And it says that, although we have no official religion in this country, we still value personal faith and personal character.

Your brand is your image and your reputation, and at the end of the day, it’s all you’ve got. Whether you’re the President, a video distributor, a university, or a tech giant, your viability depends on your ability to keep the promises your brand makes.

In 2012, remember: No matter how much money you make … IT’S NOT WHAT YOU MAKE, IT’S WHAT YOU KEEP.

When you deliver actual, insight-driven value to the consumer that means the consumer delivers loyalty and positive word-of-mouth in return. Delivering only a discount, though, means the consumer has no loyalty, and no reason to buy your brand again, once someone offers a deeper discount.

It is a national disgrace that 1100 students are homeless in Seminole County. That should not be happening. An eight-year-old girl shouldn’t have to go on national television and talk about being stuck in her car with her mom, her dad, two dogs, and a cat, praying that the family can somehow come up with enough money to get into a cheap hotel. One-quarter of our country’s kids should not be living in poverty. But they are. If you were moved, as I was, by the 60 Minutes report, I have two challenges for you.