How Valuable Is a Corrupted Brand?

Each of us has a brand. We've spent a lifetime acquiring and marketing it - whether consciously or not. It's our personality, our image, and our character. When we carry this over into the business world as entrepreneurs, salespeople, or Realtors, our brand is synonymous with our reputation and our livelihood.

It's who and what we are to those who do business with us as well as those who might consider working with us. We work hard at maintaining our brands. We can't afford to do anything to damage the integrity of what we stand for or the relationships with consumers that we intend to create.

The importance of our brand and how easily it can be damaged was driven home this week with the Michael Phelps incident. I don't know what he did or didn't do - I wasn't there. I don't know why he did what it looks like he was photographed doing. What I do know is that his brand is terribly, possibly irrevocably, damaged.

We need to remember that eyes are on us as we do our jobs, serve the public, and even go about our daily lives as private citizens. As entrepreneurs, its nearly impossible to separate the business brand from the personal one.

Therefore, constant attention needs to be given to doing the right thing all the time. We are being watched, and what we do and what we are seen doing can make a big difference for our success.

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For more information about my consulting and coaching services visit my website stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can join this site and begin participating in the fun and networking opportunities by clicking here.