Drew McClellan nailed it in a post on his blog called “Tim Russert – A Lesson In Branding.”
The world, but especially here in the United States, is still stunned by Tim Russert’s sudden death yesterday. The accolades and eulogizing has begun as people grapple with his passing and I have no doubt much will be written about the native New Yorker and political junkie.
I must admit, this is not an entirely objective commentary. I liked Tim Russert a lot. I respected him for his knowledge and ability to reduce the complicated to the simple. I trusted him.
When I read that post, it struck me how a person’s personal brand, or company brand, is defined most often as his/her/its legacy after the fact. Drew’s post also inspired me to pull out my own whiteboard (in the video above) and talk about how I admired Tim’s personal brand and how many marketers and businesses should learn from him.
Jim, as I said on Drew’s blog, Tim had a way of simplifying the complex U.S. political system so it was understandable for the masses.
Jim,
I think the depth and power of Tim Russert’s brand is only now being revealed to us.
I think there’s a lesson in that as well. His humility and comfort in his own skin allowed us to get to know him and grow to trust him.
Wonder if corporate America was taking notes?
Drew