Pondering Session: Embracing B.R.A.V.E.: How Daring Ideas Propel Business Revolutionizations
Rewritten Article:
Meet Lindsay Tjepkema, a seasoned consultant, speaker, and podcaster with a knack for transforming B2B brands. With 20 years of experience as a 3x founder, she's got the know-how to navigate your startup's journey to success. You've undoubtedly stumbled upon the blueprints of booming brands. You've watched their webinars, implemented their shiny growth hacks, yet wonder, why haven't you shattered that glass ceiling yet?
Remember, you've been running in someone else's shoes. And while following the footsteps of popular brands bears fruit, the real breakthroughs don't seem to illuminate your path. Yet, what diverts these legendary brands from the crowd is not what they do, but how they think.
The Fallacy of Playbooks
Playbooks, for the most part, guarantee results for those who crafted them. They're tailored to a specific business's unique challenges, vision, and opportunities. Blindly copying playbooks might yield some results, but chasing someone else's breakthrough will never ignite your brand's journey.
The Recipe for Breakthroughs: B.R.A.V.E.
Brand, Relationships, Audacity, Values, and Energy (B.R.A.V.E) are the core principles of forward-thinking brands. These values support businesses in building fortresses of sustainability and resilience.
Brand
Every choice strengthens your brand, yet without a clear purpose, you risk getting lost in a sea of similarities.
Relationships
Building deep, meaningful connections isn't a quick fix; it stems from honest, long-term engagement. When the audience becomes a community, they forge a unique bond with your brand.
Audacity
Leave the security blanket behind and embrace the uncomfortable. Creative, bold ideas often lead to a greater payoff than playing it safe.
Values
Turning promises into actions strengthens your core values. Consistency builds trust, sets expectations, and keeps your brand authentic and relevant.
Energy
Drive your ambitions with fervor and passion, and your message will reach far and wide. Steer clear from half-hearted efforts and fuel your dreams with the energy that attracts like-minded individuals.
Case in Point: Airbnb's B.R.A.V.E. Masterclass
Airbnb, the unconventional travel giant, is a testament to the transformative power of B.R.A.V.E. thinking. Their audacious departure from the traditional hotel markets allowed them to turn strangers' homes into an experience, and "vacation rentals" into "belonging places."
Bootstrapping the B.R.A.V.E. Way
Airbnb's B.R.A.V.E. approach was set against a tide of disbelief. Amidst the dominance of hotels, seeking comfort in someone else's home seemed absurd. And yet, Airbnb didn't resist the industry's playbook, but rather flipped the script on its head by:
- Brand: Deciding to sell experiences and a sense of belonging, not just rooms.
- Relationships: Establishing a strong community to ensure trust between hosts and guests.
- Audacity: Providing a bold alternative to traditional hospitality, making home-sharing feel desirable.
- Values: Embracing the core values of openness, inclusivity, and connection.
- Energy: Infecting the world with an enthusiasm that turned early adopters into advocates.
The results spoke volumes - Airbnb now rivals some of the biggest players in the travel industry.
So, stop searching for the next big thing and start thinking for yourself. Ask yourself these essential B.R.A.V.E. questions:
- Is this aligned with my brand?
- Will this strengthen relationships with the right people?
- Am I being audacious and creative?
- Does this reflect my core values?
- Does this feel right?
The Road Ahead: Write Your Own Playbook
Legendary brands are not created overnight or by adhering to someone else's blueprint. They are forged through thousands of smart decisions, big and small, that propel them closer to their ultimate glory. Remember that every decision is either pushing you closer to, or further from, that cherished breakthrough. Yearn for it, chase it, create it!
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Source:
[1] Lindsay Tjepkema, "The 5 Mindsets of Legendary Brands," January 31, 2021.[2] HBR, "Creating the Brave Organization," September 20, 2017.[3] The Courage Playbook, "10 Powerful Lessons from Successful Leaders," August 13, 2019.[4] Leapgen, "Human-Centered Design Thinking," 2018.[5] Jessica Zweig, "Branding Brave," 2021.
Lindsay Tjepkema, with her expertise in B2B brands, challenges businesses to refuse the one-size-fits-all playbook and instead embrace a B.R.A.V.E. mindset. Airbnb, a successful example of B.R.A.V.E. thinking, disrupted the travel industry by focusing on experiences, building a community, offering a bold alternative, embracing values, and driving the brand with passion. To create a legendary brand, entrepreneurs should ask themselves if each decision aligns with their brand, strengthens relationships, embodies audacity, reflects values, and feels right.
In the pursuit of growth, Tjepkema encourages businesses to write their own playbook based on thoughtful decisions, recognizing that every choice propels them either closer to or farther from their desired breakthrough. By joining the Business Council, entrepreneurs and leaders can harness the knowledge and resources needed to fuel their growth journey.
Tjepkema, in her article, referenced various sources including "The 5 Mindsets of Legendary Brands," HBR's "Creating the Brave Organization," The Courage Playbook's "10 Powerful Lessons from Successful Leaders," Leapgen's "Human-Centered Design Thinking," and Jessica Zweig's "Branding Brave."
