What Marks Have We Left?

This blog from Seth Godin (I highly recommend subscribing) made me think…

Soles

All you’ve got, all your brand has got, all any of us have are the memories and expectations and changes we’ve left with others.

It’s so easy to get hung up on the itinerary, the features and the specs, but that’s not real, it’s actually pretty fuzzy stuff. The concrete impact of our lives and our work is the mark you make on other people. It might be a product you make or the way you look someone in the eye. It might be a powerful experience you have on a trip with your dad, or the way you keep a promise.

The experiences you create are the moments that define you. We’ll miss you when you’re gone, because we will always remember the mark you made on us.

There’s a sign on most squash courts encouraging players to wear only sneakers with non-marking soles. I’m not sure there’s such a thing. If you’ve going to do anything worthy, you’re going to leave a mark.

So, here’s my thought: what mark are we leaving no our clients and field employees? How are they different because we are there? What impact are we having on their businesses? How is their life better because they know us? It’s not what we say or market; it’s what we leave behind. That is the essence of our brands!