'When you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for...'
What Hamilton has taught me about building a brand and business presence...
Lin-Manuel Miranda really said ‘When you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for,’ and I’ll be damned, in an internet full of hot takes, unpopular opinions… why don’t we actually own what we believe in…? Why not own what we truly want?
I often have conversations with my people after they state ‘but it’s probably too much’ - and often times I’d be willing to bet an arm, leg, or all my signed and numbered Jay Kristoff novels - that it will not be ‘too much.’
Anywho’s without further ado… let’s jump into why it’s never going to be ‘too much.’
Here’s to the first of many deep dives into our favourite fiction, films, and fandoms and what lessons we can extract about branding. We’re kicking it off with the oldie but goodie, the Hamilton breakdown.
‘When you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for...’ a lesson in belief!
With clear vision for what you want your biz to be, comes clarity in what you want to build AND what you and your brand stand for. If there has to be a favourite part of any strategy session, it’s the beliefs one. It always yields incredible conversations about what’s truly under the hood, and also what truly drives you to do what you do in the way you do it!
I’m very sure when you went into business you knew you wanted to truly build something… a legacy (one you get to be part of and get to see grow).
Without clarity you’re probably feeling like you’re throwing spaghetti at the wall, like you’re competing and that nobody is seeing you, no clue what to actually say, and possibly feel the need to pull it all down and start again!
You kinda feel literally like you’re falling around right?
I truly believe true niching and building your slice of the world is all about belief, when you believe in something (for YOU) you go all in on what you want to be:
✅ You know EXACTLY who you are, why you’re you and you’ll show that off with the purest pride - making it abundantly clear to you and them what you stand for,
✅ Building awareness, getting yourself out there…that gets easier,
✅ You don’t get as distracted by shiny things because you know what you need to do,
✅ You get to build for your people - and your people love it because you speak to them and their needs specifically!
Where Burr allowed his mind to be swayed, Hamilton believed in something and fought for it! Stand for something and you’ll be in the best position to absolutely fly!
‘Talk less, smile more. Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for’ - let’s leave this one for Burr.
What was that infamous LMM line from 2015…
It’s ‘A concept album about the life of someone who I think embodies hip-hop — Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton…’ a lesson in differentiation
When you think of musicals and broadway do many really stand out for having a distinct identity? Ok, yes there are epic musicals with epic messages, stunning sets and direction (Dear Evan Hansen and Come from Away still live rent free in my mind)… but how many truly - and I mean truly - have a distinct identity like Hamilton?
I’ll wait…
Not many right?
Now that’s not to say we all have to sit here and break everything known to man; but even if it’s just one thing. When we choose to mix water with oil in some way, that’s where the greatest things start.
Heck, I’m a perfect example of this! Deciding after so much ‘everybody’s going to hate this’ to really lean into my love of books, film, musicals - that was a powerful move. Some would call it losing the damns I give, I like to think of it as a lean into what truly lights my soul up in an industry that really follows the same foundations.
Photography is another space this happens a lot as well! Copywriters though seem to smash this - and really be able to connect to themselves!
And the best part… differentiation and disruption can come in so many different sizes, shapes, colours, you name it. It could be:
✅ In your beliefs,
✅ Your interests and things you freaking love (especially as a personal brand/solopreneur),
✅ The gap you’re filling in the market,
✅ Your sense of style?
✅ How do you subvert expectations
✅ Even in how you title your role, or call yourself!
Really, the options are endless!
If there was no ‘couldn’t,’ ‘shouldn’t,’ or any of those kinds of terms… what do you want to truly infuse within your brand? Or, more importantly, what truly brings you joy?
I truly believe that both of these: your beliefs and embracing those quirks are what paves the way for incredible branding to bloom!
But… what’s your fave branding (or other) take away from Hamilton?
All the love y’all!
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And this instalments design snippets & WIPs…
Loved this. You’re really carving out your own lane here