“When you’re offered a Rock n Roll moment, you should always grab it. Don’t be frightened. Grab the moment,” is a quote by Dame Helen Mirren in a recent interview on the Graham Norton Show. This was a lovely statement – uplifting and motivating – from which we can all learn. To take advantage of opportunity, throw caution to the wind, live with no regrets, we live on the edge with excitement and success. How we learn brand building lessons from Rock-n-Roll moments, we took advice from Helen Mirren.
I can’t sing at all
“I can’t sing at all,” is often a response to a Rock n Roll offer. Helen Mirren expressed these words in the presence of popular singers Adele and George Ezra. Her talents are acting, not singing. She stands in that confidence.
Our Brand lesson from this Rock-n-Roll moment is to have a strong Brand Identity. Build a Brand that knows what it is, who it serves and where its strengths lie, and you build a confident Brand identity. As a result, your Brand knows whether it can sing or not.
When you’re offered a Rock n Roll moment – Brand Lessons
Rock n Roll moments offer you an exciting chance, a new perspective, a shout-out-loud liberty. A Rock n Roll moment is often out of left field, needs a quick decision and a bold delivery. It’s a chance to put your name in lights. The energy we feel in these Rock n Roll moments are tangible like sweat droplets caressing the cross hairs of our neck, rivulets between your shoulder blades.
Interestingly, Brands – in their own way – each receive a Rock n Roll moment. It may come in the form of a Brand activation, brand position or production, and the brand is in the right place. As a result, the brand reaches a tipping point to success. In short, it is an opportunity or challenge that when Rock n Roll moments takes place it means something exciting, expansive, or definitive.
To clarify, Brands when offered a Rock n Roll moment, recognize that it is a moment. The easy way is to overlook the obvious and think that it may come your way again. Keith Moon of ‘The Who’ never knocked on Helen Mirren’s door again. He never repeated his offer. Helen Mirren sang, tuneless, her finale. The lesson is very clear for us all: Be alert, be agile, note the Rock n Roll moment and get excited. A Rock n Roll moment is worth exploring and exploiting. So, listen to Helen shout: “Just Grab it”.
You Should Grab It
The moment a Brand grabs the Rock n Roll moment it releases another dimension. It is a conscious act of creativity to bring an audience a resoundingly new experience – creating a Brand Experience. It is no longer a ‘what-if’ moment. Rather, there is a ‘wow, that was awesome’ space, where growth is the opportunity. It builds to such a satisfying experience – so don’t look back. You should grab it. That’s the lesson.
Don’t be frightened, grab the moment
The last of the brand lessons, we learn, from Rock-n-Roll moment is important advice from Dame Helen. “Don’t be frightened, grab the moment,” she said. In other words, wherever you are in your Brand journey take advantage of this chance, don’t step away because of current circumstances or what you fear. If the Moment meets your values, matches your brand vision, is the best way to shout out loud, go for it. Don’t be frightened, grab the moment.
Summary
A life-guiding comment from an experienced actress draws out a few pieces of advice which we apply to brand building:
- Brand Identity – know your brand and build it with confidence to reflect the strengths which it has
- Recognize the Rock n Roll moment – recognize the tipping point where your brand goes from good to great
- You Should Grab It – take advantage of the Brand building opportunity in whichever form it comes
- Don’t be afraid, grab the moment – don’t look back.
Helen’s comment did not address Brand Building. However, her personal story highlights the opportunities we miss if we are not alert. Small and medium-sized Brands need to boost their confidence by taking advantage of those rare Rock n Roll moments. Speak to us, if you require Brand strategy assistance.
