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For Christmas we gave my son two tickets to the Portland Trailblazers vs. Milwaukie Bucks game. We live about an hour from PDX, so technically the Blazers are our home team. And we love them – always have. I grew up watching Clyde the Glide face Jordan, Pippen and Grant in the 1992 Finals (they lost to the Bulls, by the way). I’m not sure who was more excited about the tickets – me or my 10 year old son!
If you don’t know Damian Lillard, aka Ladies time, you should be! Damian was drafted in the first round (6th overall) by the Blazers from a small school in Utah in 2012 and has spent his entire career in Portland – until this season.
When the opportunity came to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, no one could blame him for taking advantage of the opportunity to win a championship.
You’d think people in Portland and Oregon were crazy.
Far from it.
When my son and I went to the game, you could feel the love and appreciation for Damian. The organization even painted half of its iconic Rip City structure in front of the Moda Center in green! Usually it’s just red and black.
When they announced his name, there was a two-minute standing ovation. I have the video of it; I can proof it. Some signs read, “Win your ring and come home,” and many read, “We miss you.” Adidas dedicated a basketball court to him on their Portland campus the day before the game. It is the first and only time they have dedicated a building to an athlete. Portland was still selling Lillard jerseys (at double the price of last year, I might add!)
After seeing all that and feeling love for him at the game. I asked myself what makes him so different? Why do people feel so connected to him?
Related: I emailed all 30 NBA owners and asked them to meet with me. Here’s what happened.
What makes lady different
He really connected with his fans. But on a personal level. Yes, he shares pictures of his adorable kids, his music, and his brands on social media, but it’s more than that.
As mentioned above, he came from a small school. He said he wasn’t always in demand and had to work harder. He talked about how he had to spend time behind the scenes when no one was watching (or, quite frankly, caring) and didn’t know if he would actually make it to the NBA.
I feel like a lot of us can relate to that. Especially entrepreneurs. We provide a lot There’s a lot of work behind the scenes and we’re not sure it’ll be enough.
All athletes, celebrities, and wildly successful entrepreneurs are real people, but we don’t always get the chance to see that side of them or truly identify with them. Damian took us on the trip.
In addition to his personal story, Damian has spent (a lot) of time giving back to the city of Portland. In addition to being the Blazers’ all-time leading scorer, he founded the Lillard Foundation, was heavily involved in the RESPECT program at many PDX high schools, and dedicated his time to the Special Olympics. He’s like family at college for a semester and we’re ready for him to come home.
A few weeks ago the Blazers played the Bulls in Chicago. Guess who was at the game? Ladies time. He literally drove from Milwaukee to Chicago to support his old team. For most people, a two-hour drive to an NBA game wouldn’t be that crazy, but for a professional athlete on a Monday night?
This shows who Damian is. I honestly don’t know how many professional athletes would do that on their night off. And that’s why people love him. He shows that he cares. He gives without expectation.
Related: 5 Simple Steps to Building a Personal Brand
How to Improve Your Personal Brand Like Damian Lillard
Marketing will always be based on relationships. They create. We build them. Strengthen you. I enjoy them.
Damian ruins it.
Personal branding is becoming increasingly important as people crave more connection (especially post-pandemic). And the fact is, like Dame Time, we all have a personal brand, whether we like it or not. Therefore, it is beneficial to put some effort into your own brand. We may not be exposed by him, but we all have a story to tell. People who help. Dreams to pursue.
A personal brand is so much more than just your color scheme, slogan, or logo. It’s your mood. This is how you want people to feel when they come across your social media platforms, sign up for your email list, or browse your website. It’s about more than just pictures of your products, trips or children. Don’t get me wrong, that’s part of it, but it’s how you make them feel that matters.
Remember the Maya Angelou quote: “I learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. “
Related: 6 Tips for Using Your Personal Brand to Create Partnership Opportunities
Feelings = memories
What is your mission? What experiences have you had? What have you endured? How can you connect with your ideal customers? What do they need to feel from you to reach out to you?
How do people feel when they meet you at your company? How do you make them feel when they read your content or watch your videos?
This will permeate everything.
Action steps
Take some time to review your messaging, branding, social media profiles, website, and any other marketing channels you use to connect with potential and current customers.
Don’t try to:
1. Rethink this.
2. Consider this a tedious item on your to-do list.
Remember why you started your business and have fun doing it! Take an hour and think about your brand.
If you need inspiration, just google Damian Lillard!