For those who follow me on Twitter and Facebook, you know I had quite an experience today trying to get my car to the Cadillac dealer 8 miles from our hotel. It took me 3 hours to get there and back. I decided then that there was not enough money in the federal repository to pay me to live in the DC area. I know, I know, I’ve just offended a few friends who love it here, but rush hour on the highway, on the streets, and on the metro is not the way to win people over and get them to move here.
The metro ride back seemed to take forever. For about half the trip, we were packed into the train cars like so many sardines packed side by side in a tin can. There are few smells that can turn one’s stomach faster than the smell of a metro car during rush hour with all those arms held high trying to hold onto railings and stop ourselves from falling into one another.
On an ordinary day, I would have been upset by it all. I would have spent the day frowning, getting upset with people stepping on me and bumping into me. I was quite put out by the whole “take the car to the dealer” thing anyway.
But today was not an ordinary day. Today I was wearing my Discovery DEN shirt. Today I was a brand, not a person. Today I smiled. I offered people more room if I could afford it. I told them it was okay if they stepped on my foot (after all, I have another one). I spoke politely to people. I even hummed a little on the train (OK, I was humming the most depressing song I know, but humming is still good, right?).
Why did I act differently? The power of a brand. Today, I was a representative of something I love…the Discovery Educator Network. Today, I was the only face these people might ever associate with our group. Today I was the Network.
And it made a difference.
The question I am left with is this: What brand will I be when I step back into the classroom? Will I care enough about my own brand to act appropriately every day? I don’t have an answer to that question yet. I just know that today felt good. There really is power in a brand.
Tim,
You bring up a very important point. Many would not make the connection you did associating your DEN shirt with your representation of the ‘brand’. This also brings to mind the brands we educators represent on our school/classroom/personal websites, blogs, Facebook photos and posts.
I am proud to be a DEN member and to know there are folks like you representing the amazing organization in the best possible way.
Add A Comment