In the course of my career promoting different brands, products, and services, I think one crucial lesson that I have learned to apply before I take on a project is to always go back to that particular scene and remind myself: would I be confident enough to take a gulp of water from my company’s water supply?
As professionals–not just marketers but also lawyers, journalists, administrative managers, and whatever title you may have–we always convey a message every time we take on a role or a project. The tasks we take on reveals who we are deep inside, and what things we truly value.
While I believe that people will make compromises along the way, the most enduring mark of ourselves would still be the sum of the things we accept or refuse.
Whenever we represent a brand, it’s important to ask ourselves: do we believe in it? Is this something that I would use myself? And if not, am I trying to change the brand into something I would be proud of?
If our answer to all of these is no, then it shows how little we think of other people–and how we sadly reduce our capacity to be a force of positive change towards the world. Not only is it hypocritical, it’s also selfish and misanthropic.
I think we should truly believe in what we do and only do the things we believe in–and I don’t mean in the sense that we delude ourselves into fanatical belief. A full life is something lived for a higher purpose, not just for something that will help us survive for the day.