The striking image of a redhead woman with a decisive look in her eyes kept popping up on my suggested shows on Netflix. The image alone drew me in and of course, the constant reminders from Netflix placing it front and center on my list of options made it impossible to ignore. The Queen’s Gambit.

Image is such an important part of how brands get attention and the well-selected cover images for the show were compelling and vital to attracting audiences like me. 

But image alone is not enough to carry a show or make a brand great. The moment I watched the first episode, this was followed by two late nights of binge-watching as I had some time on bed rest post a recent surgery. Not only was the show great but with my brand strategist eye, I could see five powerful lessons that can help any brand go from just another player in the market to the grandmaster. A leader. The brand of choice. 

#1 KNOW THE RULES OF THE GAME

Her first encounter with the game of chess was seeing the orphanage janitor Mr. Shaibel playing solo in the basement. It immediately sparked her curiosity and it was love at first sight with the game for Beth. She was not only curious and interested, she developed a real passion and determination to learn and understand the rules of the game and how to gain an advantage. Despite his reluctance, Mr. Shaibel became her first mentor, teaching her the rules of the game, strategies and also sharing with her a book that she became obsessed with reading to deepen her knowledge of the game and how to play.

So many entrepreneurs enter markets that are new to them and in their excitement to launch their brand, they focus only on developing their products/services without paying enough attention to the learning strategies and the rules of the game. There are strategies and power plays that all great brands use and while new rules are being made and old ones are meant to be broken, you will have the ultimate advantage if you invest the time and resources in understanding and mastering the terrain you intend to dominate. It is not enough to have expertise relevant to your offer. You need strategies that will help you succeed in the market. You need to know the rules of the game so that you can masterfully play or break them. 

#2 PERFORMANCE AND PRESENCE 

What really set Beth apart in the Chess competitions was that she had the double threat. She was a prodigy. An incredible player who knew the game inside out and played it with excellence. But that wasn’t all that made her incredibly appealing. Beth had an equally excellent sense of style. The type of style unseen in her industry and created that extra fascination around her with the media. 

It is not enough to have a great product that performs well. What will make your brand more interesting is having a powerful presence that helps you stand out and positions your brand as different. A brand cannot prosper just with great style nor will it fascinate and attract your ideal clients just with great products. The ultimate advantage comes from the combination of PERFORMANCE AND PRESENCE. I like to think of it as your brand being a part stallion, part unicorn. Great brands know how to balance reality and myth. There is always an element of fascination. 

# 3 BE A VISIONARY 

Beth had the amazing gift of visualizing her games. She reviewed every game she had played that day every night to uncover deficiencies in her strategy, opponents, and identify better, more efficient ways to gain an advantage. 

She also visualized upcoming games to create a clear path for winning the game. Strategizing not only her moves but also the potential or probable moves of her opponents. 

Most business owners fail to visualize their game or create a vision for the future with clear strategic plans based on a variety of brand positioning opportunities. They also fail to replay past strategic moves to evaluate deficiencies and optimize performance.

#4 COMMITTED TO WINNING 

Beth does not like to lose and that strong desire to win gives her laser focus and a commitment to doing what it takes to level up her game and win. Yes, she has her shortcomings with substance abuse but in general, her one commitment is to winning and making sure she is the best in the game. She goes on to learn Russian because she recognizes that the ultimate statement of her greatness is to beat the Russians who are undefeated masters of the game.

When I work with clients, I often hear their fear of failure and some have held back on taking action because they are afraid that will not succeed. Some play in the market but never with a strong enough commitment to winning. Market leaders and great brands play to win. They do not focus on losing or what-ifs. The laser focus is on how can I become better and better to keep winning and become undefeated. How can I become more of service and service more people?

#5 LOVE OF THE GAME

Beth truly loves the game of chess. She is even obsessed with it. It doesn’t feel like a sacrifice, time-consuming, hard work, or even a job. For Beth, chess is like a beautiful symphony, a dance, a work of art. There is a real passion and that love and passion drive her to achieve excellence. She doesn’t love it because she can make money or get prestige. She loves it because it fuels her creativity, elevates her senses, and gives her life meaning. 

As an entrepreneur creating products and a brand that you love is key to success. It is not just about taking hold of a market opportunity or making money. It is about creating experiences that lift the human spirit and is an expression of pure passion and purpose. I always say to my clients your brand is your love story. 

Yes there will be challenges and it won’t always be easy but if you love what you are creating and bringing to the market, love always finds a way, and love always wins.

Learn more about how we help our clients elevate their status and business with a prestige brand that makes you sort-after and memorable to the affluent clients. Your POWERHOUSE PRESENCE ONLINE. Click here.