The ultra-premium and highly-coveted high heel designer Christian Louboutin has been racing the hearts of fashionistas for over 20 years. One of the most sought-after and expensive shoes in the world, they are a symbol of design, beauty, and luxury.
They are also incredibly distinctive.
The sole of every single Louboutin shoe is painted bright red. Pantone 187C to be exact. Every boot, pump, stiletto, and mid-height is adorned with this brilliant red color. While high-fashion designers routinely copy each other’s ideas, Louboutins have captured the hearts (and wallets) of the luxe crowd around the world because they are unique. Special. Different. Remarkable.
At up to $1800 a pair, I’m sure the quality is good and the assembly is professional. But that’s not what women buy… women buy that alluring red sole. That’s what Louboutin is known for. It’s what makes his shoes distinctive.
Volvo is known for safety. Wal-Mart is known for everyday low prices. BB King is known for making the blues pour directly from his soul into his guitar. Now I’m sure Volvo also offers great performance and BB King can play Country Western if he really wants to. But the most powerful brands in the world – both businesses and personal brands – stand for one thing: They own their category. They are truly distinctive.
What’s the one thing your company stands for? If you stand for great service, low prices, fantastic quality, speedy delivery, stylish design and being environmentally friendly… you actually stand for nothing. You customers, team, and partners won’t understand your true value proposition. By trying to be all things to everyone, you’ll end up lacking definition and delighting no one.
In today’s cutthroat world, your personal brand needs distinction too. Steven Colbert is hilarious and compelling because he is distinctive. His character mocks the droves of blowhard pundits, and we all love him for doing it relentlessly. For the last seven seasons, he stays true to his single, distinctive, authentic character, which is why he’s irresistible.
Too often, power brands reach too far and end up diluting their message rather than bolstering it. They launch products or services into categories that undermine their distinction, and end up jumping the shark rather than driving real results.
In a time when we all want to stand for so many things, choosing your single point of distinction can be more difficult than solving quadratic equations. But doing the hard work of simplifying your message into its most powerful core will end up driving incredible results. You’ll blast through the noise, while your competitors are tripping over their 47 “unique” value propositions.
Whether it’s for yourself or your organization, cut away the waste and narrow your pitch to a single sentence. Think of yourself as a sculptor chiseling away at the excess rock to reveal your masterpiece underneath. The clearer you can make your single point of distinction, the closer you’ll get to seizing your full potential. And that’ll really get your competition seeing red. Pantone 187C to be exact.