WOW: Thanks for creating an account on HN to even reply to this thread :) I'm excited to hear your opinions, probably even have a video conversation once you'v

WOW: Thanks for creating an account on HN to even reply to this thread :) I'm excited to hear your opinions, probably even have a video conversation once you've read The Lean Brand, because to me it seems like semantic gaps are extremely unfortunate for not only businesses, but non-profit organizations that need this muddy water cleared to be able to aggregate their values. On your points so far, having my copy of the book already, Jeremiah differentiates between Brand and Branding. Yes, there is the influence piece, but I wonder if there isn't a deeper priority difference and not only semantic. If you're in a relationship, don't you want the best for the other? And if your product is the best, don't you want your relationships to benefit from that? Seems more natural than "sales" or getting a customer to a desired state. In my view of influence, versus manipulation, there is a leadership aspect which is interested in the best of another, versus merely having an agenda. So depending on your idea of relationship, or your priorities, I see the semantic gap not existing. Does that make sense for you? If your idea is creating value, emotional and functional, and you are passionate about sharing the best you know with everyone you know, influence falls away and branding remains. The Lean Brand as a framework has ways of diagnosing passion and amplifying it, which is what I was looking for. As an entrepreneur I want organic connections that deepen, and to create awareness, but not create connections per se. If people share my values, we're connected. And if I listen, like we do in relationships, I will know the values of my audience and might need to learn to value the same thing or just exile myself from that audience. If I don't meet the need naturally, I should axe my product and choose another problem to solve, not work harder to get my customer into a certain emotion about me. I am excited to think more about this with you. Brand seems to be where so much is decided in the success of organizations. Seeing even the possibility of a FRAMEWORK for this nightmarish world of Brand changed my life as a visionary beyond any other change I've experienced literally in decades.