Without fail, I find myself enrolled in an unexpectedly interesting course every semester. You know the one: the class that you're forced beyond your will to take, but it ends up being an almost life-altering class. This semester, that course is Marketing 3401. While there's been plenty of interesting material, the topic that's stuck with me the most has been the discussion of, "personal branding." Even though everyone has his or her own brand image, I never really paid much attention to the resounding impact it actually makes. For better or worse, a personal brand image follows every person around like a shadow. It's not always at the forefront, but it's most certainly always present.
I can't think of a more outstanding personal image than the one Drew Brees has - not one scandal; not one indecent post, like, or share; not even so much as a tasteless comment has tarnished his image. Honestly, he seems like a PR agent's dream. While he's managed to keep his reputation squeaky clean, he's also spent nearly a decade bolstering people's perception of him.
The most recent heartwarming brand booster came after his record-breaking career passing yardage celebration against the Redskins. After completing 71,968 yards, he quickly ran over to the sidelines to greet his family who was lovingly cheering him on. The biggest takeaway from his celebration was the admirable advice he gave to his boys after the milestone. He told them, "I love you, boys. You can do anything you want in life as long as you work for it." If anyone has worked for accomplishments in life, it certainly has been Brees. Needless to say, his humble celebration sent a tidal wave of heartfelt sentiment across Facebook, and further cemented his place in the hearts of the fans.
In celebrating his milestone with his family, Brees also proved that his personal brand doesn't solely rely on himself. Of course, any Saints fan will remember the miraculous Super Bowl win in 2010, where Brees excitedly celebrated the win with his only son at the time, Baylen. Fast-forward to 2018, America's Game of the Week: Rams vs. Saints and Brees's family image reveals itself to be as honorable as ever. After being questioned about the impact of Drew's fame, Brittany Brees spoke about trying to raise their children with humility and setting boundaries regarding fame. Following her remarks, the eldest son, Baylen, chimed in by saying that, "[you're] only famous if you make this world a better place." Not only does Drew Brees have an outstanding personal image, but he and his wife are also raising their children to be upright, quality people.
While Brees's personal image is something to be lauded, his team, the New Orleans Saints, have managed to match this exemplary image as well. Known to be a tight-knit, brotherly group, the Saints have acted as an unwavering cornerstone in building Brees's personal brand. Although the team changes from year to year, the good-natured environment and comradery don't. Whether it's maintaining good sportsmanship or displaying a humble attitude, Brees has mirrored the team's essence with the personal image he's built for himself.
When it comes down to it, personal branding mainly hinges on likeability, and Drew Brees sits at the pinnacle of likeability. His family, his team, and his fans all know the depths of his value and worth, but it would be hard for anyone outside of these groups to ignore Brees's impact. Aside from the stats and records, Brees has consistently lived up to the demands of an ideal role model. Honestly, many people might even consider him a modern day hero.
