Story time!
On my way to NYC last week for a few business trips, I am sitting in the Rome Airport casually drinking an Amareto over ice with my boss. It was delicious.
And I see this brilliant specimen walk by. Beautifully matching a bright blue shirt, blue glasses, and a marvelous blue goatee. Yes. I was fascinated. And then he left.
The end.
Except not, because as we boarded the plane, one of the last people get on was Mr Blue Beard. And sure enough, his seat was right next to mine. What are the odds?!?! Towards the end of the flight, we started chatting a little, and I told him I was interested to hear the story of his blue goatee. Turns out, the guy has a marketing and branding agency that he owns and he calls it blue beard marketing. Now I am really interested. This is some serious dedication to a brand. He said he has been doing it for the past 15 years. I am beyond impressed at the dedication and envious. I want to be this guy. He is the ultimate. I need to learn everything and emulate this man.
We take a photo together.
I leave in awe.
So obviously, while standing in line at customs, I start stalking him Googling him… and can’t find the guy.
There must be some mistake.
I keep trying.
He is the branding king… STAHP THIS!
I try any combination I can think of. Blue beard marketing. Guy with a blue goatee. Blue beard web design. Blue beard… whatever. I scoured Google Images. Nata! Zip. Ziltch.
SHENANIGANS!
The irony of the situation is not lost on me. The speed at which I go from admiration to dumbfounded is remarkable.
I hope his business is thriving and he is doing extremely well. But I can’t fathom how someone who runs a branding and marketing agency, let alone, brands themselves as the branding and marketing agency in question, effectively doesn’t exist online. He even said to me “this has been a real commitment to my image”.
I call #failsauce. But what do I know!