We Are Not Brands

Remember the Prisoner? Number 9, number 9. I am not a number. We are not brands, we are real people. Brand You got a head of steam up in the 1990s, impelled by growing employment uncertainty and by the advocacy of gurus like Tom Peters, and let’s face it by a harsher world where failure means now work and a total personality implosion.

I am Haydn Shaughnessy. I write for the Irish Times and for the odd magazine or two. I’ve made television programmes for the BBC, Channel 4 and for RTE but I don’t consider this brief CV to be step one on the road to a personal brand. My writing has been of variable quality and my control over the TV projects was much diminished by my deferential attitude. I am not a brand I’m just someone who gets lucky sometimes.

I am Roos Demol, mother, part-time art gallery owner, partner. I began my business career with Baxter, the medical supplies folks. I demonstrated expensive equipment to doctors, consultants and nurses and accompanied them on all expenses paid trips to great locations. I also had a spell with Proctor and Gamble. I am not a brand. I am a mother.