Jeff Gordon Quotes

When I was growing up, the brands that were most powerful were people brands, like Michael Jackson or Madonna. They stood for something that, perhaps, wasn't wholly who they were, which then became an image that they sold. That's still a brand to me.

Being real in pro wrestling has paid off. Just being myself - that really translated to the fans.

What better way to have somebody promote their movie, their show, or their album than to come on in a relaxed, easy environment and show their fans that they are just like them?

My fans kept asking where they could get clothes like 'Destiny's Child's', so it was only natural for us to do a clothing line. I was adamant about not putting my name on something that I didn't love.

The problem often is that aspiring brands wish to be universally loved. Unfortunately, universal love is neither achievable nor desirable. Instead, great brands are loved by some and hated by others because they actually stand for something.

It's always important to stay in contact with the fans, because ultimately, if they weren't there, I wouldn't be here. It's very, very important to spread the love.

A major celebrity is a major brand, and major brands pick very critically what other brands they're going to associate with. So an A-list celebrity usually picks an A-list brand.

I was the first advertising person who people could identify with.

In a very broad statement, or mentality, you just want as many fans as you can have of your music. You want people to write songs for and connect with and play shows for.

I feel like Soulja Boy was one of the smartest when it came to connecting with your fans and taking that to another level. That's how you get the real love. Someone will love you, but if they feel like they know you or they can relate to you, it's a real genuine, solid love, even when you're down.

Build a lifestyle around your brand, and the audience will follow.

Most of our fans don't get to interact with us or know our personalities except through social media.

I'm constantly obsessing about brand. I think of my books in terms of brand. I think of my blog articles in terms of branding. How does it fit my branding? I think in terms of demographics.

First of all, when building a brand you have to know who you are, what you are, and what you stand for. That's clichéd marketing-bullshit jargon, but it does matter. It helps. You have to know who you're targeting. I think too many people fight the market. There are certain people who are never going to want your stuff no matter what you do. There are certain people are never going to love me because I curse and I have bravado and I'm a Jersey boy and I'm brash and they won't take the time to see the humility and the patience and the truth. They shouldn't.

To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that floats; Rice Krispies the breakfast cereal that goes snap-crackle-pop; Philip Roth the Jew who masturbates with a piece of liver.

You can't go wrong with reading the fans and letting them tell you who they like. I think that's really paid off for me in the long run - being down to earth and just really cool with each and every fan that I meet - and they've really supported me through thick and thin.

Brands mean different things for different generations.

I want my fans to be able to approach me in public and not think that I'm some robot who only exists online.

I've probably done myself a disservice as a brand because the movies I've made. They've all been completely different.

Yeah, every artist I think should look at themselves as a brand because the more appealing your brand is, the more money you can make off your brand.

I think one of the reasons people are so passionate about our band is because we're so accessible.

I created my own little online series, 'Love, Life & Music,' years ago, before reality TV got poppin'. I wanted my fans to see that I wasn't just here sitting on my hands. I'm out here every day, grinding and working.

I don't want my own shoe. That is something I have never wanted. If anybody is pitching that, I would say no. I feel like that is the only thing that limits me, being a signature athlete, because you have to wear your signature shoe all of the time. I don't want no parts of that.

The most important and common thing is to be able to connect with your fans. If you can't live life, then you can't connect with the fans.

Just spending time with fans and acting normal and talking to them just like I was one of their boys, that's what it's all about.