Nothing but the Truth...Mostly

In January, the 23 employees in the qualitative division of the market research company we work for were asked if we would choose a month and a topic and submit a blog post. Well, that is only mostly true. It is true that we were asked to choose a month. And it is true that we were asked to choose a topic. As far as the writing of blog posts, it was less of an ask and more of an encouragement to write. To put our thoughts and ideas out into the universe and see if we can make connections, spark conversations, or turn up our volume in an increasingly noisy world. 

I knew I was ready for that. I couldn’t wait to put myself and my thoughts out here. Everyday I find myself thinking that if only I had a platform, an opportunity, an audience then I could really unload. I could unleash. Let go. That is completely untrue. There is not a single day that the thought crosses my mind. I prefer to keep what I think to myself and hold onto my introverted self. What is entirely true is that the company we work for strongly believes in the people who work for it and believes the thoughts and opinions of its people add value to not only our work but to our company as a whole. 

Originally I had toyed with the idea of writing a blog titled “Lassoed” in which I would talk about the Emmy winning series. And as I talked about it I would draw out a few points that brands could take into consideration. Like, “Kindness is good. Honesty holds. And Sincerity wins.” But it occurred to me that I had something that I really did to want to get out. That I had a thought and an opinion that I often hold close, but that I wanted to put out there. The thought and opinion is this—

Brands do not merely have the option to truly value consumers as people—they have the responsibility to do so.  

Stating that a brand has this responsibility is nothing new. Listing the reasons a brand should accept this responsibility has not been left undone. But, maybe one more voice calling for this action is an add to the combined weight of all the voices that will push a brand in the best direction.

I am hoping that brands will understand that they are made up of people and the people who make up the brand are there to benefit the people who buy the brand. And when brands make that a priority, the people who buy the brand end up believing in the brand. And their belief in that brand turns to loyalty. And that exchange is what I think the market research company we work for would encourage me to write in a blog. And that’s the truth.