Look the part, Learn from a stumble

I think it funny. I guess, others think so too. That a couple of aspiring reality-TV stars from Northern Virginia crashed the White House’s state dinner Tuesday night. They got through layers of security with no invitation, to mingle with the likes of Vice President Biden and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Smart. Funny too.

The lesson in their 'breakthrough' is twofold. One, that if you appear classy and confident, the best are fooled and convinced that you must be someone big. That you should be let through. Two, even the best systems in the world are susceptible to a clever someone who knows exactly how those systems work and react to 'incidents'. The clever uns know if they play the 'pretend' part to perfection, systems lose their ability to detect something's amiss. Of course, in the long run, fake will be out. But till it lasts, its so much fun.

Brands too must always put up that 'confident face' to consumers. If brands appear the part, consumers believe. Again, I am in no way suggesting that its enough to get the 'appearance' right and fail when it comes to product evaluations. What I am emphasising is, its important to get perceptions right with consumers.

Brands must also know that mavericks (read, a consumer or a competitor) may emerge out of the woodwork to upset their applecart. Its wise then to leave the maverick be, and to learn from the stumble, to strengthen the system. Going after the 'deviant' would mean bad press. Staying quiet and learning, is the better option. Its best for Apple to leave its iPhone hacker kid alone. Taking the legal route only makes Apple look bad and kid look the victim.

Summing up, these are the lessons. Look & Learn. Look the part. Learn from a stumble.

Pic: msnbc