I think when companies talk about branding today, what they really should be talking about is culture.
The sleight of hand here is recognizing that a brand isn't something you *make*—it's something that *happens* when people inside an organization believe in what they're doing. Most companies spend fortunes on logos and messaging while their employees shuffle through indifferent routines; Hsieh is saying that investment is backwards. Zappos became legendary not because of clever ads but because customer service reps genuinely wanted to help, which meant the brand built itself from the inside out. When your colleague returns your call promptly or a cashier remembers your name, you're experiencing culture leaking outward—and that creates more loyalty than any campaign ever could.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to...”
Marcus Aurelius“Drive your business. Let not your business drive you.”
Benjamin Franklin“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin