Take Off Your Girdle And Show A Little Leg: On Giving Your Business Some Personality, Already

If I could scream from the top of Brad Pitt’s rooftop (have you SEEN those Chanel commercials?), you know what I’d yell?

LOOOOOOOOSSSSSSEEENNNNNNNNNNN UPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

Of course I’d be embarrassed because I sort of have a man voice, but I think Brad would be okay with it. And he wouldn’t mind because it’s a form of philanthropy since, really, the world needs to hear it.

Gone are the days of stiff. Buttoned up. Pretentious. In business, at least. (I can’t speak for your mother-in-law.)

Why?

Because now, people have more choices than ever before.

That thing called the world wide web? Made it so now, you aren’t limited to whatever they’re selling down at the Dollar General. It also took things from a monologue, with companies having a one-way conversation with you via manipulation of the media, to a dialogue–where you, now, can talk back. You have a say. And frankly, a lot of companies are scared about what you’re going to say about them. So it’s pushed them to up the ante. (We like this ante upping very much.)

And with this ante upping comes the task of actually GIVING YOU AN ACTUAL REASON TO BUY FROM THEM, AND NOT SOMEBODY ELSE.

Because, as I’ve said many times before – how do you give people a reason to buy from you when you’re selling the exact same thing as everybody else?

You get a fucking personality.

(See how I just interjected that sentence with a big menacing word? That’s because it’s my personality. And I am clearly big and menacing.)

Seeing brands come out of their shell is one of the most delightful things for me, right next to an afternoon Scotch. (I’ve been watching Mad Men recently. It’s rubbing off.)

Every time I come across a company that exudes personality, I’ve been over here like an OCD psychopath, taking screen shots and laughing so loud my neighbors either think I do nothing but watch Comedy Central 24/7, or I’ve got an exceptionally entertaining bird (or man?) outside my window. Little do they know I’m working. *seductively lifts 1960′s ballroom dress to show a little leg* *remembers I’m not actually ON Mad Men*

So I thought I’d be the good little girl on the playground and share.

Here’s my absolute favorite find over the last few weeks – Kulula Airlines, a South African company. I’m in LOVE.

(Sidenote: If you’re reading this in your email, you’re going to want to display images for this one.)

1. First of all, their planes look like this:

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2. Second, they have fun sections on their website that explain their brand - including the painting of their planes.

-

3. They care enough to explain the frustrating aspects of their business to their customers–why things happen, and in layman’s terms. What a breath of fresh air.

4. They make ads like these. (This was made the weekend South Africa’s president married his fourth wife. Funny.)

Kalula

5. Their mission? To help people lighten up. Precisely why I’m featuring them in this post.

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6. And last but not least, it’s been rumored that their pilots say hilarious things on the intercom.

And I appreciate a pilot who doesn’t sound like he’s about to keel over mid-flight from misery, boredom or because it’s the 4,568th baby he’s heard cry for 8 hours straight. (Wink.) Some things they’ve been known to say:

“We’d like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of Kulula Airways.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing. If you can light ‘em, you can smoke ‘em.”

After a hard landing: “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the captain taxis what’s left of our airplane to the gate!”

If you’re digging this, I hope it’ll inspire you to take off your girdle and show a little leg.

The right people will love it. (Hint: Those are the ones you want to do business with.)

Because if you don’t have a personality, what do you have?

Quality, speed, and good customer service aren’t cutting it anymore, boys.

Everybody’s got that.

So what are YOU bringing to the ~~cockpit~~ table?

Tags: brands with personality, companies with personality, funny copy, kulula, kulula airlines, stand out from the crowd

It's free. Unlike the wine you drank last night.

http://www.jenvertanen.com/ Jen Vertanen

I’m all about drinking a titch to much red wine and wearing red shoes….mainly my beloved red cowboy boots. How this translates into my business (Biz + Project Strategist) I have no flipping clue but that’s ok…it’s why I hired someone who *can* help me tie it all together .

I forgot to mention my mad love of bacon and chocolate and habaneros muddled into cocktails. Those will be included too.

Again – no clue how it fits but that’s ok…it’s what makes me uniquely adorable, lol.
- http://www.jenvertanen.com/ Jen Vertanen
  
  Forgot to say. I must fly that airline now. It’s going on the list!
  - http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/ Ash Ambirge
    
    ha – speaking of planes AND red cowboy boots all in one comment, the first time I ever took private flying lessons, I thought to myself: Shit, what shoes does one wear flying? So naturally I thought: These will do. And pulled the red cowboy boots from my closet. Showed up in those. Thought the instructor was going to have a heart attack.
    - http://www.jenvertanen.com/ Jen Vertanen
      
      Totally understandable! Red cowboy boots = instant shot of courage without the hangover. Duh. (/grin)
http://www.facebook.com/kimboosan KimBoo York

YES THIS PLEASE. Gah, I spent years of my life trying to conform to “business class model behavior” which is so bland, it’s not even vanilla. It’s more like unsalted boiled potatoes: white, mushy, and gluey. I never quite fit in. *shocker* It’s damn hard behavior to break though and as I ramp up my own business I really appreciate you calling me out on this: I *DO* have a personality, FFS! And also, I actually have nice legs. I should wear skirts more often…hmmm…
Scott Stephens

I love your tips on injecting personality into your writing. You continue to be the best source I’ve found for making my writing better than blah. Thanks so much!
Marketing Expertise

I think it’s “Oh Captain, My Captain…”
- http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/ Ash Ambirge
  
  If you want I can get you their complaints department.
  - Marketing Expertise
    
    I’d prefer to be directed to whomever is in charge of the Mile High Club…ehem…
Judith Holloway

It’s my first comment here and I’m new to your site!
The article though – absolutely brilliant! You had me hooked. I loved that. I was laughing all the way down the page. By the way, I’m loving reading through all (well, not quite all, as yet…) your posts and getting to ‘know’ you! Thanks
http://twitter.com/AndiPerullo Andi Perullo, L.Ac.

I would love to work for a brand that was so much fun! But, since I’m my own boss I will try to lighten up. I’m usually pretty professional…
http://twitter.com/GraceKadzere Grace Kadzere

I’m from South Africa and yes their pilots and air staff say hilarious things/comments on the intercom. You laugh your heart off on both take – off and landing. When landing they ALWAYS, ALWAYS remind us to stay away from mangoes because one of their competitors is an airline called Mango. Absolutely love this article as am flying their airline which is called Kulula down here, in about four hours to Cape Town and get back on their competitor’s airline Mango. Their ads have been voted some of the best down here. Your best article to date, just because it’s too close to home and yes the ad on Zuma’s fourth wife is hilarious, they will definitely do an even better one when Zuma is on his 8th wife *can’t watch*!
http://www.facebook.com/bloodedge89 Charles Ochoa

Awesome! Personality is an amazing thing, and you show lots of it I’ll take your advice and loosen up in my writing (alright, maybe not that much, I’m known to be a professional jackass in writing when I mean to among my friends).
http://www.robinhallett.com/ Robin Hallett

Ok Ash, you go ahead and scream that while I scream, “Now, take off your pants!” hahaha, but seriously Brad, take them off!

Ash I can always count on you to kick my butt about letting go of the fear of not appealing to EVERYBODY. I still really struggle with this. I am getting better with each and every post, and I thank you for that. I am seeing an increase in the right peeps!

Hugs and love! Thanks for all that you bring
- http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/ Ash Ambirge
  
  You made me laugh sooooo out loud, Robin! HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!! Tempted to Google, “Brad Pitt without pants.” See what you do to me? And here I was, innocently trying to get some writing done. JERK!
http://heksebua.com/ Linda Ursin

I put a lot of my personality into what I do, but I’d love to show it even more than I have lately. Being a multi-creative witch makes it easy to get distracted by shiny objects. (I’d love to see a couple of hunks outside my window )
- http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/ Ash Ambirge
  
  12 cups of coffee in a row, I swear, is the answer.
  - http://heksebua.com/ Linda Ursin
    
    If I could only stand the taste. I don’t even eat cakes with coffee in them. I’ll have to source my caffeine elsewhere. I’ve got more than enough mental energy these days though.
  - Siita
    
    Ah! so therein lies the solution to any personality deficit disorder – up the anti on the coffees!
    I’m only at 8 ! Too easy ! thanks Ash.

Blog

Take Off Your Girdle And Show A Little Leg: On Giving Your Business Some Personality, Already

If I could scream from the top of Brad Pitt’s rooftop (have you SEEN those Chanel commercials?), you know what I’d yell?

1. First of all, their planes look like this:

-

2. Second, they have fun sections on their website that explain their brand - including the painting of their planes.

-

3. They care enough to explain the frustrating aspects of their business to their customers–why things happen, and in layman’s terms. What a breath of fresh air.

4. They make ads like these. (This was made the weekend South Africa’s president married his fourth wife. Funny.)

5. Their mission? To help people lighten up. Precisely why I’m featuring them in this post.

-

6. And last but not least, it’s been rumored that their pilots say hilarious things on the intercom.

If you’re digging this, I hope it’ll inspire you to take off your girdle and show a little leg.

It's free. Unlike the wine you drank last night.

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Gossip About Us

It's free. Unlike the wine you drank last night.

Blog

Take Off Your Girdle And Show A Little Leg: On Giving Your Business Some Personality, Already

If I could scream from the top of Brad Pitt’s rooftop (have you SEEN those Chanel commercials?), you know what I’d yell?

1. First of all, their planes look like this:

-

2. Second, they have fun sections on their website that explain their brand - including the painting of their planes.

-

3. They care enough to explain the frustrating aspects of their business to their customers–why things happen, and in layman’s terms. What a breath of fresh air.

4. They make ads like these. (This was made the weekend South Africa’s president married his fourth wife. Funny.)

5. Their mission? To help people lighten up. Precisely why I’m featuring them in this post.

-

6. And last but not least, it’s been rumored that their pilots say hilarious things on the intercom.

If you’re digging this, I hope it’ll inspire you to take off your girdle and show a little leg.

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It's free. Unlike the wine you drank last night.

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Gossip About Us

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It's free. Unlike the wine you drank last night.