Comments on: Personal Brand Stereotypes #4: The Hippie Phenomenon

By: Eleanora

Eleanora — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:10:08 +0000

Hayward Highschool is hosting a museum which includes an entire room dedicated to counter cultures. This museum is going to be open June 5th from 4pm to 6pm. Would you like to come?

By: Personal Brand Stereotypes #8: Choose Your Major Wisely « Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:32:03 +0000

[...] #4 – The hippie phenomenon [...]

By: Tracey

Tracey — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:14:14 +0000

To me, the most important part of my definition of a hippie is “countercultural”. Drug use, sexual behavior, and tie-dye are symbols of hippie-ism, but not the defining adjectives. That is, you could be a hippie if you were all about free love but still didn’t use LSD.

Of course, with everything countercultural, when it becomes enough of a fad, it is no longer counterculutral and becomes part of the mainstream.

Lastly, I would not want to have those aspects as part of my brand, but I could see how it would work for some people. For example, I think of the founders of Ben & Jerry’s as hippies – it’s an important part of their brand. Would I want them as my accountants? No. But I like their ice cream, and many of their brand enthusiasts relate with their ethics and political views. I don’t think of hippies as passive — just the opposite; they are passionate about being countercultural. In short, I think your personal brand has to ring true with your beliefs and passions – and then you can gently shape it to be successful for whatever it is. People can smell a fake brand!

By: Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:59:12 +0000

@Adam – just like Seth Godin uses his bald head to get attention.

@Recruiting Animal – I knew people in high school that did, but maybe not on purpose.

By: Recruiting Animal

Recruiting Animal — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:51:45 +0000

Is this just a theory or do you know anyone who has branded himself or herself negatively as a hippie?

I’ve never seen any candidates who pose as hippies (no apostrophe necessary). (But then I don’t interview fresh grads.) Have you?

By: Adam Darowski

Adam Darowski — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:35:28 +0000

I’m certainly not a hippie, but I like to think my tee shirts and scruffy beard are part of my personal brand. I think of it less as “too passive” and more as “I’m simply too busy for silly things like shaving”.