Many people say that it is a commercial holiday. It’sIt’s just an opportunity for businesses to capitalize on a trend. Some people use St. Paddy’sPaddy’s Day to consume their weight in hard alcohol.
Even though both assumptions are valid, many people still do not know the truth. It is a fact that other companies do not hijack the fame and fortune of this historical figure on March 17th.
It is not the case, my friend. St. Patrick’sPatrick’s Day, the annual marketing masterclass of St. Patrick, is a great way to showcase your Brand.
St. Patrick, in fact, is the Brand, and he is the one who leverages other companies and media every year with his fantastic marketing genius.
Why?
St. Patrick can still be the king of marketing, even though he has been hiding for centuries. We’llWe’ll see what digital marketers can learn from St. Patrick, the most outstanding brand leader of all time.
Patrick as a brand leader: 7 reasons
St. Patrick was born from a mythical tale involving leprechauns or the invention of Guinness in its early days.
The truth is far darker, and unfortunately, St. Patrick.
The personal branding of Saint Patrick of Ireland has seven marketing gems.
He has a fantastic brand story
Patrick was able to grasp the love for storytelling in people at a young age. He knew he had to create a story for his Brand that would be an emotional rollercoaster, with kidnappings, pirates, and battles with evil snakes.
Patrick’sPatrick’s life was turned upside down at 16 when he was kidnapped from his hometown.
We can be confident that this was just the beginning of an incredibly turbulent and challenging life for Patrick, whoever his captors were. Patrick, however, developed the character that would allow him to be a beacon of hope for others.
He is a Model Professional
In the 5th Century, raiding parties regularly attacked Britain and Ireland. The foreign warriors, also known as Picts, would land along the coast and then move inland to smash, grab, and kill whatever they wanted. These are not the people you’d you’d invite into your mother’smother’s house (although the absence of an invitation would hardly deter them).
Patrick, kidnapped during one of these raids, was brought to Ireland and sold as a slave. He was given the task of watching over the sheep. On the hills of Antrim, he kept foxes and wild dogs away from the flock.
Patrick didn’tdidn’t complain about his life. He knew that if he slacked off, he could find himself on the receiving end of a bear or an ax.
He adopted a professional attitude to life and committed to learning the culture and language of Ireland in order to become the world’sworld’s most famous (albeit reluctantly) shepherd.
He is Versatile
Brand leaders are creative, can adapt to rapid change, and are open to new ideas.
Patrick was kidnapped six years ago. He fled after an angel told him the ferry schedule for Dublin in the week following. Patrick, who had neither Siri nor Google to support his claim, wandered down south on blind faith (and maybe another bottle of whatever it was he drank the night before the angel appeared).
He almost died from starvation during the journey back to Britain. The second time he was captured, he ended up in France. Paddy was a great man but not a stealthy Ninja.
He eventually escaped and returned to Ireland. Patrick was able to adapt and overcome multiple kidnappings as well as cold, hunger, and delusional thoughts.
He is a born (again) leader
No one should be surprised to find out that a brand leader must also have some leadership skills. Even the drunkest of souls would be able to guess this. Patrick soon admitted to his family and friends that the Church had called him. It was at this point we discovered how great a leader Patrick was.
He began to convert people to Christianity. Some sources claim that he has baptized more than 100,000 individuals. This claim is yet to be verified by the Guinness Book of Records.
His success was largely due to his ability to establish rapport with people. Patrick’sPatrick’s tenacity, imagination, and sense of community he created amongst his peers was a result of his creativity and tenacity.
The byproducts of his mission continue to be celebrated today. This perpetuates the belief that “everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’sPatrick’s Day.”
Patrick is a man of passion and perseverance (possibly with Post-Traumatic stress)
Brand leaders should be passionate about their cause. Brand leaders who radiate positive energy and are dedicated to their vision can attract others with similar views, thereby maximizing the marketing impact.
Patrick’sPatrick’s desire to change the beliefs of others was supported by only some during his mission to convert the Irish people in the 5th Century. Patrick was often viewed as a big eejit who spent much time talking to his sheep.
This excerpt from St. Patrick’sPatrick’s Confession explains these challenges.
Many were trying to stop this mission. “They were saying behind my back that this man was putting himself in danger with enemies who do not know God. Not out of malice but because they didn’tdidn’t like it.”
Only those who are genuinely passionate can continue to face such challenges. Either she’s a complete nut, or else he is.
He is a Genuine Good Guy
Many brands use influencers to establish their authenticity and build social proof. It’sIt’s unlikely that people will buy your product if they don’tdon’t think you believe in it.
Patrick faced fierce opposition from many people during his rescue mission, including the victims he helped. All sides insulted him, and in the end, his character was questioned because of accusations that he only had greed as a motive.
Patrick was often praised for his secret gold stash, which he acquired through his successful business ventures such as church construction and reptile-removal services. Strangers posing as his loyal followers followed him around the streets, carrying empty money bags.
This problem plagued Patrick for many years despite his denials. This was especially true during Ireland’sIreland’s rainy winter season from January to December.
Two letters written by St. Patrick dispelled these disparaging rumors about his greedy intent. Finally, the public began to see Patrick as the saint he truly was.
