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What Do You Think of the Sarah Palin Brand?
"Sarah Inc." has become a multimillion-dollar business, thanks to some shrewd moves by the former Alaska governor and Tea Party hero. But does that make her an entrepreneur? Our Board of Directors sounds off.
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When Sarah Palin burst onto the national stage in August 2008, Americans expressed a collective, "Sarah who?" Since then, she's gone on to become a vice presidential nominee, Saturday Night Live spoof, thorn in the side of liberals, bestselling author, Fox News contributor, Tea Party hero, reality TV star and proud mother of a Dancing with the Stars contestant.Today, when it comes to Palin, the question on most Americans' minds is, "Will she or won't she?" The Tea Party continues to build momentum and has positioned Republicans to potentially win back Congress in November -- a political storm fueled, in part, by Palin's endorsements -- and some now see her as a presumptive presidential candidate in 2012.
The charismatic former governor of Alaska is now one of the most recognizable women in America -- and has parlayed the "Sarah Inc." brand into a variety of business ventures. And despite being considered a key factor in John McCain's failed bid for the presidency, her newfound political clout has come, ironically, from her successes in the corporate world.
Taking an unknown startup brand and making it a household name seemingly overnight? Sounds like a familiar entrepreneurial story to us. So we asked our Board of Directors for their take on Palin -- and whether they would consider her an entrepreneur.
Bob Parsons
Founder and CEO, The Go Daddy Group
"Think about it. Sarah Palin has built her own brand, generated lots of buzz and asks a six-figure speaking fee. I definitely think that qualifies her as an entrepreneur."
Tate Chalk
Founder and CEO, Nfinity
"While I happen to like her and her atypical approach to politics, she is no entrepreneur -- no more than any other person who is famous for famous sake. A true entrepreneur would be someone who has 'made it' from something they have created, not someone who was 'created' by the media. Don't get me wrong, I am not hating on her. I would absolutely do the same. But opportunistic is only one characteristic of the entrepreneur."
Ken Yancy
CEO, SCORE
"She is an entrepreneur. She has taken the celebrity and following developed in her political career and turned it into a successful business. She has revenues and employs others. Building a business based on a personal brand or personal celebrity is not that uncommon."
Jennifer Hill
Chairwoman, Astia NYC Advisory Board
"Yes! Sarah Palin saw a window of opportunity and seized upon it. She recognized that she is a 'product,' promptly quit her day job, and focused all her energies on creating a market and generating revenue from it. Whether you love her or wish she'd remain quietly in Alaska, she gets credit for turning herself into a brand. How many jobs can Sarah Palin Inc. add to the economy? Now that's the question!"
Rob Adams
Director, Texas Venture Labs at the University of Texas
"I think she's a great example of an opportunistic entrepreneur. She took a random event -- her nomination -- and fully exploited it. The question is, what's her staying power? At this point I think the brand is based on political theater and talk-show fodder. The real trick will be turning this into something sustainable. It will be interesting to watch how this unfolds."
Phil Town
Investor and Author of Rule #1 and Payback Time
"Sarah isn't an intentional entrepreneur, but she is such a strong brand that my company is hiring her to speak for us at every event she can get to. In my terminology, she has a strong moat -- a kind of monopolistic niche that only she occupies. You don't have to be intentional about getting rich if you've got that going for your business. You'll just get rich kind of automatically. Here's the rule: Build a moat business. Get rich."
Clint Greenleaf
Founder and CEO, Greenleaf Book Group
"I think it's too early to come out with a full judgment on her as an entrepreneur. She's clearly made some money with a big book deal, the Fox job and speaking fees, but it'll take some time before we can tell if she's an entrepreneur or just a savvy business woman."
Jodie and Danielle Snyder
Co-Founders, DANNIJO
"Sarah Palin is an entrepreneur. She's definitely made a name for herself and built a cult following. Whether or not people agree with her political views (or her answers to Katie Couric) she's built a multimillion-dollar brand around herself."
Lexy Funk
Co-Founder and CEO, Brooklyn Industries
"Politics without soul spun into a business? Sounds like a business with a terrible balance sheet. Still, the goods she hawks -- stories of fishing and hunting -- speak to the core of the western frontier narrative. I do secretly love that she runs at lunch and hid her pregnancy successfully until the end of her term. But I try to hide that from all politically correct people that I know for fear of being ostracized. So is that interest a business? I hope not for all of our sanity."
Comments (Page 1 of 18)
LETS BE HONEST. SHE HAS A BIG MOUTH, SHE IS NOT SMART NOR IS SHE QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR ANY GOVERMENT POSITION OR BE ELECTED TO ANY BOARD OF A MAJOR COMPANY. SHE NEEDS TO STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF HER ILL BABY....
Linda: You are the fool, who doesn't undersand that Mhamed Barak Hussein is leading our country to catastrophy. We have lost respect all over the world and we are perceived so weak because your beloved Mohamed Barak Hussein.
Sam
More catastrophy that the BUSH-CHENEY administration?
booksbace 10-05-2010 3:17PM
More catastrophy that the BUSH-CHENEY administration?
>>>> possibly, but not nearly as much as Obama-Biden, the ultimate duo in incompetency. If those two were a "brand," I'd name them Nincompoops, Inc. LIBTARD NOTE: Since you can't spell "catastrophe" properly, perhaps you shouldn't use that word.
Palin is an opportunistic thief, and it worries a lot of us that some Americans are buying her tricks. An exploited family (she'd drop them in a sec.), lies and that fake smile. Looks a bit Madoff to me. Watch Out!! Daniel (above) is right she is of the republican genre that instills fear , so people think she is powerful, that is what satan does, not a loving God. And...Prague (above) you are buying it! Our courageous President Obama is trying to take the country back for the people and everytime he makes a positive step, you and the other messes are right there to pull the rug out from under him. LET HIM DO HIS JOB!!!!!
Linda is right on target! Why is it that Palin will run down Obama as much as she does, but yet Palin will run and hide from open mainstream media? Obama, everyday, good or bad,whether you like him or not, will take the heat, and move on but, no matter what! Why7 is it that she can't take it? She refuses, just like so many other GOP candidates(T-baggers will get thrown under the bus, once they get your vote! LOL!) Clearly that makes her a COWARD, pure and simple! No excuses now! Talk is cheap and she can talk it, but cannot walk it! You Goobers can whine and cry about this or that, but in the end, she simply doesn't have the gut's to Stand and Deliver! Good or bad, Obama does everyday! She comes up short! LOL!
You are the idiot for thinking such crap ,Did some nice looking guy tell you this nonsense ? Do you think for your self or does someone do that for you ? LMAO Trust me bimbo he makes more sense than your gf Palin by a LONG shot !
Sarah Palin is a great figure to watch in public, a catalyst for rumor and debate, but simply put, she is hardly fit for federal goverment. Much less for the Presidency.
She is a joke to anyone who has an aptitude for over 11th grade reading. She is smart enough to brand herself. Work that brand into a national name, and as much staying power as Paris Hilton or L. Lohan (or Hooping Cough).
Sarah Palin is like refreshing breeze blowing through the halls of both Democrats and Republicans. If Common Sense prevents someone from being qualified to run for president, then she certainly isn't as qualified as the present crew running this country into the ground!
Liberal women hate Sarah Palin because deep down they envy her. She is beautiful, successful, and adored by millions. She's a committed mother with a beautiful family. She was a popular Governor of the largest state in the US, and has traveled and written and experienced all that life can offer. So I can understand the vitriole thrown Sarah's way by liberal ideologues. It's really envy in disguise.
oh great article ,sara plain is an opportunist who preys on the public using fears and hate to make herself more famous and now to make a living out of her famous name. This not the making of an Entrepreneur by no means.My boyfriend and i both think so ...He is almost 11year older than me .i met him via kissmilita ry.c oma nice place for s'ee'king Army, Navy, Mari'nes, Air Force, Police Force and their admires.just love it
While I wouldn't vote for her, she is savvy about promoting her viewpoint. I don't know what the long term will bring for her, but what she's doing is allowing her to be herself and make a living for her family on her own terms while being with them quite a bit. As one of the people commenting said, she found something better and quit her day job. And she is infinitely more sellable than Ann Coulter, who is looking to shock and enrage people more than anything else. A way better spokesperson for her views.
prague that sure sounds like a communist country to me. and you must be used to tyrants running your country just like george bush and his cronies did for eight years and two unneccessary wars and bailing out the broken bank system and giving tax breaks to the richest people in the country..thanks but no thanks you can have palin and her stupidity way of doing things.
You have expressed tghe feelings of alot of Americans that do not need a loud mouth, undereducated, and A PERSON WHO CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM HER FRONT POURCH, AND CANNOT TEACH HER DAUGHTER TO KEEP HER LEGS CLOSED and/or use CONDEMS.
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A KEY WEST PERSON
you are a fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would rather vote to ape than for you
impeach obama....
Oh, linda you are so jealous. Soooo jealous. Too bad you don't have Sarah's qualities or beauty. You are a democrat loser like most of those who oppose Palin. LoooooooSSSSSSSEEEEERRRRRR as Jim Carrey would say.
It makes her the biggest cult since Jim Jones;
the biggest con artist Frank Abagnale;
and the greatest clown since Bozo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PERIOD!
You and Palin are both idiots.
Pain-In is the dizziest broad I have ever seen in my lifetime of 60 years. (Well, O'Dumbel is running neck-in-neck for this prize).
Republikkklans have advanced to become the strangest creatures crawling out of holes in the ground.
Indecisive Liars that can't even stick to their own lies from day to day.
Don't trust any of those Tea-Total-Fools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!