When I first thought up the idea for this book, I was just going to call it, “The Tao Of Personal Branding.”
Strong name, but it’s kinda “meh.”
Probably why I sat on the idea for months and didn’t lean into it.
Somehow, we intuitively know when we’re not ready to act on ideas and tend to create our own obstacles as a kind of self-sabotage.
In my case, I had it in my head to buy all the books with “Tao” in the title to break down their content, style, flow, etc.
Then use what I learned to write my book.
It would have taken FOREVER.
And then this happened:
Pretty harmless, right? Wait for it…
But wait, there’s more!
And just like that, “Dragon Energy” was spoken into existence.
Mind you, this has nothing to do with politics.
And everything to do with the power of words.
When you hear or see “Dragon Energy,” what comes to mind?
Here’s what I thought:
- Power
- Destruction
- Wealth
- Aspiration
- Majesty
- Action
- Future
- Greatness
- Fear
- Awe
You know what other symbolism has that kind of effect?
A strong, well-thought-out brand.
A good brand is aspirational and demonstrates movement.
A transformation from a worse “before” to a better “after.”
It allows the viewer to see the best, happiest version of themselves in it.
At the same time, a strong brand should repel everyone who the brand is not meant for.
And so it is, with Dragon Energy.
If you think Trump is a racist, misogynist, Nazi, or that Kanye is a coon…
You’d be instantly repelled by the phrase.
We’ll get deeper into repulsion later on in the book.
So what is Dragon Energy, really?
Well, first off, Kanye didn’t come up with it.
The Dragon is a common motif in many cultures.
Take the Chinese, for example.
According to Taoist tradition, a Dragon refers to a group, moving together with singular purpose and intent, to achieve a common objective.
A sports team is a Dragon.
Male sperm, when ejaculated into a woman’s vagina, is a Dragon.
A crowd of people queueing up for a Black Friday sale is a Dragon.
And Dragon Energy, or Lung Hei, is a formless, undetectable energy that powers everything that exists.
You can’t see it, but you know it exists when you observe its effects on you and the world around you.
Sorta like the Force in Star Wars.
You and your audience are a Dragon
You share purpose and intent.
You’re moving in the same direction, towards a common goal.
Through your leadership, they are empowered to act.
Through their support, you are empowered to lead.
You feed off each other’s energy.
And that energy, while invisible, has a profound effect on the world.
All YOU need to do is awaken your Dragon.
Continue reading: Finding your personal brand.