Blagojevich - Or, Just How Badly A Bad Image Can Ruin You

Blagojevich - now there's a name to bring up when talking about the importance of reputation management. Not in terms of his recent media campaign, but proof of how quickly and completely a bad reputation can permanently ruin a person's reputation or a product's brand. Brand management? Personal branding? Reputation management? Throw your case studies out the window, because Rod Blagojevich will go down in history as showing the true value of a reputation.

Think about it. Technically Rod Blagojevich hasn't been found guilty of anything illegal - yet. He hasn't faced criminal proceedings yet, and in the United States it is still innocent until proven guilty - isn't it?

The only fact that is concrete, is that he shot his mouth off on several occasions and embarrassed himself and the state of Illinois so badly that it's been the leading headline beneath Obama's win.It's as if the Illinois Legislature has said, "Enough, Rod. Frankly, we don't care if you're innocent or guilty. You've already done so much damage to this state that we really don't really care if you are innocent or guilty. Please, just leave."

They are not even allowing him to present witnesses in his defense. "Thank you Rod, but we just want you to sit there for a moment so we can get this over with."What is this all based on? A brief window in time in which he allowed himself to be, well himself.

Nobody knew who he was before this. But the brief look at his language, his attitude, and that Boss Tweed meets Tony Soprano image he created for himself. In effect, his reputation and his brand.

He, in such a short period of time, created such a reprehensible name for himself that he's now being impeached for it. He could possibly be the first person found guilty, not for doing anything criminal, but for establishing a bad brand.

So if you ever have to ask yourself how important branding is, or reputation management is - well just think of Rod Blagojevich. The guy who created such a bad image for himself, he ruined his career and his future in less than a day. Well, ruined that is unless he wants to do talk radio...