And is so, what is the lesson? For those who don’t know, Anna Delvey (real name: Anna Sorokin) hit the headlines in 2017 for posing as a German heiress and defrauding major corporations and acquaintances for a total of $250,000. The launch of Inventing Anna – the dramatization of her life – which went straight to Number 1 on Netflix, has her hitting the headlines again. Anna, first and foremost, describes herself as a businesswoman and often ‘a brand’. Which made us wonder what we could (and should!) learn from her…
Inventing Anna
One of the best things about the programme was that it remained purposefully ambiguous about whether Anna was a victim or a villain. Was she intentionally committing crime or was she just doing whatever she could to make a better life for herself? Was she a fake sociopath or did she have a genuine vision? Was she trying to get whatever she could for free or was she trying to navigate a system in which money-makes-money?
Being the brand vs brand consistency
Even in prison, Anna is still talking about being a brand and protecting her reputation. It is this audacity that brings a comedic element to her and the show. But, although whether we personally should attempt to ‘be a brand’ is up for debate, brand consistency is important. Anna ensured that every Instagram post, every outfit, every detail projected her brand. She had strong brand values (albeit ones that were pretty ‘off’ on the moral compass!). We advise our clients to ensure that their brand is consistent across their website, social media, print, signage, staff uniforms, events, presentations etc. Having a brand that is underpinned with strong (ethical and honest!!) values is a good way to ensure that everything stays consistent.
The hustle Vs authenticity
One of the things that made Anna so relatable in the show were the times when you could see she felt nervous and out-of-her-depth (although she was a master at disguising it). There probably aren’t many entrepreneurs or business owners who haven’t felt ‘imposter syndrome’ – whether it’s walking into a networking event, making a big presentation or just having the courage to follow their business dreams. We all know how hard it can be to push through that and having a beautifully designed brand, high-quality business cards and a professional pitch deck (all of which we can help you with!) can really help us feel more confident. But while it’s important to be professional, the best connections only happen when we are authentic and honest …
Team Neff!
… the saying goes something like, ‘be careful how you treat people on the way up because they will kick you on the way back down.’ This certainly happened in Inventing Anna when her friend Rachel had her arrested – but it also came back to bite Rachel too, perhaps proving the karma-obsessed character Kacy’s point. However, the one person Anna seemed to form a strong attachment to was Neff, a hotel concierge who told it like it was. Neff was also ambitious, always wanting to follow her dreams of becoming a filmmaker but stuck in her job, lacking the funds and the confidence to go for it despite having the vision. Perhaps the most uplifting part of the show and the story was that Neff eventually left her job and moved to LA to pursue her dreams. We love helping start-ups and there is something magical about seeing people invest in their dreams – and make them happen! Without committing fraud. Obviously (we cannot stress that enough)!
Whether you want your brand to be more consistent or to have the confidence to follow your dreams – we can help you with design, print and web that makes you famous (for all the right reasons). Call us on 0208 590 0922 or email us at info@marcomedia.co.uk and let us help you reinvent yourself!